Longtime Kennett business changes hands

After 76 years, the name on the building changed Friday. James Miller has sold his longtime business, Miller Sporting Goods, at 1417 St. Francis Street, in Kennett, to Mark Brown of Caruthersville. Miller said his parents, "Elvis and Gertrude Miller, bought this lot in 1938. My father had a junk yard in the back. Then he got into used cars. He had A-Models and T-Models, all kinds of used cars out there. Then he got into auto parts."

Miller's older brother, Gary, was the first in the family to start hanging around and learning from his dad. "He worked here until about 1973, then he went out on his own--into used cars and truck accessories," he said.

When it was time, James took his turn. "I started in the late '50's early '60's, working in the evenings and on the weekends. My two sisters, Helen Mathes and Pat Miller, worked here a little bit. My nephew, Darren Mathes, has helped me, off and on, since he was in high school. He got out of the Air Force, and he's been here the last year or so, helping me until I retired. It's been a family-owned and -operated business." Miller began working full time in 1966, and managed the business for 10 years, starting in 1973. He bought the store from his mother, after his father's death in 1983.

Until the 1950's, the business consisted mainly of used cars, upholstery and auto parts. "Then, my dad got into sporting goods, as far as hunting and fishing supplies. He never got into guns much, until I started here full time, in 1966. I'd have as many as 300 or 400 guns in stock, at a time. Back before that, he wouldn't have over eight or 10, at a time," he remembered.

Brown actually took over the business May 31. He learned from his wife's grandfather, Lloyd King, that Miller wanted to retire and sell the store. He is excited about the opportunity. "A lot of old clientele is still coming in, stopping by to visit and buy things. Business has really picked up with the guns and ammo."

Brown was born in Cooter and graduated from Caruthersville High School. For 28 years, he worked for Walmart, the last 10 as the Store Manager in Blytheville. "I decided it was time for a change, to be able to spend time with my wife and my child. I thought it was a better career move for me, just something I wanted to do." Brown and wife, Nikki, have an eight-year-old daughter, Gatsby. There is a second child on the way.

The Kennett business was attractive to Brown, because he said he has always enjoyed guns and hunting. "In this area, with it being a rural community, you've got to have a niche, and I think guns and ammo will always be around," he added. There is much about the store that will not change--guns, ammo, and the versatile cooker, Big Green Egg, plus accessories. Brown is planning to add some things. He is looking for a registered gunsmith. "Kennett has not had a gunsmith in 30 or 40 years," Miller observed. Brown is looking also for an outboard mechanic. "I was a Mercury Outboard dealer for 41 years," added Miller. "There is a real nice workshop. It's ready for a mechanic, and he's going to get a real good outboard mechanic." Another exciting possibility is an indoor firing range. Both Brown and Miller expect that to be a big draw to Kennett, because the closest one is in Jackson, Tenn.

When businesses exchange hands, they, more often than not, change names. Miller Sporting Goods is no exception. Brown has decided to use two names. "I split it up, thinking about future endeavors," he explained. "Bootheel Guns and Ammo will take care of the guns, the ammunition, the gunsmith, and the possible firing range. Bootheel Outdoors will take care of the Big Green Egg accessories and other things that come up."

Although Miller plans to be around to help Brown, he said it was time for him to sell the business and retire. "I thought it would be harder, but, because my health is not good, I thought it was just time. Speaking for the Elvis and Gertrude Miller family, I appreciate all the clientele that have been with us, all these years."

As he reflected on his years in business, Miller wished his successor well. "I want Mark to make it. It means something to me. My heart and soul are in this place, but it's time for me to move on. I still have my gun license, and I'm going to go to gun shows, and swap and trade, like I learned from my dad, years ago...and my older brother. I learned from him too."