A popular store at Watonga’s local state park might have to switch up its menu after receiving a non-compliance letter from the state.
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department wrote the Roman Nose General Store in late April to say it was selling items “outside of the terms” of its lease agreement, sales which must be “approved in writing by the State.”
Store manager Rory Espy said the state is objecting specifically to the shop’s breakfast buffets, steaks, and special Easter dinners. Under the lease agreement, the general store’s food service is “limited to sandwiches and fast food items” unless given “written permission from the State.”
In a follow-up letter to the state, Espy contends his store is following the lease.
“It is our position all of these items are fast food items and simple internet searches can find comparable fast food establishments and fast food trucks that serve all of these items,” Espy wrote in a letter he provided to the Watonga Republican. “Fast Food is defined as food that is quick to prepare and/or can be carried out.”
Espy’s letter says his special Easter dinners and steak dinners can all be carried out and that the steaks are cooked in about five minutes. “Buffet service is easily the fastest food service we operate,” he continues. “All food is pre prepared and served by an employee to prepaid customers. The average food service time is less than five minutes per customer.”
According to Espy, Roman Nose park manager Levi Garrett first approached him in summer 2020 after a “successful steak night” at the store, asking him to request a special use permit for future events. Garrett directed Espy to a Tourism Department employee, Carrie Rush, for further questions.
When Espy asked Rush what exactly the Tourism Department considered “fast food,” Rush told him “it had been discussed a lot but her office could not come to a consensus on it,” Espy says.
“Ms. Rush said she would get more information and be back in contact with him about these options,” Espy wrote in his response letter. “Ms. Rush never spoke to the manager again about this, and he believed it was resolved after completing a use permit.”
The state was also concerned about the store’s use of live music during some meal service, Espy says.
On Facebook in late April, the general store announced a workaround for its steak problem. “Coming to a menu near you,” the post says: “Open faced steak sandwiches served on Texas toast. Can’t wait to get back in your bellies.”
In addition to the menu mix-up, the state’s letter of non-compliance also says the general store owes nearly $4,000 in a past-due water bill. Espy says that bill predates the current park administration and that he was told there were “no past due utilities” when he subleased the store in 2020.
Espy said the past-due bill had “never once been brought to our attention until your letter” and that it “will be paid now that they have been received.”
In response to questions from the Watonga Republican, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department declined to get into specifics but issued a statement calling the general store “a tremendous asset to Roman Nose State Park and surrounding communities.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the current management team to provide food options and rentals to park guests and members of the community within the confines of the current lease agreement.
“The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has worked tirelessly over the last two years to modernize and streamline operations while improving guest experiences in our state parks,” the statement continues. “This process includes working with lessees, vendors and park employees to standardize financial and legal reporting requirements to protect all parties, park guests and taxpayers.”
Garrett declined to comment, instead directing the Republican to the Tourism Department and its statement.