Father-son glass works store in downtown Springfield going out of business

While many businesses close their doors on Christmas Eve for the next-day holiday, well-known downtown Springfield store closed its doors for good on Christmas Eve.

The Springfield Hot Glass Studio is not a mom-and-pop operation but a pop-and-son endeavor that's going out of business even though business has actually been good.

Gabe Bloodworth is a master at the art of glass blowing. And it runs in his DNA as he was taught by his father, Terry, who got his start at Silver Dollar City in 1977.

But for the last 16 years, the father-and-son's furnaces have been heating up the art scene in downtown Springfield, where every single item from Christmas ornaments to earrings and dishes is handmade in the store under the watchful eye of "Milkshake", the house cat.

But this Christmas Eve marks the final day of business for Springfield Hot Glass because even though sales are good, Terry has his own personal reasons.

"Nothing can change the fact that I'll be 71 on my next birthday," he said.

And while dad Terry is ready to retire, son Gabe is heading to his father's old stomping grounds at Silver Dollar City.

And besides Terry's retirement, another one of the main reasons the studio is going out of business is contained in buckets around the furnace area. Clear, circular ice-looking objects that are the raw material used to make their beautiful creations.

"It is called 'cullet' and it is pure glass," Terry explained. "For years we bought cullet from a company on the west coast and they went out of business. And the only available replacement is from a company in Germany so the cost is up 30% for that."

There's an old saying that you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. And local residents have let the Bloodworths know how much their handiwork has brightened their lives.

"I get out of here without crying," said customer Barb Jones as she left the store during its final hours on Christmas Eve. "It's not just a business. It's family."

"You know in most businesses you don't have your clients hug you because you're going out of business," Terry said with a smile.

"It's really touching to us to know that we are part of people's lives," Gabe added. "That these things are more than just objects to people. That they have stories and emotions attached to them."

And the most popular employee at the studio is getting some love too.

"We have a sign-in book and Milkshake by far as the most shout-outs," Gabe said.

"They may be interested in our welfare but they're REALLY interested in Milkshake's welfare," Terry added.

But all of them will be landing on their feet as the end of an era comes to a bittersweet close.

"It has absolutely been a great ride," Terry said.

Terry still plans on doing glass work and artist shows in retirement. And while Gabe is moving on to Silver Dollar City, Milkshake will be going from a "studio" cat..to a "house" cat.