New commercial buildings will replace old ones

Business Today

The former Sonic and Jay's Fried Chicken buildings at 875 and 879 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau have been sold to make way for a new insurance office and two new retail stores.

The buildings -- which had been owned by the Martin family of Rolla, Mo. -- have sat empty for more than a year, but Chap Arnold of Chap Arnold Insurance closed on the property in late June.

Arnold plans to demolish the former Jay's Fried Chicken building at 879 N. Kingshighway and build his first Cape Girardeau Chap Arnold Insurance office. He also has offices in Jackson and Scott City.

"Half my clientele is in Cape Girardeau already," Arnold said. "This office will give me the opportunity to offer them better service. It's a good opportunity for us."

Arnold also likely will tear down the other building and build one or two retail buildings there. He is not sure what they will eventually be.

"Either way, it's a big improvement for the city," said Ken Inman of Century 21 Ashland Realty, who worked on the deal with Ron Berger, also of Century 21 Ashland. "Whatever he puts there will get rid of some eyesores. I'm glad it was sold to somebody who's going to clean it up."

Chap Arnold Insurance, founded in 1971 by Chap and Connie Arnold in Scott City, was established primarily for the purpose of selling personal automobile and homeowners insurance to the surrounding areas. The agency has grown over the past 30 years into one of the largest in its area.