STRIKES TAKE TOLL ON SOME RETAILERS

With a Division I school within the city limits, plenty of ideal hunting and fishing sites just outside the city limits and St. Louis and professional teams just a 90-mile drive away, no one can accuse Cape Girardeau of not being a sports-minded town.

That fact is re-enforced by the numerous sporting goods establishments which have found a niche in the city. They range from selling sportswear to hunting and fishing equipment.

Champs Sporting Goods deals mainly in the apparel end of sports. The store experienced first-hand some of the dramatic effects of a strange year in sports highlighted by strikes in hockey and baseball.

Local Champs Sports manager Allan Mauk saw the chain cancel a $1 million major league baseball hat order before Christmas.

"Right now we don't have a single new thing in for spring," said Mauk, referring to the store's baseball apparel.

Mauk said local people come in his store looking for bats and gloves but not for major league merchandise.

"I think it will pick up when they start playing again," said Mauk. "It's hurt baseball sales, but people that would have bought that went ahead and bought something else. Football sales were really good this year."

Mauk said "attitude wear," such as No Fear, is popular and sees the company carrying more in the future.

Altenthal Sporting Goods owner Brad Altenthal has also seen the effects of the strikes.

"Baseball sales last year slowed down for us after the strike," said Altenthal. "You could definitely see a slowdown in pro baseball goods."

But because the local sports scene is so lively, Althenthal is not too concerned with the pro merchandise. The store is one of the main suppliers for local youth sports, especially hockey.

Altenthal Sporting Goods is in the process of relocating to the Plaza Galleria, a move which will double the store's space to approximately 3,500 square feet. New features will be three indoor batting cages.

"We're real excited about the cages," said Altenthal. "There's a big demand for indoor cages, especially when it's wet out."

The company will celebrate its third year in business this spring.

Howard's Sporting Goods has been serving the community for many years.

Howard's local angle has also minimized the loss of pro merchandise sales.

"Licensed product sales for us aren't as big as they used to be," said Howard's manager James Green.

Green did notice a downturn in sales of Cardinal sweatshirts this past Christmas.

"That's normally a big seller at Christmas," he said.

A big part of Howard's clothing sales is in custom embroidery. Also, with its location on the fringe of Southeast Missouri State University, the business sells a lot of Southeast shirts and sweatshirts.

A new product for Howard's next fall will be hockey skates. The store already sells roller blades.

Like other store managers, Green eagerly anticipates the official approval of the St. Louis Rams by the NFL hierarchy.

"As soon as it's legitimate to carry St. Louis Rams it'll be a big request," he predicts.

As far as Chrisman manager Mike Pind is concerned, the more strikes the better. That is if you're talking fishing.

Chrisman boasts a complete fly-fishing selection for both advanced and beginner fishermen.

In addition to hunting and outdoor clothes, the store also features rods, reels, fishing flies, waders, fly -tying material, a video library and more.

"There's nothing like this in the area," states Pind.

He is just approaching the busy time of the year with the start of trout season March 1.

Pind said fly-fishing seems to be the current fad in angling.

"I don't know if it's a Yuppie thing, having a river there or being pretty," said Pind. "It's a non-traditional way to catch fish."

Pind said sales are improving year-round as fly-fishing becomes a popular way to catch fish other than trout.