Dick's 5 & 10 in historic downtown Branson provides one of the most unique shopping "adventures" available anywhere.
BRANSON, Mo., October 18, 2012 — Branson is called the “Live music show capital of world” because of the number and quality of its live shows, but it is also a shopper’s dream. From small specialty shops to the $400 million Branson Landing, located on the shores of beautiful Lake Taneycomo, with its 100 specialty retail stores, shops and services, Branson offers one of the broadest selections of stores, values and merchandise available in any travel destination of a similar size..
Interestingly, as thousands of people each day go to Branson Landing they either drive through or around Historic Downtown Branson and some of the most best and easily accessed shopping opportunities in Branson. Cris Bohinc, executive director of the Downtown Branson Main Street Association points out that the Historic District has about 80 specialty retail stores, shops and services. She said, “If people want a great selection, unique specialty items and a great value, all offered in a comfortable laid back down home environment, Historic Downtown Branson is a place that should be on their ‘Branson Shopping Bucket List.'”
“Dick’s 5 & 10,” one of Branson’s most popular shopping attractions and easily the anchor of Historic Downtown Branson’s shopping, illustrates the uniqueness and excitement that shopping in downtown Branson offers. Steve Hartley, the son of the stores original founders, Dick and June Hartley, points out that it’s not just the number of items they have in the nostalgic “5 & 10,” over 175,000, or their low prices, it’s the breadth of their selection that makes the shopping experience in Dick’s so unique. He said, “In candy alone we have one of, if not, the largest selections of candy in Branson. We specialize in Old Time and hard to find candies such as ‘Rocky Road,’ ‘Big Hunk Candy Bars,’ and ‘Abba-Zaba;’ novelty candies such as ‘Wax Lips’ and ‘Nickle Nips’ and a full selection of regular candy.”
There is a local saying, “”If you can’t find what you want in Dick’s then you don’t need it.” When asked about the saying in connection with the celebration of Dick’s 50 Anniversary Hartley said, “Well, we do have over 175,000 items, from basics, toys, novelties, gifts, souvenirs and just about anything most people would expect in a variety store and more.”
Another unique downtown experience, is available at “Crain Creations Gallery” located at 214 S. Main Street just a few doors west of Dicks. T.(Tom) Morgan Crain, is Branson’s preeminent wildlife, bird, western, outdoor and nostalgia painter who can be found painting, most Mondays through Saturdays, in his downtown studio, located just inside the window of the gallery. The gallery and studio, are as warm, comfortable and inviting as are the artist and his wife Susan.
The Burlington Annex is another store featuring artist and gift lines that are unique and not available anywhere else in Branson. Its wide selection of unique gifts, glassware and jewelry coupled with the expertise, friendliness and helpfulness of their employees make shopping at the Burlington Annex a special shopping experience only available in downtown Branson.
The “Hollywood Studio Store & More” located at 109 S Commercial Street is yet another example of the unique and fun filled shopping experience available in the historic downtown shopping district. Its selection of Hollywood collectibles, jewelry, gifts, art glass, wind chimes, and much more is as phenomenal and interesting as it is value priced.
“Branson is filled with so much great shopping,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, “but these and the dozens of other stores in the downtown shopping district, coupled with the ambiance, variety and uniqueness of the shopping they offer creates and exciting, unusual one of a kind shopping experience.” For additional information on downtown Branson’s shopping and everything else it has to offer please call either the Branson Tourism Center at 1-800-785-1550 or the Downtown Branson Main Street Association at 866-523-1190.