NEW ON THE BUSINESS SCENE: EXPRESSO STAND OWNER LIKES TO SEE TRAFFIC JAMS AROUND KIOSKS

Dale Morris can look out of his office window and see four drive-through espresso stands.

"Sometimes there's a traffic jam around one of the green, white and red kiosks," says Morris, an Everett, Wash., businessman who has combined what he describes as "old-world taste with American driving habits" in Espresso America Inc.

Morris, who was born and raised in Sikeston, is founder and president of the Seattle, Wash., company that specializes in drive-through espresso bars.

Morris and his wife will be in Cape Girardeau June 26 to participate in a grand opening of an Espresso America drive-through at Town Plaza Shopping Center parking lot.

"The Cape Girardeau operation is company owned," said Jinda DeMarco, Morris' sister, and operations director of Espresso America. "It belongs to my mother Eulalene Morris and Dale."

The local kiosk opened in April.

"It's been busy," said DeMarco. "People in the Cape Girardeau area have been very responsive to the new facility."

DeMarco said drive-throughs are "very popular on the West Coast.

"It's the way to drink coffee here," said DeMarco. "Surveys have shown that 48 percent of Espresso coffee drinkers drive up for their favorite drink four or more times a week."

Customers have a wide selection of flavors.

"We can offer 100 different flavors," said Eulalene Morris, who operates the Town Plaza facility. "We're already starting to see repeat customers."

The local operation is a family one.

Dale Morris' sister-in-law, Sue Morris, also takes a turn at operating the stand.

"My children, Brant Morris and Jessica Morris, also work the kiosk," said Sue Morris.

"Repeat customers are the key to the operation," emphasized DeMarco. "At first people have a curiosity about the product, and the fact they get it by driving through. After a couple of trips through many people become regulars."

Dale Morris, who has become known as "Dr. Espresso," is an authority on espresso.

He is author of a book, "The Complete Espresso Business Opportunity Guide," and has appeared on several television shows, including "The 700 Club" and CNBC's "Money Talk" to discuss his favorite topic. He also produces educational pamphlets and videos for the industry. Morris' second book, "Dr. Espresso's Beverage Therapy," will be out later this year.

Meanwhile, Morris continues to travel the country offering kiosk packages to entrepreneurs, with dreams of his company becoming the McDonald's of espresso.

"Studies show that Americans' coffee-drinking habits are changing," said DeMarco.

A recent industry study shows that sales of gourmet coffee beans in the U.S. climbed to 1.2 billion in 1989. That's 19 percent of all the coffee that was sold that year.

It is estimated that by 1994, sales of gourmet beans will account for nearly one-third of U.S. coffee sales. Meanwhile, the National Coffee Association says consumption of regular coffee has dropped by nearly 50 percent since 1963.

Morris got his inspiration for Espresso America from a Seattle art gallery owner who told him about the high profit margins on espresso drinks.

Morris realized the key to success was consumer traffic greater than a walk-up espresso could attract. A drive-through was the answer. After six months of research and design, Morris and a partner, Richard McIntosh, built their first kiosk, a 6-by-10-foot building that was complete with running water, refrigeration and a sophisticated computer system to monitor sales and inventory.

Traditionalists often start with espresso Americano, individual cups of espresso brewed for sometimes timid taste buds, and eventually work their way up to the double tall latte two shots of espresso with steamed milk.

"Beginners may start with latte," said Sue Morris. "One of the favorites here has been latte with Canadian Creme."

---

Petals & Bows recently opened at 127 N. Main, moving to downtown Cape Girardeau from 828 Broadway.

"I've always wanted to be in the downtown area," said Mary Keller, owner of the business.

Keller said she specializes in dried and silk flowers, baskets and small-gift items.

She also does a number of special-order silk arrangements.

Keller has been in business for six years.

---

Work is progressing on the Alliance Building near the Spanish-Independence intersection.

Bert and Maryanne Kellerman of Cape Girardeau purchased the building in 1992 and renamed it the Alliance Building. The two-story structure, now undergoing remodeling and renovation, will house apartments, artisans, craftsmen and a restaurant.

Mollies Restaurant, owned by John and Jerrianne Wyman, will open in the Alliance Building this month. The restaurant is at 627 Good Hope.

"We'll have the same menu and the same employees," said Wyman. Wyman, and Mike Graviett will be partners in another downtown business Downtown Grill a tavern and sandwich operation in the former Rajun Cajun building, across the street from the Alliance Building.

A deck has been constructed at the Downtown Grill, which is expected to open in mid-July.

---

Grass Roots BMW will open in downtown Cape Girardeau next month.

The new BMW motorcycle dealership will be at 28 S. Spanish.

Owners of the business include motorcycle enthusiasts Dave Hutson, Jeff Hutson, Chris Hutson and Dave Zimmer.

"We've always been interested in motorcycles," said Chris Hutson.

When the BMW dealership at Carbondale, Ill., became available, the new partners purchased the dealership and are in the process of moving it to Cape Girardeau.

"A lot of the customer base of the Carbondale shop came from Southeast Missouri," said Hutson.

David Bork, a certified BMW mechanic, will be manager of the business.

The business will sell and service BMWs and will have parts for a number of motorcycles.

---

A branch of Floor Coverings International (FCI), an Atlanta-based "Carpet Store at Your Door," has opened in Cape Girardeau.

"This is a mobile floor-covering store," says Dave Phelps of Cape Girardeau, the local franchise owner. "We can bring more than 3,000 styles and colors to the customer's doorstep."

Phelps and sales representative Fred Lange recently completed a training course at FCI's Carpet College.

"FCI pioneered the concept of using mobile carpet showrooms on wheels to provide a store full of brand-name samples directly to consumers," said Phelps.

FCI has more than 300 operations in its network.

The firm recently signed talk-show host Rush Limbaugh as a company spokesman.

Additional information is available by calling Phelps or Lange, 335-7007.

---

Sales of U.S. savings bonds in May fell 14.5 percent to the lowest level in 18 months, the government said. It was the fourth consecutive decline.

Sales totaled $787 million last month, down from $920 million in April and $916 million a year ago. Sales reached $2.55 billion in January but have been declining since the Treasury Department's decision, effective March 1, to reduce the minimum guaranteed rate on the securities from 6 percent to 4 percent.

The latest market-based rate, set May 1, is 4.78 percent, effective until Nov. 1.