Third generation of Oakeys move leather business to Springville
Travis Oakey, of Springville, is busy at work tooling a piece of leather into a western wildlife scene at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade, a business that has been in his family for three generations. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey, of Springville, tools a strip of leather as he creates a wildlife scene to be sold at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey does a lot of custom leather work, including making custom saddles. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey stands with his wife, Amber Oakey, and son, Austyn Oakey, 4, for a photograph at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade, a business that has been in his family for three generations. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey, of Springville, sprays down a wildlife scene he's creating by tooling a strip of leather at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey, of Springville, works on a custom saddle at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade, a business that has been in his family for three generations. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey, of Springville, tools a piece of leather into a cowboy scene at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade, a business that has been in his family for three generations. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey, of Springville, works on a custom saddle at his workshop at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade, a business that has been in his family for three generations. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
Travis Oakey, of Springville, tools a piece of leather into a wildlife scene at Western Trade, his family's store in Springville. Oakey specializes in custom leather work, a lot of which is then sold at Western Trade, a business that has been in his family for three generations. SARAH WEISER/Daily Herald
SPRINGVILLE — When the roadwork was completed along State Street in Provo last summer, a small family-run business was one of the casualties. The addition of curb and gutter meant the demolition of Western Trade, which sat close to the old highway at 1645 S. State St. The old building was torn down and the business was forced to relocate.
“The original building had to be demolished so we bought a building and moved our business over to Springville in October,” third-generation owner Travis Oakey said. “After renovating it we have a big area of about 4,000 square feet that we opened this month, but our official grand opening will be Feb. 5.”
Oakey’s grandmother, Vera Oakey, built the original building in Provo in the mid-1900s. She opened a business she called The Westerner. Since she was an esthetician, she started with a beauty salon and then she expanded the business to include western wear clothing.
Kevin Oakey took over the store after his mother retired and changed the name to Western Trade. He added horse tack, archery supplies, western antiques and collectibles. As each generation has taken over, they have brought their interests and hobbies to the business.
“Eventually the business changed its focus to mainly leather goods, getting out of the clothing and archery,” said Amber Oakey, Travis Oakey’s wife. “Kevin began making and repairing saddles along with tooling leather wildlife carvings.”
“Travis was a business partner with his dad and learned the skills of custom leather work from him until he passed away in 2005. We had met in 2004 through the sport of trapshooting and we were married the same year his father died. It’s still a family business where I assist with the retail end of the business,” she explained.
Travis Oakey does a full line of custom leatherwork, including wildlife carvings, saddles, horse tack, belts, wallets, knife cases and gun holsters. Last week he had to close the store for a day while he went to Jackson Hole, Wyo., to install a custom leather handrail.
“I love working with leather,” Oakey said. “I learned how from my father and I love it. I make and repair saddles and horse tack. I don’t repair other leather products — if your belt breaks just come in and buy a new one. Some of my most popular items are the saddles, the custom leather belts and especially the gun holsters. Since we carry scrap leather and leather tools a lot of our customers come because they also enjoy working with leather and doing craft work.”
Customer Trent Smith came all the way from Delta to purchase dyed pieces of scrap leather to add to his custom walking sticks.
“I make walking sticks for myself and my friends, and Travis always has good prices and is very fair,” Smith said. “In 2011 I walked 1,500 miles because I enjoy the beauty of nature and God’s creations. This is my first time in the new Springville store and I really like it. It’s really well-organized. I don’t know if people know but it used to be the old Westside Market.”
The old market building has been transformed inside but the outside retains the high windows and recessed doorway. Inside the shelves are now stocked with every leather product imaginable and antique western items instead of canned goods. Bins filled with scrap leather and tools are in front of a large bench area where Oakey works on his custom leather items and watches over the store. The wall area above the shelves holds mounted wildlife trophies the Oakeys have hunted or purchased over the years.
“It’s a fun place to visit for people,” Travis Oakey said. “I’m a one-man operation with help from my wife so sometimes the store is closed if I am out doing a job, but usually I’m here and enjoy visiting with customers.”
For more information Oakey can be reached at his store during the week between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at (801) 491-1113, except on Sundays and Mondays or after 3 p.m. on Saturdays when Western Trade is closed. Everyone is invited to the grand opening on Feb. 5 at 241 S. 100 West in Springville.
