The Weems Western Auto store will be quitting business within the next few months. The store first opened its doors more than 47 years ago.

Store founder, Mel Weems, and his son Harold, the current owner, see the up coming closure as part of the changing scene of American business.

"With competition the way it is now, a small business can have quite a bit of volume and not make any money," says the elder Weems.

He believes larger department stores have been able to capitalize on the consumer's desire for more product variety at the expense of small businesses.

"Times have changed, they (consumers) have more money now and they want more selection," says Weems.

Weems says he doesn't have any hard feeling about having to close the doors, rather, he sees the store's closure as part of changes in business across America.

"We're basically a mobile society now. People are driving farther to where they want to shop now," explains Weems.

While larger stores may be able to offer more variety, small businesses will always a leg up on them, he adds.

Harold and Mel both feel personal service has been key to their half century of success, something larger department stores can't mimic.

"I've always appreciated the loyalty of our customers over the years. The fact that you stay in business for 45 years says you have some loyal customers," says Mel.

"We survived on service," says the younger Weems. "The personal touches just can't be given out by bigger stores."

The exact closure date hasn't been set yet, adds Harold. He speculates the doors will be closed by late April.

"We've had a successful 47 years," says the 76-year-old Weems. "It has to be successful to stay open 47 years."

A small symbol of the store's success is [a] plaque hung in the office marking the 45th year of operation. Weems has received several of the plaques, one every five years, which simply reads, "In recognition of your many years representing Western Auto in your community."

Mel sold the store to his son in 1981, but has maintained an office, wood shop and appearance in the automotive-hardware store since Harold took over.

Weems opened the store in September 1945, the day after he turned 28 years old.

He remembers installing the light fixtures the day the Japanese surrendered marking the end of World War II.

"When I came here to Bonne Terre, it was a thriving community," says Weems. "All the buildings in town were occupied by businesses then."

He settled on opening his store in Bonne Terre over resort town Benton, Ky., because Bonne Terre offered more stability, he says.

For Weems the city did prove to be stable even after the mines closed, the railroad pulled up track, and many thought the city would become a ghost town.

But, new types of industry moved into Bonne Terre, and now Weems describes himself as the oldest downtown merchant left. He's held the self declared title since Bonne Terre businesswoman Alma Boehle closed her City Dry Goods store four years ago.

"I'm one of the only old ones that's still here," he adds.

As to what will happen with the store building, described by many Bonne Terre natives as a landmark, is not known yet. Weems will only say their are plans in the works.

The store's closure also mirrors what's happening with several franchise Western Auto stores. Weems says the Kansas City based company had 4,500 stores at its peak but has dwindled to around 1,100 now.

"We were putting in some of the fixtures when the Japanese were surrendering in August," Weems recalled.

Sometime this spring, after nearly 48 years of business, the Bonne Terre store will close its doors for good.

Rising insurance and tax rates and a national trend which has led business to super centers and malls has taken some of the profit and much of the fun out of the family-owned business.

"I have no regrets," Weems, 76, said Friday. "We feel really fortunate to be able to stay this long. It finally got to the point to where higher taxes and insurance -- especially workman's comp - make it almost impossible for small independent operators to continue."

Mel Weems officially retired in 1981, handing the management of the store over to his son Harold. The elder Weems has remained active in the business, as well as area politics and entertainment, however.

"We had hoped to complete 50 years," he said. "With the conditions like they were, though, we decided it's not worth it."

Weems stressed that the store is not being forced to close. It is merely time to move on, he said. "We have no regrets for our time in Bonne Terre," he said. "It's been good for us over the years. We really appreciate the loyal support we've gotten from Bonne Terre and surrounding towns which has made our business profitable."

The Weems family, as well as the store, has become an institution in Bonne Terre.

Weems recalled an episode many years ago in which having a big heart paid dividends later.

A poor family with several children in the rural Bonne Terre area purchased a new ringer washer, which was then in the $110 price range. The family still owed $30 when the father died, leaving the family without income.

"The mother sent her sons in to ask when I was coming to take the washer back." Weems recalled. "She wanted to do one last load before I came to take the washer back. She figured I'd be coming for it since she had no income and no way of paying off the rest of it. I told the boys that there was no way I was going to take that washer back. I said that if they could find a way to eventually pay it off, fine; if not, that was fine, too.

"That turned out to be one of the best moves I ever made. Those kids grew up and they all shopped with me as long as they lived in the area. They never forgot that washer."

The memory of the washer was spurred when a long-time customer brought in two circa 1950 sale bills from Weems' store she had found at home.

One was a Christmas publication.

"We used to sell a lot of toys," Weems said, looking through the old sale bills. "We had a big Christmas business. Things changed. We're living in an automobile age now. People can drive where ever they want to shop."

The sale bill included Western Flyer bicycles, ranging from $43.50 to $71.50. Weems said he sold a huge number of bicycles to area youth over the years. The bill also shows early televisions, ranging from $270 to $320.

A spring circular from the same period advertised a Wizard rotary power mower for $125.

"That was when rotary lawn mowers first came out," Weems said. He pointed out that a picture of the underside of the mower is shown, since most customers were not yet familiar with the operation of a rotary mower.

Although World War II was over by the time the store opened, wartime conditions were still in effect when he opened his doors.

"Price controls were still on," he said. "Tires were still rationed, but batteries were not."

It was a family business. Weems' oldest son Roger and his second son Ron both put in time at the store, in addition to Harold. Roger now runs a floral shop next door, while Ron is a computer programer in Memphis. The youngest boy, Jerry, works at the Commerce Bank of Fredericktown.

"There has been a complete change over the last 47 years," he said. "There have been a lot of changes in small towns -- particularly in the last 15 years. There has been a tendency to go to larger stores and shopping centers. We still maintained a good business over the years. With the economy like it is and state and federal regulations like they are, and with shopping center competition, it makes it a lot more difficult for the small, independent operator to survive."

Weems has been a major player in area politics and development over the years. Active in Democratic politics since 1960, he spent 26 years as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee in St. Francois County.

He served as county collector 1965-1967, spent four years on the Small Business Administration Board, was on the State legislative reapportionment committee in 1991, and is a charter member of the area senior citizens housing board. He has also been a Bonne Terre Rotary Club member since 1946, a member of Masonic Lodge #424, Bonne Terre Church of Christ, and the Community Service Corporation.

All this is on top of leading a country-western band, Mel Weems and the Westerneers.

The conversation at one point was interrupted by a call from Bob Ward, Missouri House majority leader. During the phone conversation, Weems gave his opinions on a number of issues.

Weems feels Bonne Terre can have a bright future.

"It may look brighter than it has in a long time," he said. "We have a very active Chamber of Commerce that does a lot of good works. We also have a new city manager who is interested in the development of commerce and a development office is now set up and active. It looks very positive. The moving of the licence bureau to Bonne Terre will help, too."

Weems was one of the community business leaders who anticipated the pulling out of St. Joe Lead Company in the early 1960s and helped promote small industry within the town.

"People thought the closing of the mine would be a calamity for the town," he said. "We were able to get several small industries in and came through it pretty well.

"All of our small industry we've developed over the years are healthy and going strong and employing more people over the years," he said. "I think we can look at the future fully positive that things are going to be better in the next few years."

Although Western Auto will no longer be holding down its site on School Street, there is little doubt that the Weems family will continue to play a prominent role in shaping that future.