CARTHAGE, Mo. —
The Carthage business scene got a shot in the arm last week with the opening of two shops that could hardly be more different.
Last Tuesday, Between Friends opened at 1200 Grand Ave., and William Henry’s Fine Firearms opened at 149 E. Third St., on the northeast corner of the square.
Walking into Between Friends, you are immediately conscious of the delicious scents of soaps, perfumes, lotion, oils and candles. The eye is equally rewarded with an eclectic array of goodies that attract females of every age.
There are handbags, totes and scarves; home decor items such as pillows, wall art and lamps; jewelry with plenty of bling; and wallets, caps and belts. Display stands hold notes, cards, napkins and gourmet dip mixes. There are kitchen accessories and clothing items such as leggings and fashionable tunic tops.
The shop is co-owned by Lisa Tubaugh and Kim Crusa. The two worked together at the Emporium on the Carthage square about 10 years ago, when Kim was manager there. Currently they are neighbors, so it’s obvious how they settled on the name of their shop.
“If I open a shop, will you work for me?” Kim asked Lisa one day.
“I will be your partner,” Lisa replied.
“And so far, we are still friends,” Kim said with a laugh.
They bought the building in May and went to the Dallas trade show in June. Wisely, they took along Lisa’s two daughters and Kim’s three daughters to voice their opinions on what would appeal to the younger crowd.
“We wanted the young high school girls and the garden club ladies to like it,” Kim said. They expect to add more clothing items. The shop in the future may include a patio area to the south where they could display outdoor products.
Possibly their most challenging task to date was to get their inventory and accounting system on computer.
“We think we know how to work it now,” Kim said. “Hopefully, by Maple Leaf, we’ll be pros.”
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
A grand opening will be held in September.
William Henry’s Fine Firearms is Clint and Anne Andrews’ first venture in retail sales, a result of Clint’s interest in firearms. A native of the Texas Panhandle, Clint moved east of Carthage in 1972. He farmed with his brothers most of his life, and he also has worked in real estate and the truck-leasing business.
The couple bought the former Carthage Water & Electric Plant building on the square, and Clint has spent many hours compiling a large inventory in varying price ranges. The selection includes rifles, shotguns and pistols — everything from a tiny Cobra 622 .22 mag that would easily fit into a woman’s clutch purse to a large caliber Smith & Wesson.
In a crisis situation, Anne said, pointing to the Smith & Wesson, “You wouldn’t have to shoot that; you would just have to pull it out.”
Gun cases, cleaning supplies, ammunition, knives and scopes are available, along with the guns neatly displayed in attractive cases. One of the upper-end pistols is a clone of the U.S. Army’s service pistol first issued in 1911. Never out of favor, it has achieved new popularity, Clint said.
Anne taught elementary music in Carthage schools for seven years during the 1980s. She plans to continue giving piano lessons on the building’s upper floor.
Clint’s special interest is in clay and skeet shooting. He also is fascinated with the art of reloading ammunition, using one’s own formulation to reload a shell with primer and powder.
“It’s a science,” Clint said. “It’s pretty complex and involves a lot of math.”
The couple named the shop after Clint’s great-great-great grandfather, William Henry Andrews.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Address correspondence to Jo Ellis, c/o The Joplin Globe, Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802 or email news@joplinglobe.com.
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Jo Ellis: Specialty shops set up in Carthage
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