Business news in brief

Mexican restaurant opens in East Cape

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. — A new restaurant, El Mexicano, has opened in East Cape Girardeau, Ill. The restaurant, located at 107 Iroquois St. off Highway 146, offers daily specials and a salsa bar. The phone number is (618) 661-9330.

Sign business opens in Cape

Signs of Success has opened at 401 S. West End Blvd. in Cape Girardeau. The business offers vinyl lettering and sign installation. Owner Kelli Seabaugh and sales representative Steve Rector previously operated the business out of a home for a month. Business hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (573) 450-7894 or (573) 275-2043.

Edward Jones earns top ranking

Registered Rep magazine has ranked Edward Jones No. 1 in the publication's annual survey of the nation's eight largest financial services firms. This is the 16th year the financial organization has earned the ranking. Southeast Missouri is home to more than 20 Edward Jones locations.

While the average for all firms in the survey was a 7.4 out of a possible 10 points, Edward Jones scored a 9.4. Ninety-six percent of Edward Jones' financial advisors said they see themselves working for Edward Jones two years from now.

Sikeston Chamber wraps up 'The Avenue'

The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce announces its newly revised magazine "The Avenue …Where Sikeston and Miner Meet and Southern Hospitality Begins." Its new publisher is Concord and magazine editor is Jill Bock with the Standard-Democrat. Articles focus on area attractions, as well as healthcare, education and business opportunities.

This is the eighth edition of the annual publication, which has been utilized by hotels, medical offices, education systems, cities and counties, economic developers, museums, libraries, and is sent out with tourist information and in relocation packets. The chamber gives out approximately 5,000 copies each year, beginning in April.

Pizza Inn named Pizza Chain of the Year

THE COLONY, Texas — Dallas-based PIZZA INN (NASDAQ PZZI) has been named 2008 Pizza Chain of the Year by Pizza Marketplace.com. The news comes after Pizza Inn celebrated 50 years of service, saw consistent profits return, completed its sixth consecutive quarter of same store sales increases, announced a new management team, unveiled a successful new prototype store in Denton, Texas, and was reunited with its old pizza spinning mascot JoJo.

Pizza Marketplace.com chose Pizza Inn as 2008 Pizza Chain of the Year based upon its commitment to the quality of their pizzas and legendary service, in addition to many accomplishments seen this past year that have led to the chain's revitalization. The publication is the leading source of pizza information on the Internet.

WW Wood Products awarded Star status

DUDLEY, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration has accepted WW Wood Products in Dudley, Mo., into its VPP program as a Star Member. The Star status is the highest level possible in the VPP, according to Ken Carmode, WW Wood vice president of sales and marketing. The company is the only one in Stoddard County to be in the VPP, and only one of three in Southeast Missouri to be in the VPP.

Less than one percent of all U.S. worksites achieve Star status, which Carmode says is awarded to worksites with comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems. Status is given after a detailed evaluation of the written safety and health management system and ongoing performance. OSHA also conducts an on-site evaluation to judge how well the protective system is working.

Jackson guitar studio opens

On Jan. 7, Patrick Rafferty opened a guitar studio at 200 Kies Ave. in Jackson. The private studio offers lessons for all ages and levels in both popular and classical guitar. Rafferty, a Jackson native, holds degrees from Southeast Missouri State University and Peabody Conservatory of John Hopkins University in Baltimore. He has 10 years of professional teaching and experience. Rafferty can be reached at (410) 917-3503 or patrickrafferty447@hotmail.com.

Jackson credit union holds grand opening

Cape Regional Credit Union held a grand opening Jan. 12 for its Jackson branch location at 5721 U.S. 61, immediately west of the intersection stoplight of Highway 177 and U.S. 61 in Fruitland. Festivities included a Jackson Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and a reception.

The credit union has offered banking services to residents of Cape Girardeau County or those working here since 2005. For more information, visit www.caperegionalcu.com or call the Jackson office at (573) 388-2330 or the Cape office at (573) 334-7686.

