DOWNTOWN ANTIQUE SHOPS CHANGE LOCATION, BUT RETAIN SELECTION OF UNUSUAL COLLECTIBLES

Old is still "in" in downtown Cape Girardeau, but the antiques and collectible business in the downtown area has undergone some changes.

When Heartland Antique Emporium closed its doors at 5. N. Main on April 30, a dozen dealers who wanted to remain in the downtown area sought new quarters.

Seven of them wound up in the building at the corner of Spanish and Independence, and five are in new quarters at 31 N. Main.

Croxton's Antiques, in search of more room, moved its previous location at 109 Independence to a new site at 612 Broadway. With the new-found space, Croxton's also offered dealer space for rent and now has a number of dealers.

"We were on Independence three years, but ran out of room," said Geraldine Croxton. "We have more than tripled our space at the new location. "We even have space to spare here. A number of dealers are leasing small areas, giving us a variety of antiques, gifts, crafts, furniture and other collectibles."

One new antique operation is located at 220 Independence. Whitfield's Fine Dining and Unique Caterers now offers a selection of antiques.

In addition to the new shops, Smothers Antiques is the oldest antique store in downtown Cape Girardeau, at 221 Independence, and Hansen Collectibles, 210 Independence, is in its second year of operation.

Main Street Antiques, 31 N. Main, is operated by Judith Golightly. Included in the former Madder Rose Shop are five dealers His & Hers, featuring military and Oriental collectibles; Paper Moon, featuring vintage books, magazines and other paper items; The Pirate and his Lady, featuring jewelry, coins and toys; Madder Rose Antiques, featuring a variety of antiques and collectibles.

Dealers included at the corner of Spanish and Independence include Just for Nice, specializing in vintage linen; Jan's Place, specializing in pottery; Heartland Antiques, a variety of antiques; Remember When, specializing in furniture; Pieces of Old, specializing in depression and other glass and Heirlooms, specializing in jewelry.

"We now have four antique operations within a couple blocks of each other," said Lee Ann Hansen, who operates Hansen's Collectibles. "This is good. People who hunt antiques usually look for the oldest section of town in their search. The more shops they can find, the better.

"Downtown is where the action is," continued Hansen. "We like the traffic we're getting." Hansen and her husband, Tim, are owners of the new shop.

Harlan Smothers agreed: "People look for antiques, collectibles, specialty shops and restaurants in the downtown area. With Cape Girardeau being located on the river, that makes us even more attractive."

Smothers' shop is the oldest antique store in the downtown area, and it features a variety of fine antiques and collectibles.

"I opened here nine years ago," he said. "We welcome other an~tique dealers. If we don't have it, we'll send consumers to other shops in the area. Even if we have items a customer wants, we'll suggest that they visit other shops before leaving the area."

Also in the immediate area are Second Act, a consignment operation at 2 N. Main that features many items, including some an~tiques and collectibles; and two baseball card and memorabilia operations, Baseball Cards Unlimited, 113 Independence, and Broadway Sports Cards on North Main.

Not too far away from the immediate downtown sector are other collectible operations: Attic Treasures, 318 S. Sprigg; Cooper's Collectibles, 320 S. Sprigg; Markham's Collectibles, 329 S. Sprigg; Mom's Treasures, 326 S. Sprigg; Country Pride Antiques, 715 Broadway; Consignment Center, 429 Broadway; and Country Girl Creations, 18 N. Sprigg.

The bonus of numerous antiques and collectibles shops is a "consumer-friendly" one.