We haven't done an official tally lately, but the number of gay-owned businesses in Eureka Springs may have just breached the 50 barrier with the recent opening of two new retail shops. An old-favorite motel has new owners, too.

Glass Act

Fusion Squared, a suitably eclectic enterprise at 84 Spring St. (479-253-4999) features extraordinary fused-glass jewelry and decorative plates and bowls--along with chain-mail bracelets, necklaces, to-die-for tie-dyed tees and original drawings by Topeka, Kansas artist Chris Prouty.

Proprietors and artists-in-residence John Rinehart and John Jarrett happily abandoned corporate ships in Topeka to launch their new retail venture in Eureka Springs. «We had visited the town four or five times in the past, loved it and, well, the rest is history,» says Rinehart. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Handy is Dandy

If you don't want to walk a mile for a Camel, check out the oh-so-conveniently-located Inn Convenience Store at 50 N. Main, so new the shelves are still being stocked. But the inventory includes all the critical convenience-store items, most importantly, cigarettes.

Equally vital, beer, wine and a coffee bar will soon materialize. An ATM machine is already in place. The joint-venture owners of the un-Seven Eleven are Harold Ellis, Ken Riley, Olin Karch, Steven Wilgus, Charlie Thomas and hands-on-hips himself, Alvin Byrd.

Suite Dreams: Grrrrrrr!

In the gay-owned lodgings sector, Bella Vista transplants Terry Francone and David Loe have taken over the helm at the retro-style Tradewinds Motel (141 W. Van Buren; 479-253-9774/800-242-1615). On the drawing board are plans to lure out-of-state bears by offering a «show-us-your-fur discount.»

The guys are also offering a couples who stay two nights a $35 discount when they register with Eureka Springs as domestic partners. In effect, the discount covers the cost of the domestic partnership application at Eureka Springs city hall.

Scare Tactics

Former Tradewinds owners and ghouls gone wild Lee Ostergren and Kelly Allen are now free to focus full-time on frightening the bejaysus out of folks at their Raycliff Manor Haunted Attraction (132 Hwy 23; 479-253-7887). For the first time, the house of horrors--usually shuttered after Halloween--will be open for Diversity Weekend, November 2 and 3. «It will be your last opportunity to brave the halls of Raycliff Manor before the dungeon doors slam shut for another season,» says Ostergren (whose reflection never shows up in mirrors).

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