This post was written by guest blogger, Cheyenne French, student at Southeast Missouri State University

Shopping for that special man in your life isn’t as difficult as you think. If you find yourself in the Downtown Cape area and have an itch to check some people off your Christmas list, you’re in luck! This area is home to some of the best cuisine, entertainment and shopping experiences around. Not to mention its historic background adding to the allure. Shopping for a man has never been easier once you see what these shops have to offer.

Start with some downtown restaurants, such as Broussard’s (for your Cajun lover) or Bella Italia (to satisfy your guy’s Italian craving), to kick-start your shopping spree off right. Port Cape (did someone say excellent BBQ?), Cup n’ Cork and Dynamite Coffee (who doesn’t need a good cup of coffee to start their day off right?), El Sol (Mexican!) and Katy O’Ferrell’s Publick House (your local Irish pub) help add to the diverse dining scene. Don’t forget Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill on Main St for the sports lover in your family. The Corner Grocery & Gourmet Chocolates is a hidden gem for the sweets lover in your life. Stop in to get him some Kentucky Bourbon Balls, homemade fudge and delicious turtles. Yum! Knock more people off your list and pick up an extra gift card or two for any food lovers you may know.

Gaming Grounds, located on Broadway, has tons of lightly used games for guys of any age. You can even rent the place out for parties or buy him an hour or two of gaming time in the store. They also sell gaming accessories for an awesome price. Gaming Grounds is a must stop for any gamer in your life.

Maybe you need a gift for the more sophisticated man; one who cherishes things from the heart. Any of the downtown antique stores would be the perfect place to start. Sure, you hear the word “antiques” and think of some old cameras or ceramics, right? Wrong! These places have TONS of treasures for guys young and old. You can find vintage watches and belts, high-quality ink pen sets and vintage tools, or trinkets to hang in their man cave.

If man cave accessories are what he’s looking for, step over to Hutson’s Fine Furniture for a selection of furnishings and décor that’s never ending. If you’ve been searching for the perfect recliner to be his easy chair, you’re in luck. Does he need a new desk for his home office? Hutson’s is the place to shop. With a wide variety of all sorts of furniture including recliners, tables, clocks, rugs, mattresses and even fireplaces, Hutson’s has you covered.

If you’re feeling extra nice, take a look inside Grass Roots BMW Motorcycle for some excellent gift ideas. A shiny new motorcycle under the tree is sure to bring a smile to his face, but if that’s a little out of your realm, they also have apparel and accessories, parts and everything your cycle lover can dream of. While in the area, stop in Lattitudes Fair Trade Store where you'll find tasty coffee blends, handmade soaps and lotions, beautiful wine racks and other furnishings, to name a few. We can't even begin to detail what it means to be 'fair trade', so stop in and see how your purchases make a difference for those in need.

All these locations are a hop, skip, and a jump away. So take advantage of the beautiful city you live in and shop locally. Keep your main street alive and well by finding the perfect gift right in your very own neighborhood. Shop local in Downtown Cape Girardeau for all of the men on your list this Christmas!

This listing is not comprehensive of all the Downtown Cape offerings for men. Please check out all shopping outlets for unique ideas.

                             

There are several new businesses popping up in the downtown area. One of these new businesses is a unique fashion boutique, Ophelia, which opened in early June. With its fashion forward designs and vast assortment of clothing, shoes, jewelry and gifts, Ophelia has something to offer for women of all ages. From trendy pieces to basic staples, the store only carries six of each individual item, allowing for new styles to be brought in daily. Ophelia also has a line of all natural bath and body products called KIND, which come from Webster Groves, Missouri.

Ophelia’s original location is in downtown Farmington, Missouri. In June of 2013, Patrice Parson had an opportunity to purchase Ophelia after hearing that it was going out of business. “I decided to start a new adventure into owning a business when the previous owner approached me with the chance to buy the store. I was so excited about the new adventure, but also scared to lose my shopping place so I decided that being a new business owner was a new adventure I was ready for”. Not long after purchasing the Farmington location, Patrice and her husband new that they wanted to expand. Being a Southeast Missouri State University graduate and a former resident of Cape Girardeau, Patrice was very familiar with the Cape Girardeau area. After making several trips to downtown Cape Girardeau and visiting with several downtown business owners, they began to start the search for the perfect building for their new boutique. With the help of Old Town Cape, Patrice and her husband were able to find the perfect location for their second store.

Ophelia is located at 125 North Main Street. For more information about their store, check out their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OpheliaCapeGirardeau.

With the recent decision to bring the annual Fourth of July fireworks display back to downtown Cape Girardeau, we thought it a pertinent time to discuss the beneficial impacts that events such as this have on the downtown area.  

