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New shop on the Square May 2009
“Before my shop, I just quilted and was a seamstress out of my
house,” said Chanelle Bonham, owner of Quilt ‘n Down Home,
located just off the Square in
Liberty.
 |
| Chanelle Bonham’s new shop, Quilt ‘n Down Home, is getting a positive response from the quilt-minded in Liberty. (photo by Bruce Rodgers) |
“I was for hire and for three years I did alternations and custom work but I wanted a shop to get more business,” she continued. Bonham said she has been sewing since she was little. “I learned from my mom, grandmother and great-grandmother.” She said the demand for hand-quilted items and learning the craft remains even if the pace of modern life may lessen the opportunity to find the time it takes to learn. Yet, she plans on passing down the family’s quilting knowledge to her daughter.
“People want to learn and the demand is out there, but it’s hard to find the time,” said Bonham. For her, Bonham likes the creative challenge and wants people to know you can picture something in your head, and “you can make it.” Once her shop becomes established — and it’s likely it will, considering she had customers the first morning she opened — Bonham plans to start quilting classes. She wants to appeal to younger women (Bonham is under 30) “while getting a feel for what people are looking for” in a quilt shop Bonham is stocking her store with quality items and materials, including Floriani threads. “I’m the only one in the Kansas City area that carries it,” she said. Quilt ‘n Down Home is expanding its selection of fabric “at reasonable prices,” and also carries official Boy Scout fabric. Bonham continues to accept custom orders.
“I’ve had a lot of positive responses, people are excited there’s a quilt shop back in Liberty,” said Bonham. Quilt ‘n Down Home is located at 10 W Kansas. Call 816-792- 0300 for more information.
‘Stayin’ Alive’(March 2009)
Bob Mitchell might not have been singing that Bee Gees song when he marked his sixth anniversary of Hidden Acres Antiques in mid-January. But, like the rest of us, it seems appropriate to wonder what it takes to survive this economy.
“All that’s carrying me is my lamp repair,” said Mitchell. It seems Mitchell is Joplin’s lone lamp repairman. “Any kind of lamp,” said Mitchell when asked what kinds he repairs. “I’m the only person out of 45,000 in Joplin.”
Mitchell promoted antique shows for about 20 years. After that he set up a booth in area malls. And mostly it was the thefts that drove him to open his own shop. But such experiences haven’t soured him on the antique business.
“Basically, it’s the people you meet and the total thrill in the buying,” said Mitchell when asked why he remains in the trade.
With his partner Jerry England, Mitchell is hoping next anniversary will be recognized in a better economy. Aren’t we all.
Hidden Acres specializes in glassware and Oriental antiques. Call 417-781-4136 for more information.
Bigger better Brown’s (January 2009)
“No buckets,” seems to be the standard reply of Mark Ufferman and dealers/co-managers Jan Ryan and Linda Williams when asked about what’s different about the new location. That remark refers to the strategy used at Brown’s Emporium back in the day when the antique mall was located on East 47th Street in Kansas City. Now the sky can open up without bringing concern to the three, the rest of the dealers or customers.
 |
| Owner Mark Ufferman out front of Brown’s Emporium Antique Mall at its new location, 13720 E. 40 Highway in the Noland Fashion Square Shopping Center. (photos by Bruce Rodgers) |
Brown’s Emporium Antique Mall has made a huge leap in comfort, style, space and attractiveness when owner Ufferman moved the mall into its new digs at the Noland Fashion Square Shopping Center, US 40 Hwy and Noland Road, in Independence. The Grand Opening/Open House was held last month bringing in a big crowd.
“It’s exciting, a tremendous opportunity for the antique business to grow and our business to grow with it,” said Ufferman.
He wouldn’t put a number to the money spent on renovation to the former TJ Max space, but it appears to be a complete makeover of the more than 18,000 square feet now containing the new Brown’s Emporium Antique Mall. Dealer spaces have been laid out neatly with low partitions that can be adjusted depending upon the size wanted. The standard size is 6 by 12 but Ufferman said the mall will accommodate “up to any size they (a dealer) want.”
