Business Notebook: Saint Francis announces opening of expanded NICU

Saint Francis Medical Center celebrated the completion of its expanded Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on Dec. 6 with an open house. The NICU will open Tuesday.

The NICU features three rooms equipped for twins, two rooms for triplets and a family room with activities and videos for parents and siblings, according to a news release from the hospital.

Saint Francis treats about 250 infants in the Level III NICU each year, and has treated 188 babies admitted to the NICU so far in 2013, according to a fact sheet about the expansion from Saint Francis.

The Level III NICU was part of the hospital's $127 million Building on Excellence Master Facilities Plan 3. Construction on the NICU began in June and was completed Nov. 29, according to Felecia Blanton, director of marketing for the hospital.

Business roundup

* Branding Iron restaurants in Jackson, Farmington, Mo., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., are being purchased by Dexter Bar-B-Que, the Daily American Republic reported. The new location of Dexter Bar-B-Que in Poplar Bluff is slated to open Dec. 16.

* The Bank of Missouri purchased the former Super D Drug Store building, 1465 N. Westwood Blvd. in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to be remodeled into a banking facility, the Daily American Republic reported. The project is expected to take three months.

* Tailwinds R/C Hobby Center, 1 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau, now is under the ownership of Jack "Mitch" and Patty Mitchell. The hobby supplies store will continue to sell radio-controlled aircraft supplies, as well as supplies for R/C cars, trucks and buggies, Patty Mitchell said. She said they hope to expand and sell more products in the future.

* A business license application was filed for Tasty Drinks at 2136 William St., Suite 140.

BOLD Marketing takes home four awards

BOLD Marketing earned international recognition and four awards from the MarCom Awards, an international competition for marketing and communications professionals, according to a news release from local marketing firm.

MarCom Awards is managed and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, an international organization made up of thousands of professionals, the release said.

There were more than 6,500 entries, according to the release, and BOLD won two gold awards, one in print creativity design and the other in the direct mail category, and two honorable mentions.

Old Town Cape announces Parade of Lights winners

Old Town Cape in a news release announced winners from the 2013 Parade of Lights. The theme of this year's parade, which marched down Broadway on Dec. 1, was "Christmas Fun for Everyone."

Awards were presented for best theme, best appearance for a business entry, best appearance for a not-for-profit organization entry, best music, best lighting, best marching band and the Chairman's Award, the release said.

The best theme award was presented to 'God Made A Farmer.' The best appearance award for a business entry went to Hutson's Fine Furniture, and Levi's Adventure Trail received the best appearance award for a not-for-profit organization entry. The best music award was presented to Happy Slapowitz's Toy Bash. The best lighting award went to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Advance High School received the award for the best marching band. The Chairman's Award, chosen by volunteers Kent and Vicki Zickfield, was given to Anderson Broadcasting.

Kroger to open Ruler Foods grocery store in Sikeston

Kroger will open a Ruler Foods store, a no-frills subsidiary of the company, at the site of a former grocery store at 1102 S. Main St. in Sikeston, Mo., according to a news release from Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., who handled the sale.

Ruler Foods stores strictly are grocery stores and have no pharmacy or fuel centers, the release said. Much like ALDI in Cape Girardeau, customers will bag their own groceries and will be able to "rent" shopping carts.

About 80 percent of the products available at the store will be either Kroger or Kroger Value items, and the store also will have fresh meat and produce, dairy, frozen foods, non-perishible food items and pet and baby items available for purchase, the release said.

The typical Ruler Foods store is about 20,000-square-feet, or about one-fifth the size of a regular Kroger Marketplace store, according to the release. The building at 1102 S. Main St. is about 60,000-square-feet situated on seven acres of property.

In the release, Kelsey said Kroger will be looking for other compatible businesses to co-habit the rest of the available space in the building.

ashedd@semissourian.com

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