Melodie Dobson

Melodie Dobson of Sallisaw says she can attribute much of her happiness and success to COVID-19.

Dobson, who opened Sozos, a coffee and sandwich shop in Sallisaw with her husband, Cory, about two months ago, said the two met at church and became friends about the time Covid hit.

“There weren’t too many places you could go, so we would get together and cook. I would fix something with smoked cheese because I love to smoke cheese and Cory would roast coffee for me,” she said.

The two spent so much time together doing something they both enjoyed, so after they married in 2021, they decided to experiment with additional food and drinks, and market and sell their products.

“We began selling coffee and other drinks and food at the Sallisaw Farmers Market and people loved it, so on June 15, we opened up our own shop right in the middle of town,” she said. “We’ve had a Sasquatch event which went over well, and we hope to invite musicians to play in the future.”

In addition to staying busy making coffee, tea, sandwiches and salads, for some of the regular customers who come in, Dobson said she also serves as a youth pastor for First Assembly Church in Sallisaw.

“I came to Sequoyah County in 1997 from Western Oklahoma. I grew up in California and decided to come here to be close to family,” she said. “But I believe it was actually God who brought me here because I love the life I have here.”

“I enjoy the people here and I try to make Sozos a friendly environment to come and relax and eat and drink something, or just a good place for people to sit and visit,” she said.

One of the first things one might notice is a huge buffalo attached to the wall of the shop.

“That was based on a campaign of “Let’s bring Joe home,”” she said, laughing.

“I always wanted to put a buffalo head on the wall but they can be very expensive. But through friends and supporters, we were able to raise the money to bring Joe here and now this is his home,” she said.

In addition to the buffalo head, Dobson said she wanted to create an environment which would be friendly and healthy for their son with autism, who may someday be able to work in the shop and grow there.

“Sozos means saved, healed and delivered in Hebrew, and we want our place to provide healthy benefits to anyone who comes here,” she said.

Her husband still roasts coffee and prepares fresh individual teas for the people who come there. She still smokes cheese and says there is smoked cheese in all the foods and sandwiches she makes.

“During Covid, I believe I felt better than ever before because I had been eating so much processed foods with preservatives. Now, I don’t have stomach issues as I did before and I feel so much better,” she said. “I try to make sure the foods we prepare are healthy for everyone.”

“I love coming to work every day. I love visiting with people here and it’s a good place for my husband and my son, who is a lovable kid,” she said.

“I always tell everyone to come and have a cup of joe and a hug to go,” she said.

Just Folks is Your TIMES way of honoring the regular people of Sequoyah County, recognizing their unique talents, personalities, jobs, abilities, etc. Your TIMES appreciates the cooperation of each Just Folks and the public’s nominations for this feature. If you know of someone you think might be a good story, contact Amie Remer or Lynn McCulley at 918-775-4433.