A nice touch is the front display windows. Dealer Valerie Bloomfield created December’s holiday scene.
 |
| Brown’s Emporium Antique Mall dealers Linda Williams (l) and Jan Ryan with owner Mark Ufferman. |
With the new and improved mall, Ufferman said the challenge is finding additional dealers with quality antiques to match his commitment into the new location. Ufferman has owned Brown’s for over five years and said his first goal after completing the move is to double the number of dealers. Currently, Brown’s has 65 dealers with room for another 40 or so.
“This will step up our merchandise, we’ll sell more antiques and have more of a variety in dealers,” said Williams. “The old mall was like an old neighborhood mall. This is a Midwest mall.”
Ryan agrees, commenting that at the old location, people “just didn’t see us.”
There’s a definite excitement buzzing through the new Brown’s. “I like everything,” said Marilyn Fair, a dealer since 1996. “It’s so bright, the color, the space — cheerful. Everybody who has come in just walk in with a big smile on their face.” And when it rains, there’s no need to dodge buckets.
Brown’s Emporium Antique Mall is open Sun.-Thurs., 10 am-6 pm, Fri.-Sat., 10 am-7 pm. For more information, call 816-478-7052.
Accolades for Bratcher’s (January 2009)
Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. has recognized Bratcher Cooperage, a craft and gift shop just off the square in Liberty, by winning the “Most Whimsical Store Front” award in the organization’s 2008 Holiday Window competition.
Owners Jan and Doug Bratcher have long worked to increase recognition
for the businesses in Liberty’s Historic Square. Jan is also an
advertising representative for Discover Mid-America and Doug
is known nationally for his craftsmanship in making wooden barrels, buckets
and kegs at the shop.
For more information, call 816-781-3988.
New shop in Republic (December 2008)
Even for seasoned antique shop owners, the economic times can be a little nerve-racking. But there was no deterring Carrie Sexton when it came to opening her new — and first — shop, Minden Place in Republic’s historic downtown area.
 |
| Carrie Sexton, owner of Minden Place in Republic. |
“If I was going to do it, now is the time to do it,” said Carrie, “I figure if I start now the only place is up.”
And by all accounts, Minden Place is off to a good start to beat the economic headwinds. And Sexton is not that new to antiques. For 10 years she had a booth in an antique mall and at the new shop, assisting Carrie is her mom, Myrna Nugent.
The variety of offerings will interest a wide range of potential customers. Carrie said her shop carries “a lot of dirty silver, ironstone, glassware from the late 1800s and old games pieces like chess and checkers.” She prowls estate sales and auctions for her antiques and does sell some reproductions to round-out decorating ideas. This time of year the shop contains a lot of Santa and snowman items, said Carrie.
Minden Place occupies the old 1880s Bank of Republic building, which contains two original vaults. One of the vaults is used for a Victorian display. Another room holds vintage and traditional antiques, and shabby chic. With that there’s kitchen décor, cabinet pieces and oak furniture. Another room has been set aside for primitives.
For those antiquers with a sweet tooth, there’s an antique candy display counter. “We carry 20 types of sweets,” said Carrie, “including malted milk balls and chocolate covered peanuts. A lot of people say it reminds them of an old drug store candy counter.”
Minden Place is very much an extension of Carrie’s love of antiques. “I like finding all the treasures, ones that bring a smile to people’s faces while reminding them of what they saw at grandma’s place.”
For more information on Minden Place, call 417-732-8717.
Butler antiquer will be missed (December 2008)
It was unexpected. “Dusty had never been sick; there was no warning, no nothing,” said Jean Rhoades about the death of her husband on Oct. 27.
 |
| Jean and Dusty Rhoades of The Dusty Attic in Butler. |
Jean and Dusty own The Dusty Attic in Butler, opening the shop in 1992 after buying out a flea market in Rich Hill. The farming couple left their farming business in Linn County, KS “after the kids left,” said Jean.
Jean, an RN at Bates County Memorial Hospital, said Dusty had to have something to do after farming, and the antique business delivered.
“We loved it — the learning about it, the visiting of people. Both of us are people oriented,” said Jean.
With help from her daughter Susan and long-time employees Betty Nelson and Donna Herman, Jean plans on keeping The Dusty Attic open. “It will be business as usual,” she said.