 

The list of events taking place downtown during a given period is lofty, and includes the fireworks display, Tunes at Twilight, First Friday, Parade of Lights, and The River Tales Classic Car Show…among many others. These events have the capacity to draw thousands of people (local and regional) into the Old Town Cape area that might not have otherwise visited. When combined with the areas multitude of retail, dining, and entertainment options, it’s an obvious winning situation for downtown merchants of every variety.

 

A recent study conducted by The Maine Center for Economic Policy examined a cities’ economic impacts when comparing local versus chain stores. The city of Portland, ME that was chosen has a population of just over sixty-six thousand people, which is comparable in nature to the Cape Girardeau and Jackson regional area. They analyzed data collected from 28 locally owned retail businesses, along with corporate filings for a representative national chain. The researchers found,

 

“That every $100 spent at locally owned businesses contributes an additional $58 to the local economy.  By comparison, $100 spent at a chain store in Portland yields just $33 in local economic impact.”

The study concluded,

 

“That if residents of the region were to shift 10 percent of their spending from chains to locally owned businesses, it would generate $127 million in additional local economic activity and 874 new jobs.”

 

Cape Girardeau is obviously not Portland, ME, but even if we were to assume a fraction of the benefits they found, we can come to the conclusion that local spending and events are a winning combination for Cape Girardeau. This is why we as downtown merchants, of every variety, should feel the need to champion events such as our recent fireworks display, while also applauding those who chose to patronize local retailers while in attendance.  Of utmost importance though, is to come to realization that events such as these can come to a close at a moment’s notice without support from the local community. We don’t like to imagine a downtown free from the sounds of an acoustic guitar at Tunes at Twilight, the uproar of a hot rod revving its engine during the car shows, or seeing the first set of Christmas lights parading down Broadway. We certainly hope that everyone in our area feels the same!

This post was contributed to by Claire Bruce, owner of Sloan + Themis.

The bond between a mother and her child is indescribable. But, what about the bond between mothers and daughters in business...together? In celebration of Mother's Day, here's what it's like to share that indescribable bond in both life and business while working as a mom-daughter team in downtown Cape.

Pastimes Antiques - Deb Maevers and Kyleigh Baliva

"This whole store wouldn't have been in my wildest dream. But, us working together? It's been fun. I would enjoy working with her whether she was daughter or not," says Deb , owner of Pastimes Antiques when asked about working with her daughter, Kyleigh.

Deb and Kyleigh have worked together on several ambitious projects. Not only does the mother-daughter team manage one of downtown's largest antique stores, they've embarked on the Vintage Now Fashion Show. Vintage Now, started in 2009, is an annual fundraiser that brings together their love of vintage fashion and helping women via the local safe house.

Both ladies bring their own energy and specialties to the business, which add to their favorite parts of working with one another. "We can be silly together and make fun things," says Kyleigh.

Kyleigh said they can be put into any situation and are able to know what the other is thinking. In the business of vintage and antique wares, one never knows exactly what may come through the door. The pair prepares well together to handle anything and everything as a team, right down to reading each other's minds according to Deb. "I do some things before I know she wants me to do it," said Kyleigh.

Deb and Kyleigh's relationship has grown even closer having worked together since 2003. Deb's extensive work with interior design has been passed down to Kyleigh over the last several years. "I used to do all the windows, and now mostly she does them all. She's become a great window display artist," said Deb.

Time spent together working at Pastimes is invaluable to both ladies. Catching up with one another is easier at the store, providing an opportunity that otherwise may not be as easy to come by. "She's my best friend; I don't know what I would do without her," said Deb.

Stash - Jill and Emily Hoehne

In fall 2012, downtowners got some new neighbors when mother-daughter team Jill and Emily Hoehne opened Stash on Main Street. With a mix of brightly colored frocks and hip accessories, the boutique was an instant hit.

"It was always my dream to open a shop, and the stars aligned to make it happen," said Emily. Emily has managed retail shops in the St. Louis area for several years before returning to the Cape Girardeau area to earn her degree. Around the time Emily graduated, Jill had the opportunity to retire, then both mother and daughter were able to start a new adventure together.

The Hoehnes found that taking turns was key in making it all work. They worked together designing and building the shop. From scouting out vintage accents, constructing displays, refinishing tables, and hanging and steaming clothes, mother and daughter shared tasks and business decisions. Today, they still distribute the workload 50/50 in the store. Emily is the planner and the buyer who travels several times a year to market in Los Angeles and Dallas. Outgoing Jill has found her strength in styling and helping find the perfect look. "I love meeting all the new people and learning their stores, what their likes and dislikes are," said Jill.

