Business briefs

__BRIGGS AND STRATTON WINS ENGINE DESIGN AWARD__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Briggs and Stratton received an International Die Casting Design Award for a new engine base design that will be manufactured at the Poplar Bluff facility, the Daily American Republic reported. The new engine base design is made from a modified aluminum alloy and cast from a three-cavity die design. The design reduces the weight of the engine base by nearly 40 percent. According to the company, the innovation increases manufacturing productivity and efficiency, reduces the weight of the overall engine and enhances the consumer's mowing experience. The award was presented by the North American Die Casting Association in the 1- to 5-pound category at the National American Die Casting Association's annual luncheon in Milwaukee.

__PEPSI OPENS OPERATIONS OFFICE__

Pepsi Mid-America opened a Cape Girardeau operations office ahead of a new distribution center and office in the Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park near Interstate 55. The new center, which is under construction, will open in 2015 and is expected to bring about 70 jobs to the area. Tom Kelsey, a commercial broker for Lorimont Place, said in a news release that Pepsi has leased office space at 1021 Kingsway Drive, which will serve as a human resources and hiring office until the new facility opens.

__DELTA ONE STOP CLOSES__

Delta One Stop closed its doors on Dec. 20, the North Stoddard Countian reported. It had been the only grocery store in Delta for the past three years. Diana Cook owned the business; she is also a retired pastor and operates two boarding homes in Marble Hill, Missouri. Cook is the second person in her family to operate a business in the large brick building on State Highway 25 in Delta. Her sister, Ellie Cook, operated Red Door Antiques in that location for several years.

__RIBBON CUTTING HELD FOR MERS GOODWILL__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Dec. 11 for MERS Goodwill, 1317 N. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff. A grand opening was also held that day for the new Goodwill store. The previous Poplar Bluff store at 2511 N. Westwood Blvd. closed Nov. 30.

__SOUTHEAST AMONG 'BEST MIDWESTERN COLLEGES'__

Southeast Missouri State University is one of the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for 2015, according to the Princeton Review. The rankings are based on surveys of 130,000 students at the colleges in the book in 2013-2014. The survey asks the students 80 questions about their school's academics, administration, student body and themselves. In the profile on Southeast, The Princeton Review says Southeast students say the university offers "small class sizes," "personal attention" and "a wide range of majors." Students surveyed also highlighted Southeast's education, nursing and business programs, the River Campus and the university's affordability.

__OLD FEDERAL BUILDING INCREASES OCCUPANCY__

The former federal building at 339 Broadway in Cape Girardeau is filling with commercial tenants, said owner Joseph Uzoaru, who runs Athena Property Group. A first tenant, a co-working community, began renting space in the building over the summer. The building now has more than 10 tenants, with the first floor full, and some on the second floor. Space for storage also is leased in the basement. About 8,000 square feet of office space remain available on the second floor, and other spaces are available.

__NEW ACTIVITY AT FORMER BUCKNER BREWING CO.__

New life looks to be coming soon for a longtime clothing store turned restaurant and brewery. According to signs posted at the former Buckner Brewing Co. at 132 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, a business named Old Towne Cape Brewing Co. is opening soon. Buckner closed in February 2013. The historic building has sat empty since. Old Town Cape Dining LLC, owned by Dr. Sonjay Fonn, bought the building in April. The same company opened The Bar at 117 Themis St.

__GAME KNIGHTS CLOSING__

Game Knights Books & Collectibles, a gaming and hobby supply store at 57 Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau, is closing, according to a sign posted at the store. The store opened in January 2014, according to Southeast Missourian archives.

__TRIPLE G VAPORS OPENS ON PLAZA WAY__

Triple G Vapors, 67 Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, is an electronic cigarette retail store owned by James Graham. The business license application listed Dec. 15 as an anticipated opening date.

__ELITE TRAVEL RECOGNIZED AS TOP PERFORMER__

Elite Travel Inc. of Cape Girardeau was recognized as a consecutive Gold member of the Funjet Vacations 500 Club for 2014. The program honors travel agencies that are top supporters and producers of Funjet Vacations.

__AUBURN PLACE HOTEL RECEIVES DIAMOND AWARD__

Auburn Place Hotel in Cape Girardeau received the Midamerica Hotels Corp. Diamond Award, the company's highest honor, at a recent annual recognition banquet. The award, according to a news release from the company, is presented for the highest guest comments in all operations areas, including quality and customer satisfaction. The hotel's manager, Matt McDowell, accepted the award on behalf of the hotel.

__MID CONTINENT NAIL TO ADD 91 JOBS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Mid Continent Nail in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park has announced plans for a nearly $5 million expansion project and the hiring of 91 workers. The firm will install a new line in its original 118,000-square-foot plant in the industrial park on the north side of Revere Plastics. Equipment has been ordered and will be installed as soon as possible. Mid Continent Nail has 400 employees in its main nail manufacturing facility in the former Rowe Furniture building.

