Glenn and Mary Coffield are anticipating their pending retirement with equal parts anticipation and excitement, with a few tinges of bittersweet emotion.
All the while, Iola is losing another downtown retail fixture.
Town & Country Western & Casual Wear, the Coffields’ clothing store on the south side of the Iola square, kicked off its retirement sale today.
Once the store’s merchandise is gone, the Coffields will lock up for good.
“Hopefully, everything goes the way we planned,” Glenn said. “We’ll keep busy the next couple of weeks.”
After that?
“Well, my grandkids say more hunting and fishing needs to be done,” he responded. “My sons think there is work that still needs to be done.”
The Coffields have been a mainstay at 17 E. Madison since 1979, when they purchased the western clothing retail shop from Velda and Ellwyn Richards.
The Richardses opened in 1968. Prior to that, the building — which still included the old Litwin’s and Classy Attic building — served as a Scott’s Five and Dime store and later TG&Y.
The Richardses soon replaced an original wall, creating a spot next door for another retail outlet.
But Litwin’s and Classy Attic are closed, soon to be joined by Town & Country.
In addition to the current merchandise, the Coffields will also have up for sale the store’s entire contents as well as the building.
“We’ve tried to find somebody to take over the business,” Glenn said. “So far, unsuccessfully.”
“We really hope somebody with a vision for the future can do something with it,” Mary said. “We want the community to go forward. We hope other entrepreneurs will arise.”
THE COFFIELDS are both from the area; Mary grew up in Elsmore, Glenn in Yates Center.
“We just kind of settled in the middle,” Mary said.
Neither gave much thought about retail, however, until the old Tyson Foods plant shuttered its doors in Iola in the 1970s. Glenn had worked as an accountant there.
Mary, meanwhile, worked at the city utility office.
“We were looking for something entrepreneur-ish, and this became available,” Mary said.
Lasting 37 years wasn’t even in their thoughts at the time, Glenn and Mary agreed.
Rather, finding a niche in the community was at the top of their priorities.
“Fortunately, we’re a small enough community that people liked to come in and try on merchandise,” Mary said.
Coincidentally, Jerry Whitworth closed McGinty-Whitworth’s doors earlier this year after 46 years in Iola.
“I talked to Jerry a couple of times while he was having his (retirement) sale, and of course, I’d talk to him now and then, anyway,” Glenn said.
Mary laments what the closing of their store will mean to downtown. “This part of the square will seem empty.”
AS MUCH as they enjoyed the interpersonal relationships with their customers — “We’ll miss them,” the Coffields said — they also understand the evolving nature of retail shopping.
Many customers are just as willing to shop via the internet, or seek out bargains at retail chain stores.
All forms of retail stores are necessary, the Coffields said, and do not begrudge the competition they received from those other venues.
“Competition is good,” Mary said. “You need businesses to bring business into town. We were fortunate our customers preferred personal service.”
THEY ARE uncertain how long the retirement sale will last.
“Ask in a couple of weeks,” Glenn joked.
And there will be a wide range of emotions as the closing day draws near, they agree.
“I’ve heard a little feedback,” Glenn said.
The overriding consensus, he said, was that while their customers will miss seeing the friendly faces at Town and Country, “they’re sure glad I’m going to be able to enjoy myself while I’m retired.”
Golf, hunting and fishing and traveling will take up much of their time, as will some long-neglected farm work.
The Coffields have two sons: Travis, wife Jessy and their two sons, Brennen and Corbin; and Ryan and wife Ceri.
THE RETIREMENT sale features discounts ranging between 20 percent and 75 percent on a wide variety of western wear, boots, jeans and other merchandise.
