The new store was located on the northeast corner of the Marion Square (500 Public Square where Zwick’s Shoes would be later located). On opening day, every dress in the store was sold and the next day a trip was made to St. Louis to secure additional merchandise.
Since 1941, the Stylart Shoppe has been located on the east side of the Marion Square in the Hudspeth building at 1100 Public Square. It was still a family business, managed by Mrs. Sue McCoskey, granddaughter of the original owner. Mrs. Deaton’s three daughters, Beatrice Ford, Burnette Campbell, and Bernice Thaxton have helped in running the store. Mrs. Thaxton has retired, but Mgr. McCoskey’s daughter-in-law Carolyn McCoskey is associated with the store.
The Stylart Shoppe, for decades, served third and fourth generations of customers whose mothers and grandmothers were customers in the earlier years.
The shop had the reputation of furnishing stylish, well-made clothing of good brands and keeping up with the latest fashions. The buyers traveled to markets in St. Louis, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and New York City to purchase items to please their customers.
The 1990 directory listed Stylart Shoppe Inc. at 1100 Tower Square Plaza as Carolyn S. McCoskey, President; Beatrice Ford, Vice President and Mrs. Burnette Campbell, Secretary.
The store finally closed in 1995.
The following is an article written ca 1966 in a Glances at Life article by Homer Butler:
“The approach of summer is always a reminder of July, 1932 for Mrs. Sarah Deaton who in that month and year, against the advice of veteran business men, launched the ladies apparel store known as the StylArt. It was the worst season of the year to open a new business, they said, and this was one of the worst of the depression years.
But on the opening day most of the merchandise was sold, and Mrs. Deaton had to make a hurried trip to market to replenish the stock. Now, 35 years later, StylArt is the oldest downtown retail store operating under the same continuous management, and at 82, Mrs. Deaton is the “dean” of retail merchants.
Back of Mrs. Deaton’s venture into the retail business were many years of sales experience, and a childhood ambition to own her own store.
Born and reared in Stonefort where her father, Peter Henderson, was a merchant until his death, she began helping out in her father’s store at the age of 12.
“My mother used to say that I was born behind the counter,” Mrs. Deaton recalls.
In 1908 she was married to the late Pearl Deaton, and they established their home in Marion. In the years that followed they reared three daughters, Mrs. Ralph Thaxton, Mrs. Roy Campbell and Mrs. J. C. Ford. But Mrs. Deaton never gave up her original dream of “keeping store”. Previous to opening Stylart, she was employed at various times in retail stores operated by C. W. Hay, A. D. Young, Robert Bryan, Ed Jeter and L. A. Boyd.
Her experience in buying for these stores gave her an acquaintance with wholesalers in the ladies apparel field which was valuable to her in starting her own business. Despite the state of the economy generally in 1932, credit was readily extended the new store. Today Mrs. Deaton recalls that only one of the original suppliers from whom she purchased her first stock of merchandise is still alive. All of the local merchants who were in business on the Public Square at that time have died or retired.
But Mrs. Deaton has no intention of retiring.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” is the way she looks back on her many years in business. “I still enjoy my work, and when I take a vacation I can hardly wait to get back.”
The StylArt was originally opened on the northwest corner of the Square in the room now occupied by Zwick Shoe Store. For a short time Mrs. Deaton and Mrs. Melvin Thaxton were associated in the store in partnership. In 1941 the store was moved to its present location on the east side of the Square where W. T. Hudspeth had just rebuilt the building that had been destroyed in the Goodall Hotel fire in March of that year.
Through the years the store has become known to women shoppers in a large area outside Marion, and a large share of its merchandise is sold to out-of-towners. Its list of customers also includes former local residents who now live in Chicago and Detroit, and even California, who regularly send here for garments or put StylArt shopping on their itinerary when malting trips back home to Marion.
“I’ve made a lot of friends among my customers, and we are now selling dresses to the granddaughters of some of the women who bought from me in the early days,” Mrs. Deaton said, the veteran merchandiser of women’s apparel has seen styles run the gamut of “all lengths and shapes.”
I’ve sold dresses from floor lengths to six inches above the knee,” she said with obvious preference for dress lengths somewhere in between.
Reviewing her successful career in business, Mrs. Deaton confesses to hard work and careful business policies but insists, “I’ve been lucky. I’ve been lucky to have good health. I haven’t been afraid to go ahead and I don’t worry about business. I’ve had loyal family and employees.”
While actively occupied with her store and her family, she has been identified also with community interests. She is a member of the First Baptist Church, the Marion Woman’s Club, the Marion Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Deaton has had with her in the store her daughters, and a son-in-law, Ralph Thaxton of the TVW Men’s Store handles the books. And now her granddaughter, Mrs. Sue McCoskey, is a valuable assistant. Mrs. McCoskey accompanies her grandmother on buying trips which take them to the markets four or five times a year.
These trips once included visits to the New York market, but in recent years the apparel manufacturers have arranged showings in Chicago that eliminated the necessity of going to New York. As many as 2500 lines of merchandise are made available to Midwest buyers at the Chicago shows. Obviously pleased at her grandchildren’s interest in business, Mrs. Deaton tells of times she has also taken her 14 year old granddaughter, Cindy Campbell with her on buying trips.
But she also remembers one of her early trips to the Chicago market alone which may indicate something which has been a factor in her business success. At her hotel she sought directions to the showing of apparel at the Merchandise Mart. And then she struck out for the Mart on foot nearly two miles away in Chicago’s blustery cold to save cab fare.”
(Excepts from 1989 Sesquicentennial History, WCHS; Marion Daily Republican, some photos provided by Sue McCoskey, Glances at Life by Homer Butler; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 03/02/2013)