Pottery Cottage Moves To Heart of Downtown

Their ­aesthetic qualities make them perfect to use as family ­heirlooms, and their glazed and tough exteriors enable them to be used as everyday, functional pieces.

Leslie Cohen holds the banner in front of her new location at the corner of Cherokee and Will Rogers in historic downtown Claremore.

Leslie Cohen is all about creating and preserving tradition – that is why when she decided to move from her original location in ­historic downtown Claremore, she did not move to one of the newer parts of town. Instead, she chose to move The Pottery Cottage just down the street to 323 W. Will Rogers Blvd., where it will be part of the bustling main strip of the town she loves. The new location opens in July.

“As my business has grown, I needed more room and more parking spaces,” Leslie says. “And I didn’t want to leave downtown – it is a big part of who I am and what my shop is all about.”

Leslie was born and raised in Claremore. In fact, her father was one of the first two surgeons to open his practice in Claremore. Leslie currently serves as the Claremore High School Librarian. A few years ago, she decided to take her ­passion and turn it into a ­business by selling Polish ­pottery from her home. When her ­business outgrew her home, she opened a shop in June of 2010. She plans to expand her business even further by opening a wholesale segment so that ­other businesses can offer these lovely, handcrafted items.

The beauty of Polish pottery is that its pieces serve a dual ­purpose, says Leslie. Their ­aesthetic qualities make them perfect to use as family ­heirlooms, and their glazed and tough exteriors enable them to be used as everyday, functional pieces. A Polish pottery casserole dish can be pulled from the oven, placed on the table for serving, and put in the ­dishwasher without losing a bit of its luster. And this same ­casserole dish can be passed through a family for many ­generations to come.

Leslie’s commitment to ­preserving tradition extends well beyond her pottery business. She is interested in the history of her native Claremore and in what its old buildings represent. In her spare time, she often researches historic buildings and houses in the area and is overjoyed when she notices a building being restored and put to good use. Her new shop will be located in what was once Claremore’s first bank – the building still has its old safe intact, complete with combination door. Leslie plans to restore some of the old ­features of the building in order to give her shop the nostalgic ambiance she so loves.

In fact, Leslie doesn’t ever plan to move her business from downtown Claremore if she can help it. She loves the traditional shopping atmosphere found there and enjoys seeing people stroll down the main strip, ­perusing the diverse types of shops – everything from antiques to western outlets to book shops.

“If my store’s pottery gets people to come and help give downtown Claremore the life and attention it deserves,” says Leslie, “then this is where I need to be.” 

For more information, contact

The Pottery Cottage

(918) 852-0205

www.lesliespotterycottage.com