Pagoda Gardens closing; ethnic restaurants remain popular in area

Pagoda Gardens, the first restaurant to offer a Chinese buffet in Cape Girardeau, will close its doors at the end of the month. But ethnic eateries still have a place at the local table.

The number of restaurants doing business in Cape Girardeau has grown over the years to now include more than 150, with 12 classified as Chinese, Pan-Asian or Japanese, 10 Mexican restaurants, five Italian and two serving Mediterranean cuisine, according to information from the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

More than 30 years ago, Sam Prasanphanich opened Pagoda Gardens in November 1981 with his business partner, Jay Santi. They both had experience in the restaurant industry, so they decided to launch their own Chinese and Thai place on Independence Street.

"After graduating from SEMO, I was looking for something to do, and I grew up in a family restaurant in Thailand, so I thought I'd give it a try," Prasanphanich said.

In February 1987, the restaurant moved to its current site at 329 S. Kingshighway.

Prasanphanich said his customers are what he will miss most about working at his restaurant.

"We see a lot of customers come in, we get to know them and become friends, and all of a sudden we are closing and it's kind of sad because I don't know where they are going to go after we close," he said.

After 32 years of work, Prasanphanich noticed business was slowing and, having reached retirement age, he decided to close the business at the end of May.

Prasanphanich said Pagoda Gardens has been a successful business, but is now more difficult to run, partly because of the increase in food prices and the amount of competition he has.

Meanwhile, more ethnic restaurants can be counted between Broadway and the downtown area, from Asian eateries to Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

The restaurant market is constantly changing, as there are always additions to it as well as businesses that leave it, said Tim Arbeiter, vice president at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

For example, Pasta House at 2046 William St. in Cape Girardeau served its last customers Sunday and is closed today, an employee confirmed Friday.

"In a business cycle, some need to invigorate and innovate and renovate to keep themselves competitive in the market," Arbeiter said.

Sam Alsmadi has worked in the restaurant industry for eight years and is the owner of Mediterranean on Broadway, which recently reopened at 1027 Broadway, near the Mexican restaurant El Sol.

The business closed in January because Alsmadi was not satisfied with its previous location at 411 Broadway. He decided to move Mediterranean on Broadway farther up the street, closer to Southeast Missouri State University's campus to cater to students.

The restaurant is now less of a sit-down venue and more of a fast-food restaurant. Alsmadi said the quality of the sandwiches is the same, but the new location makes it easier for students to access.

Plus, "my old clientele base followed me and they are glad I am still in town," he said.

He added that his patrons are about 70 percent students and 30 percent local or previous customers, and their numbers are increasing as people start to realize his restaurant is open again.

Alsmadi said people are interested in Mediterranean food because it is healthy, and his business is doing well because he has hardly any competition.

Business reporter Amity Shedd contributed to this story.

Pertinent address:

329 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.