Shopping main street: Local stores provide sense of community, continuity

With the advent of big-box retailers decades ago, many mom-and-pop stores in a town's major shopping area shut their doors. But in towns big and small, more business owners are opening stores selling everything from furniture to wedding gowns and arts to antiques.

Downtown Cape Girardeau

Located right along the mighty Mississippi, downtown Cape is the historic core of the Cape Girardeau community.

Spanning a 130-block area that runs from West End Boulevard to the river, and from the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus to Broadway, downtown Cape is home to more than 60 retail businesses, many of which have been open for well over 50 years.

Stores in downtown Cape sell everything from name brand furniture to fine jewelry, quirky gifts to musical instruments and one-of-a-kind art pieces to eclectic antiques.

"Downtown Cape is a great place for a leisurely shopping experience," says Marla Mills, director of Old Town Cape. "You can come down and have lunch or coffee, do some shopping, visit the art galleries and really make an enjoyable afternoon or an entire day of it."

Business owners like the sense of community being downtown provides.

"I always knew I wanted to open my business in the downtown Cape shopping area," says Paula Haas, owner of Somewhere in Time Antiques. "I live and work in downtown Cape because I love the feel of the downtown area."

Downtown Cape has also become a destination location for antique shoppers of every age. "I might have a 20-year-old college student looking at vintage bracelets, a 30-year-old fisherman hunting for an antique fishing rod, or an 80-year-old woman shopping for an antique pottery piece," says Haas.

Of course, the new Isle of Capri Casino, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2012, will be an exciting addition to downtown Cape.

"The casino will make downtown even more vibrant and active and will really add to the great things we already have to offer," says Mills.

No visit to downtown Cape is complete without a walk down to the Mississippi River, where both tourists and locals alike love to marvel as the water rolls by and take in the historic paintings depicted on the flood wall.

"We opened our business in downtown Cape because we love the atmosphere and the ambiance of downtown," says Mike Yaeger, owner of Renaissance gift shop. "We enjoy the rich history of the old buildings and we gets lots of foot traffic because people from all over the country and the world come down to see the river and the bridge."

Uptown Jackson

In the heart of Jackson is a bustling retail area known as uptown Jackson. With approximately 14 retail businesses and several locally owned restaurants nestled on High, Main and Hope streets and the surrounding areas, uptown Jackson offers a little something for everyone, according to Brian Gerau, executive director of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

"We've always been attracted to the charm of a small-town shopping atmosphere," says Lisa Walker co-owner of High Street Station. "When my sister and I go shopping, we tend to seek out the quaint specialty stores as opposed to shopping in a mall, so that's what we've worked at creating here."

Uptown Jackson is home to major appliance stores, hair salons, gift and home decor stores, and even consignment/resale stores. It is also a popular destination for brides- and grooms-to-be, with its bridal salons that also feature tuxedo rentals.

"Having three bridal shops in the city of Jackson is a real benefit," says Gina Jansen, owner of The Andrew Jackson Bridal and Tuxedo. "We attract customers from several hundred miles away, and we always encourage them to shop in our other uptown Jackson businesses, and to eat in our local restaurants."

Uptown Jackson, which has been in existence for well over 100 years, is also home to Jackson's annual Homecomers Festival. Many of the uptown Jackson businesses extend their hours during Homecomers, Gerau says.

"Uptown Jackson is really a diverse shopping area," says Gerau. "We always ask residents of Jackson and the surrounding areas to shop local. With our wide variety of businesses, restaurants within walking distance, and accessible parking, uptown Jackson is a very nice place to spend a few hours or an entire day."

Perryville Square

Many locally owned retail stores and businesses have called Perryville Square home. Located in the center of Perryville, the square consists of about 10 retail businesses on Ste. Maries, Jackson, St. Joseph and Main streets. These stores offer everything from furniture to sports and team apparel to shoes as well as office furniture and supplies, signs, unusual crafts and gifts, consignment items and Hallmark cards. Along with several specialty stores, Rozier's department store is also in Perryville Square. They carry a wide variety of merchandise from electronics to clothing and shoes to hardware.

Tammy Erwin, owner of Country Creations, a store featuring crafts and gift items from Victorian to Western themes, says she loves owning a shop in Perryville Square. "This is an area of town that is shopped in a lot and it is in a really good location," says Erwin. "People see our merchandise in our window displays and they appreciate having a store where they can purchase craft items all year long rather than having to wait to see them at craft shows."

Along with the retail shops that grace Perryville Square, many city offices such as the court house, post office, city hall and police station are housed there as well.

"Being in the heart of the community, we are really in a high-traffic area," says Ken Nesslein, owner of Friendly Furniture. "Most of our community events are held here as well."

One of those events is Mayfest, which includes a craft fair and carnival, as well as food and music. A concert series is also held every summer on the courthouse lawn at the gazebo.

