09/12/2026
I debated whether to make this post, but after what happened today, I feel like I need to speak up.
Dragonstone Games & Hobbies is a very small local business at 131 N. Water Ave. I understand that the Bluegrass & Chili Festival is important to Tahlequah, and I genuinely want to see local events succeed. I am not against the festival, and I'm not asking the city to stop having events downtown.
My concern from the beginning has simply been access to my business and the impact these closures have on a very small business trying to survive.
Yesterday, I went to the Chamber to try to discuss my concerns. My first interaction was extremely disappointing. I was immediately told there was nothing that was going to be done before I was even given an opportunity to explain the situation or show what I was talking about. The conversation became heated, and at one point I was physically poked by the person I was speaking with. I found the entire interaction extremely disrespectful.
I later spoke with another person at the Chamber who was much more willing to listen and explain the situation. I appreciated that conversation and the fact that he actually heard me out, even though we didn't necessarily agree.
Then today, the first day of the festival, my concerns became a reality.
My parking lot was initially blocked off. After speaking with the employees who were actually operating the barricade, I was told that I would be able to access my parking lot and that my customers would be able to access my business. I was also told that I would be able to use my lot for paid parking.
Throughout the day, however, my parking lot was being used by festival operations. Vendors were being checked in through my lot, vehicles were driving through it, and the lot was being used for parking and festival traffic.
Then, after those operations were finished, the person from the Chamber that I had spoken with yesterday came back and the situation changed.
I was completely blocked off from my own parking lot and was told that only customers with handicap placards would be allowed access to my business.
So after having my parking lot used throughout the day for festival operations, I was not allowed to use that same parking lot for my own business or for paid parking, and my regular customers were not allowed to access it either.
The result is that my business has been dramatically impacted on the first day of what should be a very busy weekend in downtown Tahlequah. My sales are way down.
Dragonstone isn't a large corporation. I'm not a chain store that can absorb losing a weekend of business without consequences. I'm a small local business owner who has invested a tremendous amount of time, money and effort into building something here.
I understand that festivals require road closures. I understand that compromises have to be made. I understand that the festival is important to the community.
What I don't think is unreasonable is expecting clear communication and reasonable consideration for the businesses directly affected by those decisions.
I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm not asking anyone to cancel the festival. I'm asking that my business be allowed to operate and that my customers be given a reasonable opportunity to reach me.
I want Dragonstone to be part of Tahlequah. I want to support local events. I want to work with the city, the Chamber and other local businesses.
But I also need to be able to stand up for my business when decisions are directly affecting our ability to operate.
We're a small, niche business, but we're still a business. We deserve to be heard and treated with the same consideration as any other local business.
I hope this can be resolved, and I hope that moving forward Dragonstone will be included in these conversations before decisions are made that directly affect our ability to operate.
