NEW ON THE BUSINESS SCENE: TWO DEXTER FIRMS TAKE PLACE IN THE TOP 25 INDUSTRIES OF AREA

It didn't take long to get a new industry into the "Top 10" "Industries of Southeast Missouri."

Arvin Automotive of Dexter was not included in the list that was announced in the Southeast Missourian last week.

The company, which manufactures mufflers and tail pipes, employs about 750 people, placing it in a two-way tie for the No. 4 industry, based on employment.

Another Dexter firm, Purolator Products Inc., a manufacturer of oil filters, joins the "Top 25" list, with about 350 employees.

Arvin and Purolator are in Dexter Industrial Park.

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A new limestone mine and lime-kiln and barge-mooring facilities are in prospect along the Mississippi River in nearby Southern Illinois.

Drilling, sampling and testing is continuing to determine the feasibility of the mine and lime kiln by Union Pacific Minerals Inc., which owns more than 600 acres along the Old Fayville Road between Thebes and Old Fayville.

Union Pacific is one of the nation's largest independent lime-exploration and production firms.

Bulk samples will be used to determine the quality of lime that could be produced from the limestone. In addition, test piling will be driven into the bed of the Mississippi River to determine the best site for a related barge-mooring facility.

Evaluations are expected to be completed by late this year.

The latest sampling is Phase II of an overall study that started last year. During Phase I it was confirmed that the Thebes site contained sufficient reserves of chemical-grade limestone to economically support quarry operations, a lime-manufacturing plant and a related barge facility.

The Union Pacific property is easily accessible by both rail and truck and adjoins the river, which offers barge access to major industrial facilities in the Midwest.

"Should this project be developed, the high-quality limestone primarily will be used for scrubbing sulfur from coal-fired industrial facilities to reduce and improve air emissions as mandated under the Clean Air Act of 1990," said V. Richard Eales, president of Union Pacific Mines and vice president of Union Pacific Resources Co. at Fort Worth, Texas.

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Jerry Wieser is back in the auto sales business.

Wieser, who opened his first dealership M.G., Austin Healy in 1956, has purchased the Honda-Mazda dealership, 2611 Auto Park Drive, from Auffenberg Motors. Auffenberg Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge, 611 S. Kingshighway, remains in operation.

Wieser was previously owner of the Honda-Mazda dealership, selling it to Auffenberg in 1989.

"I obtained the Honda dealership for Cape Girardeau in 1975," said Wieser. "We took on Mazda a year later."

Wieser said he had been in semi-retirement the past three years since selling the business to Auffenberg.

"It's good to be back," said Wieser. "I like the auto sales business and I'm glad to be back in business."

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Twenty-six stores are now open in the Sikeston Outlet Center, and another will join the growing list Friday.

"We'll have 30 stores in operation by the time we hold our grand opening in August," said Courtney Corbett, manager of the center just off Interstate 55 near Highway 62 (Mile 68 exit) at Sikeston.

Phil Boyer Construction Co. of Sikeston is developer of the new, 120,000-square-foot outlet shopping center.

Levis became the 26th business to open at the center Saturday. Other recent openings include Dumplins, London Fog, Book Warehouse, Famous Footwear, Fragrance Cove, Sweat Shirt Co., Barbiszon, Kitchen Collection, S&K Libbey Glass, M.J.'s Jewelry and Greetings-N-More.

Stores that opened in late May or early June include: Duckhead, Aileen, Bass Co. Store, Hush Puppies, Wallet Works, Van Heusen, Le Creuset, Corning Revere, Geoffrey Beene, Welcome Home, Bon Worth, Cape Isle Knitters and L'Eggs.

"The $9.99 Stockroom will open by July 23, and TBN and Farah will be open by Aug. 5," said Corbett.

The stores are all owned and operated by manufacturers that sell their own goods.

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Ponderosa Steak House will move to its new building at 45 S. Kingshighway next month.

"We hope to be in our new location Aug. 1," said Zeffelin Wrice, Ponderosa supervisor. "We'll double our seating from about 150 to 300."

Ponderosa will occupy the building, which previously housed Bonanza Steakhouse.

"We've added a new parking lot, and the Bonanza building has been completely remodeled," said Wrice.

Hours of the new steak house will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Ponderosa steak houses are operated by Pumezco Management Co.

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Motorists driving along Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., can't help but notice the new look of Drury Inn, which has undergone extensive renovations.

The newly-renovated, five-story Drury Inn-Nashville Airport has a new exterior of off-white brick and a blue roof, and all 144 guest rooms boast a bright, new decor with contemporary style wall coverings and fixtures.

"Each of our hotels undergoes a major renovation every five or six years," said Chuck Drury, president of Drury Inns Inc., headquartered in Missouri. "Since we started building hotels more than 20 years ago, we have selected a traditional design that can be updated easily."

Drury officials joined business and civic leaders in Nashville recently to celebrate new renovations of three Drury operations there.

The former 130-room, three-story, Thrifty-Inn along Interstate 24 and Harding Place has undergone a $2 million renovation and has been converted to a Drury Inn, and a former Drury at the same location has been converted into a Pear Tree Inn.

Meanwhile, plans were announced recently to build a new Drury Inn at Cape Girardeau, home of Drury Industries Inc., Drury Inns' parent company. The new Drury Inn here will be the fourth Drury Inns Inc. operation at Cape Girardeau. Drury owns and operates a Drury Lodge, Thrifty Inn and the Cape Budget Inn here.

The new, four-story, 118-room hotel will be at the southwest corner of Interstate 55 and Route K, and will employ about 25 people when it opens.

Drury Inns Inc. owns and operates and, or manages more than 60 Drury Inns, Pear Trees, Inn by Drury, Thrifty Inns and Hampton Inn hotels in 11 states.

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MicroAge Computer Center, previously situated at 211 S. Plaza Way, has moved into the Advance Business building, 2845 Independence.

Advanced Business Systems (ABS) recently purchased assets of the MicroAge store.

Jack Mehner, president of ABS, announced the MicroAge move.

MicroAge specializes in business accounting, medical systems for doctors' offices, Novel Network installation and support, word processing, spreadsheets, data base and other computer applications. It provides name-brand equipment such as IBM, Epson and Compaq. ABS has been in business in Cape Girardeau since 1963.