Not only have the Hoehnes made a big impact on Cape's fashion scene, downtown has made an impact on their family. If you have every shopped at Stash, you know it is truly a family business. In one of the dressing rooms hangs a photo of Jill's mother, who provides shoppers with inspiration for grace and elegance. Emily also often brings her son to work. "I like that my son, Adrik, can see people working hard and succeeding. It teaches him the value of a dollar," said Emily. Recently Adrik even raised money for his school by making bracelets and selling them at Stash. Business savvy definitely runs in the Hoehne family.

Sunshine is finally headed our way. Prepare yourself in these stylish sunglasses. Lucky for you they're all available downtown! 

The following sunglasses are from Philanthropy and range in price from $18 to $28.









The following sunglasses, Solo eye-wear, are from Southern Style and range in price from $100 to $180.








Author: Toni Eftink is a Project Manager at Element 74 where she leads custom web projects. She has a huge love for downtown Cape Girardeau and small businesses. You can find her on Google+ and Twitter.

This post is co-written by guest bloggers, Lydia Ness and Steven Amrhein, students at Southeast Missouri State University.

With work and school, it had been a while since my boyfriend and I had been on a date. Since Valentine's Day is fast approaching, what better time to plan a date? We came together and decided on the perfect downtown date.

A key ingredient for the perfect date is perfect outfits for each, so being the awesome girlfriend that I am, I helped him pick out an outfit for the date. We made a trip to one of the newest stores downtown, Southern Style, where they have a great selection of both casual and dressy attire. After shopping around for a while, we decided on a Southern Tide button up shirt, Polo Ralph Lauren khaki jeans, and a Collared Greens belt.

I, however, wanted to keep my outfit a surprise, so after finishing up at Southern Style, I sent him on his way and made a trip to Main Street to visit my favorite boutique, Stash. A friend helped me pick out the perfect little black dress by Fable paired with a handmade necklace by Shira Melody and a pair of neutral heels by Gomax. Now with the outfits chosen, the date could not come soon enough!

To begin the day together, we visited eDen Spa and Salon for the VIP Couples Massage, which included a one hour massage and one hour in the sauna. It was nice to just relax and spend time together. Afterwards, we headed over to Cup N Cork for a light lunch and took a stroll afterwards since the weather was so nice. We came across Cream of the Crust, located on Spanish Street, and I just had to get a strawberry milkshake! Come to find out, their ice cream is homemade along with the other pastries, cakes, etc. that they now carry. The perfect afternoon was only getting better.

Now it was my turn to be surprised, and I definitely was. After walking by the gorgeous river, looking at the murals, and hopping along the train tracks, the sun began to set and we made our way to Bellevue Street. I was curious as to where we were headed, until I saw the sign on the outside of a unique house - Celebrations.

I always wanted to try the elegant restaurant, and now I was so lucky to get to share the experience with my boyfriend. We were seated by a very personable host who introduced us to their award winning wine list with wines from small artisan producers. He also explained that the owners buy most of the food from local farmers so the food is guaranteed to be fresh. My boyfriend ordered the main dish of Sautéed Pacific Rockfish, but I went with a smaller dish, the Housemade Fettuccini.

The date was going so well that we just weren't ready for it to end. We were all dressed up so we decided to take a leisurely drive down Broadway on our way back home and I instantly saw the bright lights of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. We figured it was a way to have some more fun and a chance to win back some of that date money, right? When we walked in, the live band was rocking loud music, playing all of today's hits and even some oldies. Not only were people pressing their luck at the machines, but a crowd was forming on the dance floor. We ended up dancing the night away and the band just so happened to play our song, "Treasure," by Bruno Mars.

The perfect date was a success! I was so happy to explore downtown with the best boyfriend around. I look forward to spending even more time downtown in the future and I encourage you to do the same. Who knows? You could convince your other half to take you on a date like ours!

Disclaimer: Lydia and Steven are only friends, but pretended to be dating for the purpose of this blog post.

Looking for a unique gift for that special woman in your life but have a set price range? Have no fear, shop downtown this year! I've gathered ten gift ideas each under $50 that are available at various downtown businesses. So whether you're in search of a scarf for her to wear with that new winter coat or a one-of-a-kind candle for her to burn while she's all cozy on the couch, I've got you covered. Here's what I found and pictures are included below:

1. Rewined candle (available at Sweet Designs Boutique) - repurposed wine bottle candles with scents that mimic the tasting notes of wine; $25 each

2. Vintage bracelet (available at Sloan + Themis) - eco friendly bracelet made of vintage brass chain circa 1930 with sterling silver toggle clasp; $39 each

3. Scarves (available at Stash) - variety of scarves made from wool, silk, cotton, etc.; $16-24 each

4. Stonewall Kitchen Gingerbread Cupcake Mix (available at Annie Em's at Home); $12.50 each

5. Cute and cozy wine bottle huggies (available at Pastimes Antiques) - the perfect accessory for wine bottles; $6 each

6. Country Living Sweet Pepper Glaze (available at Merci) - this makes a great topping for cream cheese and bread; $8 each

7. Holiday decor tables (available at Shoppe La La) - comes in snowman, wreath, or Santa Clause; $10 each

8. Hypo-allergenic earrings (available at Jayson Jewelers) - available in ruby, emerald, pearl, and sapphire; $35 each

9. Fuzzy heart slippers (available at Renaissance) - sizes small, medium, and large; $30 each

10. Ugg purse (available at Reruns) - small crossbody purse with one pocket; $45 each

This post is written by guest blogger, Jen Schwent, Student Worker at Old Town Cape.

