Sitting in a Braum's, my wife and I humbly shared the Big Country Breakfast. I snagged the eggs and hash browns while she savored the biscuit and sausage gravy. As usual, I sat facing the main entrance.
Then they came.
A work crew piled in, their plumbing truck and trailer parked outside.
A businessman followed, dressed sharply in slacks and patent leather shoes.
Next, a silver-haired couple, walking side by side.
An oilfield worker dressed for the cold in coveralls.
A woman in Carhartt overalls.
I reflected, "Braum's is the cross-section of Oklahoma."
My wife remarked, "You'd probably see the same thing anywhere."
I countered, "Absolutely not. At Jimmy's Egg, for instance, we'd see a slice of society, but not the whole spectrum like this."
William (Bill) Braum created a gem that Oklahomans hold dear (building on the foundation of his father Henry Braum's business). It's a space for everyone—whether you're homeless and need a warm coffee and a place to sit, or an executive of a Fortune 500 company like Paycom hunting for the best banana split near headquarters.
Everyone is welcome, and everyone belongs.
Braum's is more than an ice cream and burger joint—it's a great equalizer. Here, we all eat our ice cream one bite at a time (mine are pretty big bites). It's a shared dining room, a place where we rub shoulders with those who are like us—and those who aren't.
In a world that often feels divided, places like Braum's remind us of what we share. Let's cherish these institutions that unite us and give us common ground—whether it's over a double-dip cone or a hearty breakfast.
Thank you, Bill Braum, for this Oklahoma treasure.