Longtime consignment shop owner calling it quits

smoyers

There's nothing secondhand about Ella Dowd.

For 23 years, the owner of Cast-A-Ways, one of Cape Girardeau's oldest and largest consignment shops, has chatted with browsers, asked about grandkids and shown a general and sincere interest in her customers.

She's even made a few dollars along the way.

But come September -- and definitely no later than October -- the 72-year-old is calling it quits.

"I really need to rest my old body a little bit," she said. "It's just time."

Dowd has already stopped taking consignments that have filled the two floors at the 99-year-old, 18,000-square-foot building at 502 Broadway since 1987.

But Dowd first opened her consignment shop at a "real hole in the wall" at 622 Broadway in 1979. She moved to a house a bit later at 1010 Broadway and then had a brief stop at 19 N. Main before moving to her present location.

Wherever the store was, however, it always has featured a department store's worth of goods, including pre-owned clothing for men, women and children as well as a large assortment of household items. There is also the sporadic small appliances, knickknacks, dishes and jewelry nestled away near the ties and long rows of shoes.

Not that business hasn't been good. Some uppity-ups might find wearing previously owned clothing distasteful, but starving college kids and shrewd shoppers -- along with my wife -- have always been a mainstay.

"I get lawyers, bankers, doctors," she said. "You name it."

And Dowd still enjoys it. She's even helped people out. Donating clothes to Teen Challenge. Giving a less fortunate boy shoes or a little girl a coat to keep her warm. The list goes on.

"Helping people out is the best part of this job," she said. "It makes you feel good."

But with age, things seem harder to do than they used to.

"If I were 20 years younger, I wouldn't even give it a thought," she said. "I've loved being with people. I'm a people person. But there comes a point where it just doesn't seem as easy as it used to. I finally had to admit to myself that I'm not up to it."

Dowd may be set to retire, but the future of her business and the building is still uncertain. The building -- which Dowd owns -- is on the market. There is at least one person interested in taking Cast-A-Ways over and keeping it a consignment shop, but the woman is working out finances.

There are also developers interested in making the building an apartment building or even office space.

"I would prefer it remains what it is or at least a business of some sort," she said. "People need that. But I just don't know what's going to happen. We'll just have to wait and see."

Whatever happens to the building, Mrs. Dowd, here's just our hope that you get your wish -- a little rest, a measure of relaxation and a whole lot of satisfaction for what you've accomplished and what you've meant to our community.

It's electrifyin'

Cape Electrical Supply has purchased Hughes Electrical Supply in Union City, Tenn. The new location will operate under the name of Southfork Electrical Supply. Cape Electric currently operates Southfork locations in Mayfield, Paducah, and Murray, Ky., as well as Dyersburg Electrical Supply in Dyersburg, Tenn.

Cape Electrical Supply has been in business since 1953. With 16 locations and 125 employees, they have enjoyed substantial growth over the years.

Best Buy signs lease

The ink's still wet, but the papers have been signed.

Best Buy has announced that the lease has been signed for the new store at 254 S. Silver Springs Road.

The new 30,000-square-foot store is scheduled to open this fall. It will be the first store in Cape Girardeau and the 13th Best Buy store in Missouri. It is one of more than 60 new retail locations Best Buy will open throughout the United States in 2002.

The store will employ about 90 full-timers.

Scott Moyers is business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to Biz Buzz, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, e-mail to smoyers@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 137.