Mar 19, 2011

Sister Store Owners Celebrate Shop Beautiful’s 75th AnniversaryBy Stacy DownsKansasCity.com

JOB DESCRIPTION:The sisters co-own both locations of Shop Beautiful, a gift, home accessories and jewelry store in Brookside, 320 W. 63rd St., 816-444-3322, and Hawthorne Plaza, 5001 W. 119th St., Overland Park, 913-345-8887, www.shopbeautiful.com

The store turns 75 years old Monday. Has it always been in your family?

Fields: No, Alice DeVasher originally owned it and her sister, Dorothy Gangwer, later came on. Just like us today.

Douglas: Our mother (Ruth Martin) bought it in 1967. I started in 1992.

Fields: I’ve been here since 1981. There has never been a man involved with the store.

what you know about the original store.

Fields: It’s the same store space in Brookside, but it originally sold antiques, art and housewares, including china and silver, catering to an affluent clientele. When Mom was running it, it was a place where couples could register for wedding gifts. Now it’s a gift and jewelry store. Since people are more casual these days, we have alternative metal pieces for tabletops (oven-to-table recycled aluminum by Beatriz Ball), and we sell to a diverse clientele.

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