The latest mall casualty

Last week brought the announcement that McAlister's Select is no longer in business at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. The deli's closure is not good news for mall management, who now must find another tenant to fill the space. On Aug. 28 officials with Steve & Barry's confirmed the discount clothing store would be closing its West Park Mall location, which will leave the 80,000-square-foot space unoccupied. Mall management will not comment on either situation.

The optimistic side of me hopes mall management finds tenants to fill the two spaces soon. After all, both are prime locations for a restaurant and anchor store. Judging from comments left on my blog, consumers seem to agree.

One poster, gehagge, said a Chipotle or Qdoba should fill the space once occupied by McAlister's Select.

Another poster, notalocal, suggested a clothing store such as TJ Maxx or Marshalls should occupy the space currently home to Steve & Barry's.

But ink_pen echoed my sentiments.

"Hopefully they get it filled very quickly, nobody likes seeing vacancies," the poster said. "Maybe they can get a local guy to fill it before Christmas."

* Jackson Diner closes: On Oct. 2, Grace Parry announced that on Wednesday she was closing Grace Cafe, a coffee shop and cafe at 818 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The next week another restaurant closure came as Jackson Diner shut its doors. Co-owner Krissty Steers told me that she and husband Bobby closed the diner Oct. 5 because the dining space was too small. Additionally, the Steers were renting the space at 3125 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson until they reached a decision whether to purchase the restaurant. However, Krissty Steers told me the asking price of $1 million was too high.

The Steers also own Fruitland Diner, which they acquired in August. At 5841 U.S. 61 in Fruitland, the diner formerly known as L'il Red Barn specializes in breakfast but also serves a full lunch and supper menu.

* Solving the mystery at 2320 E. Jackson Blvd.: Since early summer, crews have been clearing off land owned by the Kasten and Manes families.

Contrary to speculation on possible tenants that has included a church and strip mall, Kasten and Manes family representative John Lichtenegger said the property has not been sold to anyone yet. Lichtenegger said it could be the spring or summer before the property would be ready to sell.

The Kasten and Manes families have owned separate tracts of land at 2320 E. Jackson Blvd. for about 90 years. Lichtenegger said the two families thought it was best to combine the land and sell the property.

"The parties decided it was time to do something with the property," Lichtenegger said. "They realized it was worth more commercially than residentially and felt this was the perfect time to sell it."

* Gift basket store relocates: Fifteen years ago, Sandra Dansby was managing a paint store while selling gift baskets out of her garage in California. Her hobby then turned into a full-time, Internet-based business when a company placed an order for 50,000 baskets. By 2004, Dansby along with husband, Mark, and their three children decided it was time for a move to the Midwest, which cut down their delivery time to the East Coast from six to three days.

Gift Basket Drop Shipping operated in Cape Girardeau until July, when the business relocated again, this time to a 18,500-square-foot building in Jackson. Dansby said she and her 12 employees ship about 45,000 gift baskets each year to locations worldwide. In addition to the baskets, the business has shipped a number of care packages to American troops stationed overseas. For more information, visit the company's website at www.giftbasketdropshipping.com.

"She's definitely done something that I never could have done, which is to grow a successful business while caring for three kids right by her side," said Mark Dansby, who is soon scheduled to open Granny B's Treasures and Gift Baskets retail store in what was once office space in the building.

* Budget Blinds moves: Budget Blinds of Cape Girardeau recently moved to 718 Caruthers Ave. The business began operation in April l997 and is owned and operated by Cape Girardeau residents Dan and Jeanne Phillips. The company serves homeowners and businesses in the Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois areas, offering complimentary in-home estimates and consultations, professional measuring and installation, and window treatments including shutters, blinds, draperies and shades.

Business reporter Brian Blackwell can be reached at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.