If Mike Ford has his way, there will have been a member of his family in business in the downtown of this southwest Nebraska community for at least 50 years. Ford, whose parents operated a jewelry store downtown for 34-years, says he hopes to run his unique home and kitchen store, Knowlen and Yates, for at least 16-years. Ford gave up a corporate job to move back to his hometown and open shop on the brick streets of Norris Avenue in the heart of downtown. He and his wife Laura, who runs Country Floral and Gifts across the street, also set the pace for retail in McCook with innovative window and store displays. Their remodeling inside both buildings has drawn approval from customers and praise from retail and design professionals. Mike Ford said he has discovered that nearly half of his customers come to McCook from adjacent states. That, he says, has given him insights into how to market and how fortunate McCook is to be such a retail draw.
