TAHLEQUAH — The list of restaurants and other retailers in downtown Tahlequah continues to expand, with the addition of new businesses like Akropolis and Om Hippie-Chique Boutique.

Those looking for a taste of Greek food will find something spicy at Akropolis, 200 N. Muskogee Ave. Owner Barbie Casey said the restaurant opened the latter part of July, and has been hosting a “very busy lunch” hour since.

“The people of Tahlequah have really supported us,” she said. “This is the first restaurant we’ve ever done. We’re getting our feet wet really fast.”

The restaurant’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but customers need to be aware that the business has closed early recently, due to running out of the meat used in the gyros. Intense heat conditions have also prompted the eatery to close early. For customers who have not had the opportunity to try the cuisine, Casey said gyro sandwiches have been described as the Greek hot dog.

“It’s a very common sandwich, and it’s a beef and lamb mixture,” she said. “You can have it with or without feta cheese. We think it’s better with feta. And we make our own tzatziki, which is a homemade cucumber, yogurt, mint, dill, lemon and garlic sauce. A lot of people who have had gyros before may have not had the traditional gyro with the [tzatziki] sauce. To me, what makes the sandwich is the contrast between the cucumber, the yogurt and the spicy meat.”

Casey said the hummus is very popular.

She added a spicy feta dip as another item that “leaves you with a little something to remember.”

Akropolis customers can call (918) 431-1988 or check the restaurant’s Facebook page at www.face book.com/TahlequahAkropolis for more information.

Another new main street addition is the Om Hippie-Chique Boutique, 308 N. Muskogee. The grand opening is scheduled for Aug. 15, and the store will carry imported items from India, Nepal, and Turkey. Other items include tie-dyed clothes, hemp items, crystals, jewelry, wind chimes, tapestries and hookahs.

“We have everything from fashion to jewelry to gift items,” said owner Dee Page. “We have local artisans who bring stuff in. It’s not all local, but we try to keep as local as we can. We’ve got a girl who brings in handmade note cards, address books and photo albums. Then I have another one who brings in bath salts and body scrubs. And then we carry the Heaven Sent [Food & Fiber] soaps. We’re just an eclectic little store that has a lot of things. We’ve gone to the crystal mines over in Arkansas, so we have crystals here. We just have a little bit of everything.”

Call (918) 457-6371 or visit the store’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OmHip pieChiqueBoutique, for more information.

Vivid Salon & Boutique, 304 N. Muskogee, will be opening Thursday, Aug. 16, just a few steps down the sidewalk from Om Hippie-Chique. The hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and appointments can be made by calling (918) 456-1110.

Hailing from Tulsa, owner Amy Yarnell invites everyone to stop buy and say hello.

“We’re going to be offering half-off haircuts to first responders [EMSA, fire, police] and all active, reserve and military veterans,” she said. “And we’re going to offer 10 percent off of services for NSU professors and students and area public school teachers. The 10 percent discount also goes for [Tahlequah City Hospital] and Cherokee Nation employees.”

Yarnell said the salon will have six stylists available, including a nail technician and a esthetician for facial care and therapy.

Cashmere Lane, 401 N. Muskogee, is scheduled to open Friday, Aug. 17, said owner Carrie Lane.

“We’ll be offering women’s boutique clothing, jewelry, handbags, and small gifts,” she said. “I’ve got a candle line and some home decor, which is a little bit of a secondary item for the store, but it’s definitely there.”

The hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and information can be obtained by calling (918) 456-5263.

Lane said the store will carry brands that “other stores are not carrying.”

“I also have school apparel for Tahlequah High School and NSU,” she said. “I’ve also got OSU and OU things. I may venture out to some of the other schools in the area.”

 Aspiring dancers and singers can seek guidance from the Academy of the Performing Arts, 17328 S. Muskogee Ave., located in the Cherokee Hills Business Park, said APA Director Lena Gladkova-Huffman.

“We have an open house planned on Aug. 16, from 5 to 7 [p.m.], for anyone interested in classes,” she said. “We’re going to be offering Vaganova-style ballet, ballroom [dancing], musical theater and Irish dancing as part of the McCafferty’s School of Irish Dance. The musical theater is going to consist of tap, jazz and vocal –all the Broadway-style singing. And we’re going to be working Monday through Friday. We have a website where you can find out the schedules and the prices. Just go to www.apatahle quah.com. The phone number is (918) 803-1408. The classes are for ages 3, 4 and up.”