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BusinessMarch 21, 2016

Brothers Steve and Mark Mueller have been business owners in Cape Girardeau since 1972, but their family legacy goes back farther. "Between my father and the sons, we've been in business for over 60 years," Mark Mueller said. Their story begins with Cooley Paint Store, which their father bought in 1954 and ran for nearly two decades...

Twins Steve, left, and Mark Mueller pose for a photo Wednesday inside Stev-Mark in Cape Girardeau. Mike and Carole Harvell recently purchased the business, but the Mueller brothers will remain their in part-time roles.
Twins Steve, left, and Mark Mueller pose for a photo Wednesday inside Stev-Mark in Cape Girardeau. Mike and Carole Harvell recently purchased the business, but the Mueller brothers will remain their in part-time roles.Laura Simon

Brothers Steve and Mark Mueller have been business owners in Cape Girardeau since 1972, but their family legacy goes back farther.

"Between my father and the sons, we've been in business for over 60 years," Mark Mueller said.

Their story begins with Cooley Paint Store, which their father bought in 1954 and ran for nearly two decades.

After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University and moving to Memphis, Tennessee, to work for a large company, the brothers realized they preferred to manage their own business.

"We had gone away, and we had worked for the big man in the big city and made a realization that if you're going to work that hard, you might as well work for yourself," Mark Mueller said.

So they returned to Cape Girardeau and purchased Cooley Paint Store from their father, who was ready to retire. Ultimately, the store evolved into Stev-Mark Inc. which the brothers ran for 43 years. Stev-Mark was a residential retail store selling paints, wallpaper, custom framing and other home-decor products. They ran two locations -- one on William Street and another downtown.

Eventually, the Muellers sold the downtown store so they could concentrate on one location, rather than splitting their time and efforts.

"We didn't lose anything -- all our customers just followed us," Steve Mueller said.

Recently, the Mueller brothers decided it was time to retire.

"We've been in business from 1972 on," Mark Mueller said. "Until Dec. 31, 2015. On Jan. 1, we sold this business to Mike and Carole Harvell."

"And now we work for them," Steve Mueller said.

The Muellers are happy to step back from the business, though they still can be found in the store on William Street, each working about 20 hours a week.

"I do the first half of the week, and [Steve] does the second half," Mark Mueller said.

Because of the split in shifts and the frequent presence of a Mueller brother, it's not clear anything has changed as far as their role in the company.

"Actually, because we're twins, the customers don't even know," Steve Mueller said.

"We are thoroughly enjoying working with Steve and Mark," Carole Harvell said. "They know so much about so many different products. They're really a resource for designers."

Carole and Mike Harvell own Life-Style Designs and until recently had a storefront downtown where they sold cabinetry.

Carole Harvell said buying Stev-Mark was a great opportunity.

"From the very get-go, I wanted to help develop a design community, so when this opportunity happened, I thought this might be the way that I can help with that," she said.

The store has undergone a few changes since the Harvells took over at the beginning of the year. Bit by bit, the sales floor is being remodeled. New carpeting and wallpaper has been installed. The store still carries the same home-design products the Muellers sold, but the Harvells also are bringing in cabinetry and closetry.

But the changes coming to the store do not include a departure of the Muellers. At least, not in the immediate future.

"They're going to stay on with us as long as they want," Harvell said. "They're both enjoying it because they're not working themselves to death."

Nor do the changes include a new store name.

"We really never considered getting very far from the name," Harvell said.

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No matter what they named the store, Harvell said, those who came to Stev-Mark would continue calling it that.

"So why would we make it more complicated?"

"It will keep their legacy going," Harvell said. "It gives me chills to talk about it."

Group weighs in on Obama nominee

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released a statement concerning President Obama's recent nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, D.C. Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland.

This is the first time in the federation's 73-year history it has weighed in on a President's Supreme Court nominee.

"Judge Garland's record is discouraging," Brad Jones, state director of the NFIB said in a statement. "He has frequently sided with regulators, labor unions and trial lawyers at the expense of small businesses. ... The stakes are far too high for small businesses in Missouri for NFIB to sit on the sidelines."

CruiseOne travel agency gets new name

As part of a corporate initiative reinvesting in the travel brand's growth, Cape Girardeau travel agency franchise CruiseOne will function under the name Dream Vacations, effective April 5.

"As part of Dream Vacations, I will continue assisting my clients in every stage of the vacation-planning process," franchisee Carol Nunnery said in a news release. "I believe rebranding as Dream Vacations will instill confidence ion my clients and the community that they can book every type of vacation through my agency."

Mondi Jackson leases McKesson building

The former McKesson Pharmaceutical distribution building at 1823 Rust Ave. has been fully leased.

Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., handled a lease transaction with Mondi Jackson Inc., securing 52,000 square feet in the building.

This space will be used for product storage and distribution supporting Mondi Jackson's two Jackson-based manufacturing facilities. Kelsey said the other 60,000-square-foot portion of the warehouse is occupied by MTA Distributing.

Edward Jones adviser invited to conference

Cheryl Mothes
Cheryl Mothes

Cheryl Mothes, an Edward Jones financial adviser in Jackson since 1999, recently was invited to the Edward Jones Managing Partner's Conference in St. Louis.

The firm employs more than 14,000 financial advisors. This annual event honors the top 350. This is the third time Mothes has been invited to this event.

Ferrell Mobile Homes named No. 1 in state

For the second year in a row, Ferrell Mobile Homes Inc. was named the No. 1 dealer of all manufactured homes in Missouri by Statistical Surveys Inc., a data company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that tracks the sales of new manufactured homes.

Business licenses

  • Hometown Equity Mortgage St. Louis Inc., 121 S. Broadview, is a mortgage-loan company owned by Donald Miller. The anticipated opening date was March 16.
  • Teter Fashion LLC, dba Plato's Closet, 257 N. Kingshighway, buys and sells teen clothing and accessories. Owned by Scott and Marla Teter, the anticipated opening date is April 1.
  • STL Mobile, dba Boost Mobile, 2136 William St., is a retail cellular store owned by Gina Ihmood. The anticipated opening date was March 15.
  • Renaissance, 139 N. Main St., has changed owners. Once owned by Mike and Sherry Yaeger, the retail decor store now is owned by Jenna Beussink Lents.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

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