Business updates

Mailbox and parcel business closes

Mailboxes and Parcel Depot at 2148 Broadway in Cape Giradueau has closed after 14 years in business. The owner was Cheryl Walter.

Macy's layoffs affect Cape Girardeau store

The Macy's store inside Cape Girardeau's West Park Mall is among the locations nationwide that will be affected by the company's decision to cut 7,000 jobs, or 4 percent of its work force. Macy's spokeswoman Sharon Bateman said while she did not have specific numbers on job cuts, all stores will be affected, with an average of five to six positions eliminated at each of its 840 stores.

McAlister's Deli adds new menu

McAlister's Deli, located at 244 S. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, will see a new menu by the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter, says owner Donnie Harris.

The new menu will feature paninis, pizzas and hand-tossed salads. Most items will remain on the menu, but all desserts except brownies and cookies will be eliminated. In addition, food will be served on real plates instead of plastic dinnerware. Harris, who also owns McAlister's Delis in Kentucky and Illinois, said the Cape location will undergo remodeling in six years.

Starbucks announces closures

Starbucks has announced that it will close 200 underperforming stores in the United States, but exact locations are not yet available. Starbucks operates two stores in Cape Girardeau, both of which survived Starbucks' first round of cuts last year. The company will also close approximately 100 stores in international markets.

TG Misssouri lays off 150 at Perryville plant

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Citing a sudden unforeseen drop in sales for the first quarter of 2009, officials with TG Missouri announced it will temporarily lay off more than 150 production and support team members effective Feb. 9. Company officials did not have a time frame in which the workers might be recalled.

Those affected by the cutbacks include maintenance technicians, shipping personnel, supervisors and specialists. After the layoffs, about 900 employees will work at the manufacturer of automobile safety systems and parts for such customers as Toyota, Honda and General Motors.

Cape Art, Dolls and Toys closes

After 30 years in business, Cape Art, Dolls and Toys closed its doors Feb. 21. Jary Reppen, who owns the business with his wife, Nancy, said the current economic climate made the decision to close the store and retire easy.

The business began selling art supplies out of its 2,400-square-foot building at 21 Plaza Way Town Plaza in Cape Giradeau and later transitioned to offering Middleton dolls and Thomas the Tank engines.

First State Community Bank annouces promotions

PARK HILLS, Mo. — First State Community Bank is promoting members within its organization. The changes will make several Farmington, Mo., employees official bank officers.

Promotions include James Eaton III to president of the Park Hills branch; Brian Boyd to assistant vice president; Debbie Mull to loan administration officer in Potosi, Mo.; Jamie Lipe to loan review officer; Jennifer Lee to deposit operations manager; Gabby Collins to teller supervisor; and Luke Roussin to marketing officer.

YMCA of Southeast Missouri opens new facility in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. — The YMCA of Southeast Missouri's new facility in Sikeston is now open. While the grounds aren't landscaped and there are some finishing touches to be completed on the exterior, much of the work is complete.

Executive Director Jeff Partridge said the main part of the swimming pool is six lanes wide and 25 yards long. An additional area of the pool includes "a zero-depth entry area with some play features for children, an underwater water bench and a 15-foot-high water slide," he said.

The general contractor is now working on renovations to the YMCA's old building. Partridge said half of the old gym will remain equipped for basketball and the other half will be converted into a youth and family gym, which will include a rock climbing wall and interactive fitness/gaming equipment for children. A new aerobics room and three other classrooms will also be included.

Johnson Insurance announces merger, relocation

Johnson Insurance Group has announced a merger with First State Insurance Agency. The company moved to two new locations on March 1. Previously located at 6 North Clark St. in Cape Girardeau, Johnson Insurance Group now has offices on the second floor of First State Community Bank at 2527 William St. and across from Ford Groves at 1602 N. Kingshighway.

The insurance group staff will retain contracts with current companies and will have access to additional ones. The William Street location will focus on commercial and business insurance while the Kingshighway office will emphasize personal insurance such as home, auto, life and health.

Customers can still reach the insurance group at the same phone number, 573-334-8100.

Family ownership group purchases Jackson Save-A-Lot

A family ownership group has purchased the Jackson Save-A-Lot store at 1905 E. Jackson Blvd. The St. Francois County-based Can Stockers — a group of two brothers, two sisters and a father — recently acquired the store and are in the midst of a major remodeling project.

Co-owner David Hawkins said changes include installing produce cases, replacing refrigeration cases, redoing bathrooms and offices and completing a makeover of the store's exterior. Changes should be complete by the end of March, Hawkins said. All store employees have been retained.

This is the fifth store Can Stockers have purchased since 1987, when they bought a location in Bonne Terre, Mo. Since then they have bought stores in Park Hills, Farmington and Ironton. Future expansions in Southeast Missouri are planned, Hawkins said.

Store hours at the Jackson location are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday.

Bloomfield and Jackson animal shelters merge

Sundog Cat Sanctuary in Bloomfield, Mo., and Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary in Jackson are joining forces to establish a large no-kill shelter at Safe Harbor's Jackson location. Both shelters are not-for-profit, run entirely by volunteers and primarily shelter cats. According to Safe Harbor director Alice Wybert, the shelters decided to merge last fall after seeing many shelters close because of financial problems.

The merge will double Safe Harbor's feline population from 100 to 200 cats, creating an immediate need for a new building and additional supplies. Safe Harbor hopes to have the building constructed by June 1, and has set up the "Give Me Shelter" campaign to raise money for the project. Wybert said organizers are about a third of the way to an estimated $60,000 goal.

Mediterranean on Broadway expands menu

After a two-month closure, a Mediterranean restaurant at 411 Broadway reopened Feb. 23 with an expanded menuu and new kitchen. Mediterranean on Broadway now offers pasta, mahammara dip and, during the evening hours, shish kabobs. The rebuilt kitchen includes an 11-foot hood, griddle and fryer. Owner Sam Alsmadi hopes to add specials to the menu.

Hours are Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch and 5-9 p.m. for supper.

Holiday Happenings changes names, ownership

Holiday Happenings, located inside West Park Mall of Cape Girardeau, is now called Gerard's Gift and Floral. William Horman bought the business Aug. 1 from Rick Werner, the son of the former owner who had passed away a month earlier. Horman decided to keep the Holiday Happenings name in place until he was ready to make the switch official.

Gerard's is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to flowers, Gerard's sells gift baskets, Willow Tree items, Seraphim Classics angels, plush stuffed animals, Trapp candles and more. The phone number is 573-332-8662.

Pregnancy center moves to new home

PARK HILLS, Mo. — The Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center has a new location and celebrated with an open house on Feb. 8. The nonprofit, Christian-based agency for parents-to-be is now located at 815 E. Main St. in Park Hills.

The new site is nearly seven times larger than the previous building on A Street in Farmington. It includes playrooms for infants and toddlers, three parenting rooms, a fathers' classroom, staff offices, a kitchen, a conference room, and a wing for pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and counseling. The Clothes Closet has used infant clothing available to all participants, and a boutique offers new baby supplies for parents to "buy" with points earned during classes.

Free services include parenting education, information about alternatives to abortion, and post-abortion counseling. For more information, call 573-431-6001 or visit parklandprc.com.