The Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau has opened Hannibal's Main Street Christmas Stop in the Quincy Mall, featuring more than 2,000 items for sale from 21 Hannibal merchants and artists.

The store, located just across from Sears, will be open through Dec. 31.

The idea for the Christmas shop came from Megan Kramer, a Quincy native, who pointed out that Quincy residents may not be aware of how Hannibal's downtown has taken off in the last several years, said Beau Hicks, executive director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"This is a great way for the HCVB to feature and promote our downtown shopping ... If this can help them and at the same time pay for itself ... then it's a no-lose venture," Hicks said.

The HCVB will take a share of sales to pay for overhead and staffing.

Hicks said "it was a bit of a challenge" to keep all the bookkeeping straight. "I have a whole new level of respect for small business owners."

Participating merchants include Ayers Pottery, the Hickory Stick, the Native American Trading Co., Picture Perfect Gallery and Framing, Java Jive, the Opened Book, Mark Twain Home and Museum, Danni Nicole's Clothing Store, Logue's Gift Shop, Inspirations Home D & eacute;cor, Paddle Wheel Popcorn, the Mark Twain Cave, Candle's A-Glow, the Mark Twain Riverboat, Hannibal Cavemen baseball, Sweet Spirits Home Soap, Whittle Shortline Railroad.

Participating fine artists include Nancy Lee Kaufman, Brenda Beck Fisher, Megan M. Kramer and Renee' Healy.

For more information, contact Hicks at (573) 822-6970.