Cape education supply store to close after 20 years

Since 1989, 3 R's Plus Supplies in Cape Girardeau has served thousands of teachers.

But the education supply store is calling it quits by the end of the year.

Owner Judy Borgfield told me she's reached retirement and decided now is a good time to close.

"3 R's Plus Supplies wishes to thank all its loyal customers, former employees and especially my husband for all their assistance the last 20 years for making 3 R's such a success," Borgfield said. "I had hoped to sell the business so that teachers could continue to buy their teaching supplies locally."

3 R's Plus Supplies began 20 years ago in a 900-square-foot building at 121 S. Broadview St. and moved in 1996 to a 1,600-square-foot space in the Town Plaza Shopping Center. The business again expanded in 2005, when it moved to its present 2,500-square-foot building at 837 N. Kingshighway.

Borgfield said watching her customers' children grow up and then enter the teaching field has been a rewarding part of the job. She also has enjoyed assisting college students with projects and helping parents find the right materials to improve their children's skills in a subject.

"Meeting the challenges each customer brings to me has kept the job from being routine," Borgfield said. "Another area which has been rewarding is seeing each high school employee grow and mature into a responsible adult and graduate from college.

"I have been delighted to have these employees return and share what is happening in their lives," she said. "I am looking forward to having time to visit family, including a new great grand-child, and friends without being concerned for the operation of the store."

The store, which will be having sales until it closes, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 339-1242.

* Curves relocating to old Jackson Bakery location: The building at 1815 E. Jackson Blvd. that has been empty since Jackson Bakery closed will soon have a new tenant. The exercise business Curves plans to move there by Nov. 30 from 425 W. Main St. in Jackson.

* Mario's Pasta House coming to Jackson: Mario Grippo is bringing his brand of pasta and pizza back to Jackson.

He plans to open Mario's Pasta House by December. The restaurant at 252 E. Jackson Blvd. will serve stromboli and pizza but will specialize in a variety of pasta dishes. The pizza will have a thin, flaky crust, unlike what is served in Mario's Italian Grill in Marble Hill, Mo.

Grippo, who used to own a restaurant in uptown Jackson in the early 1990s, said the establishment will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, won't serve alcohol and will not allow smoking.

* Snack company building Scott City distribution warehouse: Cape Girardeau-based food distributor Southeast Snacks Inc. is building a 10,500-square-foot operations office and warehouse at Riverside and Industrial Fuels Drive in Scott City.

Tom Kelsey, a broker with Lorimont Place Ltd. who handled the real estate transaction, said the company is building the distribution center on a property tract formerly owned by the Rhodes family.

The company, owned by Bruce Schmidt, distributes food products throughout Southeast Missouri for Interstate Bakeries including Wonder Bread, Dolly Madison and Hostess Snacks. They also handle other food lines including Tom's Snacks and Jay's Potato Chips.

Kelsey said the new facility will replace the company's two existing warehouses, one in Scott City and the other in Cape Girardeau. The company plans to occupy the new building sometime in February.

* El Torero moves into new building: After eight months of remodeling the old Jay's Smokehouse building in Jackson, El Torero has opened. The new site will offer expanded seating, from 120 at its former building, 711 E. Jackson Blvd., to 198 seats at 1830 E. Jackson Blvd. It will also sport decorations, a fountain and an electronic message board.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The phone number is 204-0905.

* Mexican restaurant calls it quits: While El Torero celebrated a move to a new location, another Mexican restaurant in Jackson closed its doors. El Bracero, 1815 E. Jackson Blvd., went out of business Nov. 2. "We thank you for your patronage during our time in business and would like to know it was our pleasure serving you," a sign on the restaurant's front door said.

* Twilight Dinner Theatre closes: Just weeks after opening, the Twilight Dinner Theatre, 3589 Highway 25 outside of Jackson, has closed.

The dinner theater's owners had planned to offer live music, murder mysteries, comedians, gospel performances, children's shows and special holiday festivals.

Co-owner Tom Bertrand said the dinner theater closed because a lack of attendance.

"My wife and I have a family to support and people just weren't coming," Bertrand said.

* Ribbon cutting scheduled: The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting for Premier Rehab at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The business recently moved from 2917 Independence St. to 1403 N. Mount Auburn Road. Premier Rehab may be contacted at 335-7868 or online at premierrehabonline.com.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Brian Blackwell may be contacted at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.<I>