Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern to open in June

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern will open this June in the Town Plaza shopping center, 2016 William Street.

Owners Bill Zellmer and Lonnie Griggs are the first franchisees of the Michigan-based restaurant chain. Zellmer and Griggs, who are brothers-in-law, operate six Buffalo Wild Wings franchises in the region, including one in Town Plaza. They were introduced to the Bagger Dave's franchise through a fellow Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee, who had 21 BWW restaurants and created the Bagger Dave's concept.

According to a news release, their burgers are made from fresh, never frozen, beef and guests can choose from more than 30 toppings to create their own "legendary burger" including six cheese choices, three types of buns, six house-made sauces and more. The menu features hand-cut, double-fried French fries, Dave's Sweet Potato Chips, Turkey Black Bean Chili and Sloppy Dave's BBQ, as well as sandwiches, salads and hand-dipped milkshakes. Bagger Dave's carries its own line of soft drinks. The bar will feature craft beer on draft, several bottled varieties, spirits and a large wine selection. The historical decor will feature classic photographs and a moving miniature train.

Bagger Dave's will employ four managers and 60 full- and part-time staff members.

Zellmer and Griggs plan to open additional Bagger Dave's restaurants in Carbondale, Ill., Paducah, Ky., Bowling Green, Ky., Evansville, Ind., and Clarksville, Tenn.

Zellmer studied business management at Southeast Missouri State University and opened Buffalo Wild Wings in Cape Girardeau in 2002. Zellmer owns two BWW locations of his own and co-owns four more with Griggs, who serves as director of operations for all six locations. Griggs' has a background in local restaurant management and has served in regional supervisory roles with a major restaurant chain.

* Financial holding company Markel Ventures has acquired a majority interest in Havco Wood Products headquartered in Scott City. Havco manufactures laminated oak and composite wood flooring used in the assembly of truck trailers, intermodal containers and truck bodies. Markel Ventures is a subsidiary of Markel Corp., an underwriter of specialty insurance products based in Virginia. Bruce Bader, Havco president and CEO, said there will not be any changes in management or employees as a result of the acquisition. The company employs about 600 workers, with half of them at the Scott City plant and half in Vonore, Tenn.

* A Southeast Missouri Food Bank donor is issuing a challenge to other donors aimed at helping the organization raise funds for a new warehouse. Bob Drury of Drury Southwest has offered a cash donation of $25,000 if the food bank receives a matching commitment for that amount or commitments totaling that amount in the near future, said executive director Karen Green. "Mr. Drury would like this gift to be a financial incentive for the food bank to initiate more donations," Green said. "People respond well to challenges, so Mr. Drury is urging local business folks to step up and step out to help those struggling with hunger in Southeast Missouri." The food bank has available tax credits worth 50 percent of each donation through the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Neighborhood Assistance Program in exchange for donations. To donate or for more information, contact Green at 651-0400.

* The Pottery Corner is now open inside the former Ceramo pottery plant building off Highway 72 in Jackson. It features hundreds of pots in various shapes and colors with inventory changing weekly. Due to the popularity of Ceramo's pottery sales held once or twice a year, the company decided recently to open a retail outlet store, said Owner Vernon Kasten. "Most of what we have here you would never find locally," Kasten said. While the company hasn't manufactured its own pottery for about two years, it continues to be a wholesale pottery distributor. The company supplies pottery to garden centers and growers across the U.S. Its products have been featured on the DIY network's "Yard Crashers" program and on ABC's "Extreme Home Makeover's" Joplin, Mo., episode. The Pottery Corner is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

* Tri-State Advertising & Marketing Professionals will host "What Elvis Taught Me About Branding" by Memphis-based brand marketing expert Trace Howell during its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Port Cape Girardeau in downtown Cape Girardeau. Howell founded Tactical Magic in 2001. A 25 year veteran of the advertising business, his creative branding work has received numerous international honors and has been published in books, magazines and college textbooks. Clients he's served include First Tennessee, Fulmer-Helmets, McDonald's, Thomas & Betts and Valvoline. Tickets are $12 for Tri-State AMP members, $10 for students and $15 for visitors.

* The Healthy Weigh, a medical weight-loss program at Saint Francis Medical Center, was recently awarded the 2011 HMR Gold Standard Certificate of Achievement. This award distinguishes The Healthy Weigh from hundreds of clinics nationwide using the Health Management Resources program for weight loss. Since opening at Saint Francis in March 2011, program participants have lost more than 3,000 pounds. The clinic is staffed by trained Health Management Resources experts and integrates a registered dietitian, nurse and medical director, Dr. Philip E. Tippen.

Southeast Missourian business editor Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.