In addition to a variety of shops and city offices, the local newspaper, a restaurant, a tavern and an old-fashioned barber shop can all be found in Perryville Square.

With its easy access to Interstate 55, U.S. 61 and Highway 51, Perryville Square draws local shoppers as well as shoppers from out of state, according to Erwin. "I get a lot of customers who are traveling through our area who seek out unusual shops like mine," says Erwin. "I also get a lot of campers as well as local shoppers. It's fun to chat with them and get to know them and help them with their decorating plans."

Being close to the Illinois border also has its advantages for Perryville Square. "We get quite a bit of business from Randoph County in Illinois as well as our home county and Ste. Genevieve County in Missouri," says Nesslein. "It really is just as easy for shoppers to come here and shop as opposed to going somewhere else."

Downtown Sikeston

From its early beginnings as a frontier town in 1860 to today, downtown Sikeston enjoys a rich history and offers shoppers a variety of stores to choose from, according to Kim Robinson, executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston.

Approximately 15 locally owned retail businesses are along the downtown streets of Sikeston, which include Center, Front and Scott streets as well as West Malone Avenue and the northern parts of Kingshighway and New Madrid Streets.

Stores range from men's and women's clothiers to accessories and purses to home decor. Downtown Sikeston also offers a music store, several bridal salons and two fine jewelry stores as well as two art galleries, the Depot Museum and several antique shops. Consignment stores and hair salons round out downtown Sikeston's retail offerings.

"I had a store in the local outlet mall, and I chose to move to the downtown Sikeston shopping area," says Cathie Persinger, owner of Less than Perfect, a liquidation outlet featuring discounted merchandise from major department stores. "I watched the traffic downtown and saw that stores gained business because people were going to the bank and the post office and running their daily errands downtown.

"Plus, I like the idea of getting to know the local shoppers and building personal relationships with them. I also love the memories that these old downtown buildings hold for people who shop with us, and I want to continue to uphold these buildings so that our grandchildren can make memories here as well."

Teresa McGill, owner of Personal Expressions, has had a business in downtown Sikeston for the past 20 years. "We really try to cater to our customer's needs," says McGill. "From helping shoppers carry their purchases to their cars to providing free home delivery for brides-to-be, we offer that service after the sale that you don't always find in larger shopping areas."

In addition to the various shops, downtown Sikeston is also home to three local eateries and two parks. Malone Park plays host to various musical concerts in the spring and summer and Legion Square holds the farmer's market every Saturday morning from spring to fall.

"Our slogan is 'shop, dine, stroll,'" says Robinson. "Our cobblestone streets, period lighting and streetscape benches and trash receptacles really create a hometown atmosphere."

Asking residents to shop locally is also important to Persinger. "I always remind my customers that shopping local keeps their tax dollars local," she says.

Marble Hill

What started as a railroad town in the early 1800s is now a thriving community known as Marble Hill. The town is home to about 30 locally owned businesses, 90 percent of which are located on the Route 34/51 corridor.

"Being the largest town in Bollinger County, Marble Hill draws customers county wide and beyond," says Eva Dunn, secretary of the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce.

Marble Hill boasts two car dealerships, two car service centers, a hardware store, three consignment shops and a family game room among its locally owned businesses. It is also home to an antique shop, a quilting store and the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History, which features many kinds of dinosaur and fossil exhibits as well as American Indian and Civil War history displays

"I like the simple lifestyle that Marble Hill offers, and I enjoy knowing my customers," says Bill Peters, owner of Bill Peters Hardware. "In bigger towns, the selection can be so broad that it's hard to find a specific item. We always encourage our local residents to shop here first."

In addition to retail stores and services, Marble Hill also offers four locally owned restaurants with barbecue being their specialty. "Our county slogan is 'beauty, bones, and BBQ' due to the beautiful scenery, the dinosaur bones in the museum and the delicious barbecue that we are known for," says Dunn.

Marble Hill also pays homage to its railroad roots by housing and old train caboose and a replica of the former train station in its city park.

"I wanted to open a business in Marble Hill that was close to home that everyone in the community could use," says Holly Cook, owner of Holly's, which sells 70 percent consignment items such as prom dresses and children's clothing, and 30 percent new items like gifts and purses. Holly's just joined the Marble Hill business district in July 2011. "With the price of gas, local residents don't always want to travel to shop," says Cook. "If their child needs new clothes or they need to pick up a quick birthday gift, they can do all that right here without having to leave town."

Despite tough economic times, Marble Hill continues to thrive. "We have a very friendly business environment here that is growing," says Peters. "This is not the old Marble Hill that people may remember." Cook wholeheartedly agrees: "Shoppers need to give businesses in Marble Hill a chance and see what we have for them," she says.

Downtown Dexter

Along East and West Stoddard, North and South Walnut, and North and South Locust streets, 16 locally owned businesses make up the shopping area known as historic downtown Dexter. "We really have a wide variety of locally owned shops here," says Janet Coleman, executive director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce.

