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The Calico Cat Antiques & Collectibles |
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About Mary Jane Dawes as reported by Jeanette Ricker
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Calico Cat, a new antique store, opened downtown. "I'm really excited
to be here," said Mary Jane Dawes, owner, "when this place came
open, I thought it was a perfect place for my Calico Cat. The business
is located beside Our Town's Brewin', in the building most recently vacated
by Glenna Stout, accountant. The display window showcases part of the seasonal vintage and antique items for sale inside. New proprietor, Mary Jane Dawes, has sold antiques for 15 years, starting with booths in antique malls in Virginia, even while teaching in elementary schools. After her retirement in 1996, after teaching 33 years, she and her husband, John, later relocated to Clyde in 2005, where Mary Jane still has family ties. She grew up here and is a 1961 Clyde High School graduate. When they first returned to Clyde, Mary Jane rented a booth at Farmstead Antique Mall, which she still maintains, and will rotate her merchandise from time to time A Clyde native, Dawes recalls that her shop is located in the south side of the old dimestore. She was saddened when Wilsons Clothing Store closed and later Farrar's Shoes and firmly believes that Clyde's downtown can "come back" if enough people take a chance and open a "grub stake" here with specialty shops. She is encouraged by the fact that a new scrapbook store is down the street and that a candle and photography shop just opened across the street in the building that most recently housed Curves, which closed last spring. Dawes loves her new location next to Our Town's Brewin', which she said is a good place for husbands to sit and wait while their wives shop downtown. Our Town's Brewin' recently expanded into the back half of Stout's old offices, now known as the Calico Cat. |