New partnership for disaster recovery

Technology and Networking of Cape Girardeau has partnered with Illinois-based Recovery Solutions, a disaster recovery service for financial institutions. In the event of a catastrophe, Recovery Solutions will deliver a technology-based Mobile Banking Facility onsite. Units include generator systems and satellite communications to restore full functionality to a banking organization even when normal power communication facilities are down. Regulators require banks to have a Business Continuity Plan to cover common emergencies as well as pandemic situations.

Technology and Networking is the industry leader in providing technology based solutions to reduce risk for banks. In addition to partnering with Recovery Solutions, they are also an authorized reseller for VMWare, the industry's most respected virtualization system. For more information about Recovery Solutions, VMWare or other programs offered by Technology and Networking, call (573) 335-5157 or email info@tanasc.com.

Census Bureau to locate in Cape

Cape Girardeau is one of six Missouri cities where the U.S. Census Bureau plans to have regional offices for next year's population count. By spring 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau hopes to hire about 140 people in Cape Girardeau County and about 6,000 workers statewide. All jobs will be temporary.

According to Craig Best, assistant regional manager in the Kansas City Census office, 40 people out of a pool of 176 will be chosen to fill open field positions that will pay $10 an hour. Other recruiting pools will be 30 people in Bollinger County, 47 in Perry, 148 in St. Francois, 101 in Scott and 77 in Stoddard. About one-fourth of those will be hired to verify addresses.

When the Cape Girardeau County office opens in October at an as-yet-undetermined location, between 40 and 50 people will be hired to handle payroll and manage recruiting operations for 2010 field workers. Pay will range from $9 to $22 an hour. The office will be responsible for efforts in 31 Southeast Missouri counties.

The Census Bureau plans to hire another 40 and 50 people for field work conducted from April to June 2010. Field workers will earn $11.50 an hour, an increase of $1.50 over field workers employed this spring.

Providers Plus opens in Cape

A family-owned home medical-equipment supply business that began out of a basement in St. Louis has expanded into Cape Girardeau. Providers Plus opened its eighth location Dec. 1 at 252 Siemers Drive. The business has a partnership with Saint Francis Medical Center. Jeff Serafin owns the business with his brother, John, and mother, Kathy.

Five employees work at the Cape Girardeau office, but additional employees could be hired in the future. The retail portion of Providers Plus is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is (573) 651-6521.

Cash City ready to loan

SIKESTON, Mo. — Cash City recently held its grand opening ribbon cutting with the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce. The business specializes in payday, title and signature loans. Co-owners are Wes Bye and Jerry Menz. Cash City, located at 900 S. Main in Sikeston, also offers bonding services. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. The phone number is (573) 471-0202.

Jackson consignment shop opens

Amelia's Fashion Exchange, a new consignment shop owned by Amelia Bennett, opened Jan. 13 in Jackson. The store offers maternity clothing, infant wear and accessories, and name brand clothing for adults.

"Opening a consignment shop is such a rewarding job as it offers my consigners extra money and my customers great savings that in this economy so many of us can use," Bennett said. "It is also such a pleasure getting to meet more and more people everyday."

The store, located at 110 S. High St., is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is (573) 225-4974.

New coffee shop opens in Cape

The Mississippi Mud House has opened for business Jan. 19 at 813 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Co-owner Linda Seabaugh has been working since mid-2008 to transform the space, formerly housing the Enchanted Forest, into a coffee shop and venue for movies and concerts.

The shop offers the same exotic coffees and the original menu of the Mississippi Mud House in St. Louis, along with local art, live music, concerts, independent films, open mic nights, poetry readings, comedy nights and more. The first movie night is scheduled for Feb. 20. Mississippi Mud House also features a dining hall that can hold up to 79 people for business meetings, birthday parties and wedding rentals.

Store hours are 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The business' website addresses are mississippimudhouse.net and myspace.com/mississippimudhouse811. The phone number is (573) 339-0991.

