CHRISMAN ART GALLERY: NEW NAME, NEW LOOK, NEW SITE, IN DOWNTOWN CAPE GIRARDEAU

Chrisman Art Gallery & Outfitters has returned to downtown Cape Girardeau with a new look, and more and different merchandise, following a 10-year absence, since it moved to West Park Mall in 1981.

David Vinson realizes that the traffic flow may be less in his new downtown location, but he is preparing for that by providing an attractive setting, and more and varied lines of merchandise for his customers.

The Vinson family of Dexter, which operates Chrisman Art Gallery operations at Cape Girardeau, Dexter, and Kansas City, recently purchased the former Otasco Drug Store building, at 34 N. Main, from Martin Hecht.

"The building has been completely remodeled inside and out," said Vinson. "The front has been rebricked, we've installed new flooring, carpeting, and walls."

With almost triple the space the operation had at the mall, the Vinson family which includes David and his parents, Joe and Carol Vinson has added some new departments to its operation.

The store originally opened in downtown Cape Girardeau in the mid-1970s as Chrisman Wildlife Art and Frame Shop, with emphasis on art and frames.

"We've added a wide selection of clothing, both for the outdoors look and the casual look," said the younger Vinson. "We call it adventure wear, but basically it's casual."

Among brand names are Timberland, Kenneth Gordon and Browning, all providing men's and women's wear, boots and shoes."

Another new section will be a fly-fishing section, with an emphasis on fly-fishing rods and fly-tying equipment.

The store would be open six days a week Monday through Saturday. "Tentatively, we'll be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and will remain open until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday," he said. "We'll play it by ear. We can adjust our hours later. If we have to, we'll stay open later. Or we may cut back. That's something that will have to be determined."

The downtown gallery operation is the largest of three Chrisman Art Gallery operations.

"Our Kansas City store has about 10,000 square feet and we have about 7,000 square feet at Dexter," said Vinson. "We've been looking forward to moving back downtown."

Chrisman Art Gallery was located on Main Street about six years before moving to the Mall.

Chrisman's return to the downtown area is a welcome one.

"The entire downtown area is thrilled with the return of Chrisman Art Gallery," said Evelyn Boardman, immediate past marketing director for the Downtown Merchants Association until Saturday. "It's not often that someone purchases or leases a large building, and we've had two in the past three months. This will be a big boost to the downtown area."

Chrisman and a retail office furniture firm both announced in early February that they were locating in the downtown area. The office equipment company, Office Furniture World, located at 20 N. Main, opened for business in February, in a large building which formerly housed Montgomery Ward, and later was home to Cheatham's Furniture.

Owner Frank Klueppel of Cape Girardeau said the office furniture store covers 40,000 square feet, with half of it being on the main level.