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Get ready Holbrook! There’s new life coming to the old Pow Wow Trading Post on Navajo Blvd. in Holbrook. According to business owner and entrepreneur Raymond Wright, the Pow Wow is home to his most recent endeavor, the Petrified Smoke Shop.
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Over the years, the Pow Wow has been home to only a few businesses. Originally a hotel and eventually a medical marijuana dispensary in 2013, the Trading Post has seen many come and go throughout its existence in this little tourist town. Wright says he hopes to bring some of that traffic back through the historic building by providing a service he feels is necessary to the area.
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Built in 1928, the Pow Wow Trading Post was an addition to the seven-room Central Motel. Located on the cross streets of Florida Street and Navajo Blvd., it operated in combination with the motel as a curio shop prior to 1950. It wasn’t until then that Ken Leopold, the son of the original owner Ed Leopold, changed the name to the Pow Wow Trading Post.
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Art and jewelry spread across the walls presented more of a museum or art gallery appearance. Knick-knacks, ashtrays, rugs, kachina and cigarette cases were just a few of the many things the store had to offer.
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Candy, drinks and other snacks were sold to the locals and passersby. Stacy McKenzie, secretary for the City of Holbrook and who grew up in Holbrook, reminisced about the times her father would take her there as a child.
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“My dad would take us to the Pow Wow and we would get these little half frozen sodas. Then, he would give us each a dollar to spend in the penny candy isle,” adding with laugh, “I have only happy memories of that place,” recalling the way the clerk, Herbert Wyant would pat her on the head as she and her family headed out from their visit.
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With plans of opening a business that was of necessity to the locals and would attract more tourism, Wright grappled with several ideas. Having more than favorable outcomes with his previous endeavors, it wasn’t a matter of how he would open a business, but what kind.
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Like the trading post, Wright has had his fair share of success. After achieving his business goals in Los Angeles, the 44-year-old left his home in 2015 and moved to Holbrook. Shortly after settling in, he met “the love of his life” Holbrook native, Paula Garcia, now Paula Wright, since the two exchanged vows earlier this year. When asked why he wants to keep his business in Holbrook, he simply said, “We are well rooted in this community and we want to give back to it the best that we can.”
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Granted, they’ll be selling typical smoke shop items but Wright emphasized that one of his main goals is to attract tourists to this Old West treasure, which still boasts the large neon kachina sign out front from its early days. Not only will they stock convenience items such as snacks and drinks. Keeping true to the old town and cultural theme of the building, they’ll have petrified wood, Route 66 memorabilia and other souvenir items that represent the best of the area.
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Wright reiterated his hopes to attract tourism and locals saying, “We want to provide fair pricing, where people don’t have to travel so far to meet their needs.” Explaining that there are no stores of its kind within 25 miles of Holbrook.
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Wright stated, “We’re going to do whatever we can do to give back to supporting causes and things of that nature” when asked if he plans to be active in the community, whether it be youth or community support. Wrights wife, Paula has a long-standing history of volunteer work for youth activities and community events and supports her husband’s ambitions to be a positive contributor.
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The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening at the Pow Wow Trading Post at 12 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 7, where they’ll host a barbecue and do giveaways.
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Wright said he does plan to hire and will be accepting applications in store starting Monday, Aug. 19.
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