On Saturday, June 29, Toney Aid will take in the flag and close the doors to Aid Downtown Antiques for the very last time. This marks the closing of a truly historic institution in West Plains; the Aid Downtown Antiques has been a cornerstone of the community and the Square for over 30 years.
It has long been one of the “must see’s” for out of town visitors, and featured in many historic tours, registries and articles over the years. As much as the building and its contents will be missed, it is impossible to separate the building from its owners: Toney and Kathleen Aid, who celebrate Toney’s retirement with the closing of the store.
“Keeping our downtown alive and active is my lifetime goal and what I really enjoy doing,” Toney Aid said in a 2008 NPR interview for “A Sense of Place.” We have all benefited from his lifetime goal and passion and, surely no one would argue that Toney has earned his retirement. He has been tireless in his advocacy for downtown and small businesses, and the Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) and the West Plains Downtown Committee would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere and lasting gratitude for his countless contributions to our community.
Reflecting on those innumerable contributions over the years is something that many of us (at least in the downtown area) have been engaged in for the last several months since the announcement of the store’s closure. It hit hard and many of us get misty-eyed when we consider the hole that will be left in our beautiful downtown (made even more beautiful by the Aids’ diligent restoration and preservation efforts of 17 buildings) with the loss of the Aid Downtown Antiques. Yes, the building will remain, but no longer will we be able to take refuge in the cool aisles of the store during the hottest days of summer while browsing through old records, oddities and any number of hidden treasures.
“I can’t even talk about it without getting teary-eyed,” exclaimed Heater Fisher, CEO at OzSBI and member of the West Plains Downtown Revitalization committee, “The store has been a solace for so many, including myself, and its absence will be deeply felt. The true institutions, however, are Toney and Kathleen. I am sure they will remain active in the community, as they won’t be able to resist!”
Gone, too, is the Window on the Square, Toney and Kathleen’s sweet little cafe and coffee shop where regulars would gather every day to catch a perfect view of the goings-on around the Square while enjoying their coffee and sandwiches. Many of us had the opportunity to partake in that particular pleasure, including Autumn Shirley, an OzSBI employee and long-time worker in the downtown area: “Something about the smell of that freshly brewed espresso mixed with the scent of the antiques was an impossible lure. I could never resist stepping in for a cup as I walked around the Square on my afternoon strolls.”
Many were inspired by Toney and Kathleen over the years, including Lily Brotherton, proprietor of Conjure House Coffee, who shared, “My first real job was working as a barista at Window on the Square, and that sparked my dream of one day owning my own coffee shop.” That’s not the only business that can be attributed to the Aids, though. Indeed, Toney was one of the founders of the Ozarks Small Business Incubator.
Inspired by an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch in 2005, which quoted a Small Business Administration study showing that West Plains ranked No. 1 in Missouri in the creation of new jobs by entrepreneurs, Toney first conceived of the idea to create a business incubator. Over the next 12 years, Toney volunteered countless hours as board chair and CEO, to bring this project to life, applying for 14 grants, overseeing six renovations, and raising over $1.4 million in local funds to make OzSBI a reality. Since opening its doors in 2012, OzSBI has helped more than 500 entrepreneurs launch their businesses in our seven-county region — a number that would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of Toney Aid and the original founding team.
While much has been said about the closing of one of West Plains’ beloved institutions, it should be noted that this is a celebration of Toney’s retirement. It’s also a time to celebrate his and Kathleen’s contributions and the legacy they’ve built. Their presence will undoubtedly continue to be felt in downtown West Plains, as they remain cherished members of the community.
Their son, Graham Aid, said, “This should be considered a celebration. Dad worked seven days a week his whole life — maybe now he’ll cut back to five! He can also return to one of his original passions: art history. He has written several books and is currently working on one about the interconnections of engraved Native American pottery found in the Mississippi Valley.”
Maybe we will even see more of Toney and Kathleen enjoying their retirement and walking with their beloved bulldog, Maggie, or helping with one of the numerous projects that West Plains Downtown have embarked on to improve our downtown district. You will also be able to see them on the mural in Evans Arcade (on the southeast corner of Court Square). Artist Michael McClure will be adding the portraits, and Maggie’s, to the mural later this fall, thanks to Big City Properties. Here’s to Toney’s retirement and the many memories they've created through Aid Downtown Antiques!