Glass Doctor listetd in 'Franchise 500'

MALDEN, Mo. — Entrepreneur magazine listed Glass Doctor No. 277 in its 2009 "Franchise 500" list. The company was ranked No. 312 in 2008.

Glass Doctor of the Heartland, locally operated by John Petry, is part of the nation's largest full-service glass provider, which serves the residential, automotive and commercial glass repair and replacement markets at more than 375 locations.

Jackson Hewitt opens in Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Jackson Hewitt Tax Service recently opened its new location at 1018 S. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff. Office manager is Dan Gregory Brady.

Beef O'Brady's holds ribbon cutting

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on Jan. 29 for Beef O'Brady's, located at 1812 Carondelt Ave., Suite 101.

Title Cash of Missouri adds new office

Title Cash of Missouri has opened an additional office in Jackson at 2941 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite B. Broker David S. Glastetter and commercial sales associate Ralph Hendrickson of ERA Cape Realty handled the leasing details. Monika Rausch, area supervisor for Title Cash of Missouri, will manage the new office.

Maxim Health opens branch in Cape

Maxim Healthcare Services has opened a branch office in Cape Girardeau. Maxim offers services to a variety of patients, including care of adults and pediatrics, in-home services, personal care, private duty and companion care. Maxim also provides staffing services to medical facilities in the area, with a variety of staffing assignments including contract, temp-to-perm, per diem, and direct hire.

This office is at 3065 William St., Suite 101, and the phone number is (573) 332-8842. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with on-call hours 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Former Cape Branding Iron has new tenant

A new family restaurant, Bobby's Kitchen, opened Feb. 1 at 1015 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The building had been empty since the Branding Iron closed on Nov. 23, 2008.

Bobby's Kitchen will be open 5 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Co-owners Krissty Steers and her husband, Bobby also own the Fruitland Diner. The menu will be the same as the Jackson eatery.

Businesses offer advertising award

Four Cape Girardeau businesses are offering a $40,000 grant for advertising assistance, production and media placement this year. The Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals, in partnership with the Southeast Missourian, Red Letter Communications, Mississippi River Radio and KFVS12, are the sponsoring agencies of the Advertising for a Cause award.

The winner will be selected on the effect the particular group's project will have on the community, the overall mission of the organization and the group's involvement in the marketing effort. A committee will select three finalists to make a presentation to the Tri-State AMP board. The winner will be announced during the 2009 ADDY awards banquet Feb. 20.

For more information, visit www.tristateamp.com or contact Abby Petzoldt at abby@abbyink.com.

Tour of Missouri will visit Southeast Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Event organizers and Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder have announced the start and finish host cities and the overall course for the third Tour of Missouri professional cycling race, scheduled for Sept. 7-13.

The following cities will play host to a leg of the tour: St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Rolla, St. James, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Chillicothe, St. Joseph and and Kansas City. According to Lt. Governor Kinder, this is the first year the tour will visit Southeast Missouri; it will also spend more time north of Interstate 70. In addition, this is the first year the tour will route east to west, instead of west to east. Stage by stage courses and teams will be announced at a later date.

The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to point road races (St. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph). The overall mileage for the course is expected to be more than 600 miles.

Family Fun Center holds ribbon cutting

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in December for the Bonne Terre Family Fun Center on Orchard Drive. The owner is Shara Shirshekan. The Bonne Terre Family Fun Center offers many types of entertainment for family members of all ages.

First State Community Bank holds ribbon cutting

FARMINGTON, Mo. — First State Community Bank at Maple Valley Center in Farmington recently held a ribbon cutting. The store first opened in 1992, but has added 800 square feet and a fifth drive-thru lane.

Malden Chamber recognizes McDonald's

MALDEN, Mo. — McDonald's of Malden was chosen as the Malden Chamber of Commerce Business of theh Month for January 2009. McDonald's has been operated in Malden for 13 years and is currently managed by Angie Jones.