It's that time of the year again and Christmas is upon us. Last year, I was fortunate enough to be able to take my son to Old Town Cape's Downtown Christmas Open House, and it was a Christmas memory I will forever remember.

James was six months old at the time, so I wasn't sure how meeting Santa for the first time was going to go. However, I was surprised to find out that he loved Santa, especially playing with his soft beard. He was able to get a free picture taken with Santa and was also there in time to see the one and only 6 foot elf! We had plans to ride in the carriage pulled by horses, but he fell asleep right before we got in line so I didn't wake him.

It was cold last year, but we were bundled up and got to enjoy all of the sites and shops. We both loved different pieces of it. My son liked the cookies and snacks that were offered at some of the downtown businesses along with the carolers along Main Street. One group even dressed up in clothing from the early twentieth century - it was so cool! And I enjoyed getting all of my Christmas shopping done. Many of the businesses offered specials and since I don't do "Black Friday," it was nice to still get deals. The gifts that I purchased were so unique and had more character than if I would've shopped at big box stores.

My little guy was too young last year to enjoy the crafts at Santa's Workshop, so I'm looking forward to taking him to enjoy those this year, and of course ride in the carriage. The Downtown Christmas Open House was great and it has become a tradition for our family. If you haven't ever been, I strongly encourage you to head downtown to the Riverfront area next Friday (Dec. 13) between 5 and 9 p.m. to enjoy the free event!

If you're a shopping fanatic like myself, you know this weekend marks the start of the holiday shopping season. And while you're probably familiar with the shopping frenzy induced by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday gives customers a different take on the retail experience.

On November 30, people across the country will pledge to shop local for the holidays and make their purchases at small businesses instead of heading to the mall or big box stores. American Express believes that when we shop small, the impacts are huge - the money stays within our local economy by way of retail sales tax, which in turn funds city services like public safety, parks and recreation, etc. It's a win-win for everyone. And that's the sole reason American Express started the Small Business Saturday initiative back in 2010. It wasn't until 2011 that the U.S. Senate officially recognized the holiday, but since then the estimated consumer spending amount on that day has grown to $5.5 billion!

Old Town Cape is home to more than 50 locally owned retail shops that all have their own unique identity. So whether you are looking for a vintage gift, a new pair of shoes, dazzling jewelry or even a toy for your four-legged furry friend, it can be found in downtown Cape. Many of the stores are having in-store specials (a list can be found here), so I challenge you to visit these small businesses to get some of your holiday shopping done - I know I will be!

As an extra, Old Town Cape is giving shoppers a special treat this holiday season. The first ten people to comment on this post and mention what downtown small business they will be shopping at on November 30 will receive a free Small Business Saturday reusable shopping bag.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

This post is written by guest blogger, Julie Turnipseed, Executive Director of Warresnburg Main Street.

Many years ago I had the opportunity to visit Old Town Cape for the first time. I arrived via the American Queen on a scheduled stop. I remember then thinking what a great place it was and how friendly the people were and that I would like to make a return visit.

I had the opportunity to return last week to attend the Missouri Main Street Manager's Meeting. Marla Mills, Executive Director of Old Town Cape, and Steven Hoffman, Director of the Historic Preservation Program at Southeast Missouri State University, gave us a walking tour of downtown and driving tour of the beautiful city.

I was impressed by the many friendly downtown business owners as well as the many unique stores and restaurants. The downtown district was very clean and inviting. It is evident of the abundance of community pride in Cape Girardeau. I am a 26 year veteran of downtown revitalization and have visited many historic downtowns, not many have the great mix of viable businesses that I saw in downtown Cape.

We were shown the many historic homes and buildings throughout the community and I was impressed with the number that have been restored. We also toured parts of the University and were shown the restoration projects that are currently in progress. I couldn't help but think how vibrant and alive downtown Cape Girardeau is and what a great job Marla, Steven and others have done to make this community what it is today.

As I was leaving to head back to Warrensburg, I thought to myself that I would like to make a return visit to Cape Girardeau sometime soon to once again experience the many friendly and unique businesses downtown.

Congratulations and thank you for the opportunity to visit downtown Cape!