In OKC’s Paseo, Samir Groceries has become a staple

In the 2900 block of N Walker Avenue, a longstanding convenience store has become a sort of comfy front porch for the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City. 

Home to snacks and sodas, wine and a variety of Oklahoma-made beer, Samir Groceries, which opened in 2005, welcomes a diverse crowd, from locals and shop owners to tourists taking in the many galleries and restaurants in the thriving district. 

Parents and kids often pop in for a treat on the way home.

Samir Dhamani previously operated two other stores in the metro area but shut them down to focus on his shop in the Paseo. 

Dhamani said the friendly people of the Paseo, many of whom have become regulars and some of whom have become friends, keep him operating his beloved store.  

“There is nothing like the customers here,” Dhamani said. 

Frequent visitors know what to expect at the shop, which means sometimes they don’t know what to expect. 

Amid the motor oil and toiletries, the packaged comfort food and the racks of cigarettes, one might be able to bargain for a new living room chair, pick up trinkets Dhamani lets budding entrepreneurs sell at the counter, or wonder how long the grandfather clock has stood next to the ATM.

“What don’t we offer here, besides gasoline?” LaDawna McMichael, the familiar night shift clerk, said with a laugh.

On the day side, Mary Susan McCammon, known as “Miss Mary” to the locals, opens the store most mornings. 

While Samir’s offers much of what chain stores sell, if on a smaller scale, McCammon said the relationships with customers are what sets Samir Groceries apart. 

Those who have moved away from the Paseo still frequently stop by, she said. 

“There’s camaraderie here,” McCammon said. “We try to talk to everyone who comes through the door. We have a very friendly customer clientele. I enjoy working here, enjoy meeting people from all over the country. We have people coming back just to come to this store.” 

On the night side, McMichael often can be heard chatting up regulars and greeting new customers, or else seen handing out treats to the dogs of the Paseo. 

The store is pooch-friendly, preferably if they are on a leash.

“It’s a family store,” McMichael said. “I know all the kids. We get involved with the community. That’s why the store is so special. This is the perfect little place.” 

For nearly 20 years, the store has remained a Paseo staple. Part of that is due to the store keeping up with the times, kind of like the grandfather clock next to the ATM. 

A stack of 12-packs illustrates the evolution of the store. 

“We sell Yuengling,” McMichael said. “It’s a big deal.”