GOODY'S CAPE STORE FIRST TO OPEN IN STATE

It's been a half-dozen years since Goody's Family Clothing received the "East Tennessee Entrepreneurial Company of the Year" award. That was 1991, and the year Goody's passed the century mark in stores.

The Knoxville, Tenn.-based company has more than doubled that total moving into new territories and establishing stores, ranging in size from 25,000 to 55,000 square feet.

The latest Goody's opened in Cape Girardeau Thursday.

"We're pleased to be here," said Robert M. Goodfriend, chairman and chief executive officer of the 200-plus clothing chain. "This is our first store in Missouri, and it's located in one of the fastest growing areas west of the Mississippi River."

The new store, in Cape West Plaza Shopping Center on Siemers Drive in the Cape West Business Park, consists of more than 27,500 square feet and provides employment to more than 60 people.

"This is a wonderful day," said Emily Fuller, manager of the new store. "I'm excited to be a part of the growth here."

Fuller joined Goody's in 1991 and had worked in Bowling Green, Ky., before moving here.

Goody's Family Store provides career paths for its employee, said Goodfriend. "We promote from within."

Robert Goodfriend is a third-generation family member in the family operation.

"My father, Mike Goodfriend, will visit the store at a later date," said Goodfriend. "He's 81 and retired but still likes to visit the new stores."

A fourth-generation family member has already joined the company. Jeff Goodfriend, 23, started with Goody's in January 1996, and is conducting a time-management study for the company.

Goody's was founded in 1953, when M.D. Goodfriend and a partner began the Athens Outlet Store in the small community of Athens, Tenn., as a 2,000-square-foot clothing store that sold irregulars, close-outs and previous year's merchandise.

As times changed, so did the business.

Robert Goodfriend joined the company in 1972. By this time, the company was already a small chain group.

The younger Goodfriend changed the business focus to first-quality, brand-name apparel for the entire family. The company became "Goody's," a nickname he had picked up in college.

In 1979, Robert Goodfriend took over the then-21-store chain. By 1991, it consisted of 100 stores, and the family business went public.

Since the public stock offering, Goodfriend has experienced great growth. In 1994, the group opened 24 stores. Currently, the company has 203 stores and more than 5,000 employees.

Goody's, said Goodfriend, features moderately priced clothing for the entire family.