For those who knew Dusty, donations can be made to the America Heart Association. For more information, call 660-679-9911.
New owner for Elm Street (September 2008)
 |
| Some offerings at Elm Street Antiques in Lebanon |
“Our new owners must realize we’re a good investment,” said Elm Street Antiques manager Jennifer Piland.
The shop, located on the Historic Route 66 in Lebanon, has prospered despite a long construction project that left the store practically inaccessible.
“We’re still doing well,” said Piland. “We’ve got a big variety, from primitives, Victorian, shabby chic, to glassware, and vendors from all over, from Oklahoma to New York,” she said. Husbands won’t be bored either thanks to the shop’s collection of old tools.
Elm Street Antiques is located at 1440 W. Elm. It’s open 7 days a week, Mon.-Fri., 10 am to 5:30 pm, Sat., 10 am to 5 pm, and Sun., 11 am to 5 pm. Call 417-588-0203 for more info or directions.
Lose one, gain one (August 2008)
When Annie Sue’s Antiques closed in June in downtown Lee’s Summit, Mariam Cameron was ready to step up, opening her shop, Mariam’s Memories just around the corner on SW 3rd Street.
 |
| Mariam Cameron in her new shop, Mariam’s Memories, in downtown Lee’s Summit. (photo by Bruce Rodgers) |
After all, Mariam and Sue Mannebach have some history, Mariam was Sue’s first dealer when she opened her shop in 1992 and stayed with her until she closed her shop.
And then there’s Mariam’s love of Lee’s Summit, home since 1964.
“I love Lee’s Summit, it’s a great place to deal with the public,” says Mariam. “People treat me like I was a queen.”
And Mariam’s inventory has that royal feeling, also. “We have top quality glassware, silver, china, pottery, furniture and collectibles. Our vintage jewelry is unsurpassed for quality, selection and affordability,” states Mariam in an in-store flyer.
Another element Mariam likes to stress is her honesty, something she says she got from her mother, Ruth Harding.
“She was kind and funny, a good Christian, with high morals who would not put up with any nonsense,” remembers Mariam.
Mariam writes a monthly newsletter with news about downtown Lee’s Summit, “Tasty Recipes” and store sales information. For August, customers will get a $10 coupon for every $50 worth of merchandise purchased.
Shop hours are Tues.-Sat., 10 am to 5 pm. Call 816-246-1727 for more information.
History lost (April 2008)
Events in Cooper and Saline counties in February have alarmed historian Gary Gene Fuenfhausen of Arrow Rock. The researcher has studied the slave plantation era in Missouri and sought to protect the architectural reminders of that sorrowful time period in the state.
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| The Prairie View plantation house in Cooper County, built c. 1857-59, was damaged by fire in early February. |
A fire severely damaged the historic Prairie View plantation, also known as Crestwood, in Cooper County in early February. The large Italianate house that burned was the center of this estate built c. 1857-1859 by John Taylor that once encompassed 4,600 acres with 19 enslaved African Americans. One of the four slave quarters still stands today, wrote Fuenfhausen in an email to Discover Mid-America.
The Betteridge family purchased the property in 1900, which “always took such great pride in their family’s historic home and were actually in the process of preparing the house for the new year’s tour season,” Fuenfhausen wrote.
That same week the Obannon plantation in Saline County was bulldozed to make way for a commercial development. The now-gone “big house” was the center of a 700+ acre plantation that held as many as 29 African American slaves in bondage, according to Fuenfhausen.
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| The historic Obannon big house in Saline County as it appeared in March 2007 before being demolished in February 2008 to make way for commercial development. (photos by Gary Gene Fuenfhausen) |
“Located in the heart of Missouri’s slave and hemp belt, in a region historically called ‘Little Dixie,’ slave owner Minor Obannon was the embodiment of the typical southern gentleman yeoman planter, building his brick big house and plantation to mirror other slave estates located all across the Upper South.”
According to Fuenfhausen, Missouri is the last state among the slave states to do research on its slave/plantation era.
These losses, wrote Fuenfhausen, “coupled with others like the destruction of the historic Slusher slave cabin at Old Oaks this fall in Lafayette County, tells us that at this present rate not many of these historic sites will be left to talk to us about Missouri’s slave era past.”
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