__THE BAR OPENS IN DOWNTOWN CAPE GIRARDEAU__

The Bar, a restaurant and bar owned by Old Towne Cape Dining Co. at 117 Themis St., Cape Girardeau, held a grand opening Dec. 26. The location was used in the filming of "Gone Girl" in 2013. Laura Jones, marketing director for Old Town Cape Dining LLC, said The Bar has capacity for 75 people. Amila Ramanayake is general manager of the business. Old Town Cape Dining LLC bought the property in mid-2014. Public records show the owner of Old Town Cape Dining is Dr. Sonjay Fonn, a local neurosurgeon.

__WALMART NEIGHBORHOOD TO OPEN JAN. 28__

Walmart Neighborhood Market, 2021 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, will open Jan. 28, according to a sign posted at the store.

__REALTY ONE TO HOLD RIBBON CUTTING__

Realty One Associates is planning a ribbon cutting Jan. 30 for its new location at 120 S. Missouri St. in Jackson.

__STEREO ONE ENDS CAR AUDIO, MOBILE DIVISION__

Stereo One Inc. of Cape Girardeau stopped selling car audio mobile electronics at the end of the year, said owner John Selby in a news release. The business has sold vehicle-related equipment for 34 years and will continue providing support for its mobile electronics customers through January. Stereo One in Carbondale, Illinois, will pick up service and support for Cape Girardeau customers' in-warranty mobile electronics purchases after that time. Stereo One is developing a new business plan while the building at 345 S. Kingshighway is undergoing major renovations. The renovated building will include leasing a significant portion of the space to a complementary business that has not yet been announced. A new initiative for the business is expected to be launched in April and may include a name change. Stereo One's home audio/video division remains open with full service and support staff, including repairs.

__FIRST MIDWEST BANK OPENS IN CAPE__

First Midwest Bank, 1820 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, opened Nov. 17 and is managed by Kathy Bertrand.

__TOWING BUSINESS OPENS ON INDEPENDENCE__

ASAP 24-hour Towing and Recovery, 1287 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, provides towing service and vehicle storage and offers sales of used auto parts. Joshua Petry is listed as the owner, with a Jan. 1 opening date.

__MOONWALKERS RENTAL OPENS IN CAPE__

Moonwalkers Rental, 522 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, offers rentals of inflatable play centers for private parties. Deborah Michel is listed as the owner, with a Dec. 13 opening date.

__MILK & HONEY CAFE OPENS ON BROADVIEW__

Milk & Honey Cafe, 229 S. Broadview St., Cape Girardeau, is a restaurant serving lunch and dinner. Svetlana Franchuk is listed as the owner, with a Dec. 10 opening date.

__EL MEXICANO RESTAURANT EXPANDS TO CHAFFEE__

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- In July, Armando Sanchez Jr. opened El Mexicano Restaurant in the old Masonic Lodge building at 150 Yoakum St. in Chaffee, the North Stoddard Countian reported. He and his parents, Armando Sr. and Monica Sanchez, have also run a restaurant in Advance, Missouri, for several years. The Chaffee restaurant employs a staff of six, with Armando Sanchez Jr. serving as manager.

__BOLLINGER COUNTY CHAMBER HONORS BUSINESSES__

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce selected the Patton Lions Club as Business of the Fourth Quarter and Beussink Transmission & Repair LLC as Rising Star Business of the Third Quarter.

__WHITE CASTLE REOPENS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU__

The White Castle at 102 Siemers Drive in Cape Girardeau reopened Dec. 28 after a four-month reconstruction period. A kitchen fire in May left the building inoperable and caused the White Castle to close. The building was razed Aug. 13 to create space for a smaller, more classic, White Castle-themed structure. Brenda Lumia, district supervisor, said the new building is more modernized than the original and includes new TVs, ambient music and free Wi-Fi for customers. Before becoming a White Castle in 2005, the original building housed a Hardee's and then a Lion's Choice.

__CAPE LICENSE OFFICE RELOCATES TO TOWN PLAZA__

Cape Girardeau's license office is moving from downtown to a new location in the Town Plaza. Gina Raffety, managing officer of MCLB Management Co. LLC, which was recently awarded a five-year contract from the state to operate the license office, said the office would open at 51 S. Plaza Way on Jan. 26. The office issues driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations for the Missouri Department of Revenue. The office was previously operated by the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, which did not seek another contract. Raffety said the new office has better accessibility, improved parking, additional work stations, an expanded waiting area, appointment and drop-off services and other amenities, including complimentary coffee, a television, Wi-Fi access and a children's play area. The office will keep its current staff, but more is being added. Linda Owens, who recently worked at the license office in Jackson, is area manager for the company and will manage the new Cape Girardeau office. MCLB also manages the license offices in Charleston, Farmington and Perryville, Missouri.