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No more Cool Stuff downtown

Need an African drum or hanging lampshade? It might be on sale, as Cool Stuff in downtown Columbia prepares to close.
Dale Muckerman
/
flikr
Need an African drum or hanging lampshade? It might be on sale, as Cool Stuff in downtown Columbia prepares to close.

The kitschy and iconic downtown Columbia store Cool Stuff is closing its doors after 23 years in business. Owner Arnie Fagan, an MU alum, opened the store in 1988 as a tie-dye shop.

By Veneta Rizvic

Fagan wasn't immediately available for comment yesterday. But his business partner and owner of neighboring Hot Box Cookies, Corey Rimmel, said Fagan failed to discuss the closing, which may force Hot Box to relocate.

"I plan on staying open, whether that being current location or a new one, I'm not quite sure yet," said Rimmel.

Rimmel wasn't the only one bummed out about the closing. Customer Lara Wakefield comes to the store to buy beads. 

"I'm very sad about it and so are my kids because this is a fun place that we enjoy when we come downtown," she said.

According to Hot Box Cookies owner Corey Rimmel, a national clothing chain may take over the building, which currently houses both businesses.