Those shops range from a Ben Franklin store that offers arts and crafts, cake decorating and fabric items to an art gallery and gift shop featuring art, jewelry, hand-crafted soaps and even foods all made in the state of Missouri. Other stores include selections of antiques, jewelry, purses and accessories, women's and children's clothing, specialty baby gifts and monogrammed items, and formal and prom wear and accessories. Two florists, a paper goods store featuring gift wrap, ribbons and gift bags, a consignment store, a boutique featuring beauty lines and services, and a furniture store round out downtown Dexter's shopping options.

"What is nice about historic downtown Dexter is the proximity of all the shops," says Coleman. "You can park on Main Street and walk from store to store in much less time than you could if you were in a mall. We also have two local restaurants, three beauty salons, an alterations service and a great martial arts studio all within walking distance of the shops."

The "walk-ability" of the shopping area also appeals to Miki Keathley, who co-owns MJ's Fashion Accessories with her husband, Ron. "I love the easy accessibility that we have in historic downtown Dexter," says Keathley. "There are no big parking lots to have to drive around and walk through. Plus, this is a very friendly community to both local and out-of- town shoppers."

Shoppers come from about a 50-mile radius to shop in Dexter, according to Coleman. Keathley has customers from as far away as Columbia and Jefferson City who seek out her shop for its selection of jewelry, purses, luggage, and other accessories. "We have shoppers ranging in age from high school girls looking for prom accessories to mature women looking for fashion pieces," says Keathley.

Dexter was founded in 1873 when the railroad came through that area. "The town was laid out around the railroad and we recently finished a six- month renovation of the old train depot," says Coleman. "It is now home to the Dexter Welcome Center and the Depot Museum and it is located right in downtown Dexter."

Erin Brown, who owns The Metro Gallery along with her husband, Larry, is proud of the progress that has been made downtown. "I really think our community has a lot to offer, and I'm glad we've been able to keep our town's history alive," says Brown. The Metro Gallery, which features artwork by many local Missouri artists, also has a specialty boutique inside the art gallery which showcases goods like handcrafted soaps and Stonie's sausage products.

"We offer a selection of items from all over the state as well as the country," says Brown. "Customers can stay right here and buy local and they don't have to travel to find those unusual purchases."

Personal service is also important to business owners. "We really try to offer customers who do business in Dexter a great shopping opportunity," says Coleman. "And, we have friendly people who are willing to assist you in all of our downtown shops and businesses."

Downtown Ste. Genevieve

From its 18th century architecture to its name, Ste. Genevieve still pays homage to its French and German roots. Downtown Ste. Genevieve is home to about 30 local businesses that work together to keep that history alive, according to Dena Kreitler, executive director of the Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce.

In downtown Ste. Genevieve -- which occupies Main, Market, Merchant and Third streets -- shoppers will find a variety of stores, many of which offer keepsake or sentimental items not typically found in malls or large shopping areas.

Ten locally owned art galleries call downtown Ste. Genevieve home, as do an old-fashioned candy shop, a stained-glass shop, and various stores featuring handmade candles, jewelry, and art pieces. Other shops offer home decor items, upscale women's clothing, fine European linen and lace items and wine and gourmet food from the Show-Me State.

"With its narrow streets, fenced gardens and French Colonial-style buildings, Ste. Genevieve has retained the charm and ambiance that were a part of the original French Colonial settlement," says Kreitler.

Many restaurants and cafes are within walking distance of the downtown Ste. Genevieve shopping area, which relies heavily on tourism and local support, according to Terri Grither, owner of Sweet Things, an old-time candy and gift store.

"I was born and raised in Ste. Genevieve, and I love the quiet quaintness of our community," says Grither. "Ste. Genevieve has the things my husband and I look for when we travel like great bed and breakfasts, wineries and interesting shops. As shop owners, we all really try to work together to support each other and be distinct from each other to draw more business to the downtown Ste. Genevieve area."

The town also boasts three of only five houses in the United States that are built on stilts, according to Kreitler. The "poteaux-sur-sole" or "poteaux-en-terre" homes are available for touring and add to the French charm found in downtown Ste. Genevieve.

People come from near and far to experience downtown Ste. Genevieve. "I love meeting all of the different types of people who come here to visit our community," says Kelly Fallert, owner of The Show Me Shop, a store specializing in Missouri wines and gourmet food items. "We have lots of customers who drive down from St. Louis for a quick getaway and we even have tourists from other countries who seek us out," says Fallert.

Ste. Genevieve, which was founded in 1735 about two miles south of its current location, was moved north in the 1780s and 1790s due to flooding. In 1820, the majority of the downtown area was built and those buildings, which originally housed saloons and mercantile and hardware stores, are still in place today.

"You really can find everything you need right here in downtown Ste. Genevieve," says Fallert, who has noticed an increase in local shoppers in recent months. "People don't always realize that you can have a great shopping experience by staying right here and shopping local."