Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark Co. WI

August 10, 2011, Page 3

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Local entrepreneurs have big plans

 Dan and Denise Clough have big plans for their store, The Rocking Chair (contributed photo)

By Tony Opelt

When Dan and Denise Clough moved to Neillsville from the state of Oregon in 2008, they had not intended to open their own business. As Denise puts it, “We started a business because we bought a building.”  The Cloughs purchased the Walk Brothers building at 442 Hewett Street in March 2010.

The Rocking Chair opened in June 2010 and offers a wide variety of antiques, collectibles and much more. Shoppers can browse through the main and lower levels which are brimming with furniture, glassware, pottery, crocks, tableware, prints, fishing lures, duck decoys, tools, books and many other items with new merchandise arriving regularly.  The store is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  If people are in the mood to shop when the store isn’t open, they can always search for their next treasure on Facebook at “The Rocking Chair.”

While Denise manages the store, Dan serves as the merchandise buyer on weekends. During the week, Dan is busy with his job as a DNR forester.

In December 2010, Dan and Denise purchased the Esch and Eberhardt buildings next door to The Rocking Chair. The Esch building is home to the newly opened Mid-Towne Café. Self-proclaimed entrepreneurs at heart, Dan and Denise are exploring plans to refurbish the now empty Eberhardt building to create more retail space. Additionally, the Cloughs hope to restore the historical integrity of the building façade.

The Cloughs look forward to working with the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce and other businesses pooling resources to continually promote Neillsville.