"Things Remembered," a specialty engraving shop, opened Thursday in the West Park Mall. The store is located between the Gift Horse and Claire's Boutique.

"We offer engraved gifts for all occasions such as birthdays, weddings, Father's Day and Mother's Day," said Kathy Jackson, store manager. "We have doorknockers to key chains to clocks. We can etch on glass mugs and engrave on plates and plaques. We have hundreds of different gifts for engraving."

In most cases, engravings can be done the same day, said Jackson.

"An engraved gift is very personal," said Jackson. "It makes the gift more special, more memorable."

The business also stocks a line of gifts for executives, such as folders, pens, desk, office and stationary gifts. Others gifts include brass and silver-plated trays and goblets, glassware, electronics, knives and keychains, picture frames, music boxes and baby gifts.

Things Remembered will also custom engrave gifts purchased elsewhere, in addition to providing other customer services, such as key duplication and rubber stamps.

The Cape Girardeau store employs five workers. Store hours are 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:30-5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The store manager is a Cape Girardeau resident. Jackson managed the General Nutrition Center in Carbondale for the last year and a half. She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and Cape Girardeau Central High School.

To celebrate the store opening, the West Park Mall is sponsoring a $100 mall gift certificate giveaway. Persons can register at Things Remembered through the end of the month.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Things Remembered ope~r~ates 700 stores nationwide in malls. It is the nation's largest chain of engraved gift stores and has been operating 26 years.

This marks the company's first outlet in Southeast Missouri. The chain opened a store in the Marion, Ill., mall about six months ago. More than eight stores operate in the St. Louis area.

Things Remembered is a division of Cole National, which also oper~ates Key Lease in Sears and Venture stores, and Cole Vision Centers.