Kalee Horn with Twisted Horn
When a dream is meant to happen , there is no stopping the magic of family , support and community .
Kalee Horn , Twisted Horn owner , recent OSU graduate and Merry
Main Street alumna , shared her ‘ glow up ’ story . What started as a small beginning of an online boutique is now a storefront on Washington Street , or better known as The Strip , in Stillwater .
The boutique idea started when Horn was sitting in Hideaway Pizza with her parents talking about her future and plans . Horn felt a slight void after graduating college and wanted to pursue working in a little shop on the weekends to fill the downtime of her Monday through Friday , 8-to-5 job .
As they chatted , her stepdad asked , “ Why don ’ t you just open a store ?” Cue Twisted Horn being born .
After establishing an online presence in 2018 , Horn started setting up at stock shows . Then , the opportunity for Merry Main Street showcased ; an approved application and meeting later , Twisted Horn had an official dome spot at the opening weekend of Merry Main Street , which happened to be Black Friday and Small Business Saturday , in November 2019 .
Horn said , “[ Merry Main Street ] was really the first thing I have done in Stillwater that was community-wide .”
Shannon Williams and Alane Zannotti , founders of Merry Main Street , wrote a card to Horn and in the card read , “ I think Stillwater would thrive having a brick and mortar of Twisted Horn .”
Horn said , “ I ’ ll never forget , when Merry Main Street was over , it was so much fun . I absolutely loved it . It was such a great success . It confirmed people liked what I was doing .”
Horn said during her junior year of college , she told her dad about Buds Barbershop and how the little spot on the Strip would make a great boutique location .
Ideas started flowing and networking began as she started talking to The Cooper Penny owner one weekend about goals for her store . The Cooper Penny owner mentioned the barbershop location was vacant and looking for an owner . A few more calls and connections were made the following Monday , the empty building was seen on Tuesday , her parents came up Wednesday and the lease was signed Friday — all within a week the dream grew even bigger .
Blood , sweat and tears went into the storefront to get it ready . The plan was to open in April , but COVID-19 postponed the April opening . The doors opened in May 2020 and have been open since .
Horn said she didn ’ t think she would stay in Stillwater at first , but she loves Stillwater and stated the place grows on you .
“ The town is a perfect size , perfect community and I love that there is always the youthfulness of the college-aged students ,” she said .
Story by Kegan Herrick Photo Courtesy Hanna Runner
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COMMERCE | 2021 Profile Magazine of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce