Royal N'Orleans building has new owners

Culinary Arts Specialties LLC has purchased the former Royal N'Orleans building at 300 Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau.

The new buyers closed on the sale of the property Thursday, according to Cynthia Austin of Realty Executives Commercial Realty.

She said the new owners, who are local, will be announcing their plans for the building's future in the next few weeks.

It is unknown who the owners of Culinary Arts Specialties LLC are; however the company's registered agent is R. Michael Howard, a Cape Girardeau lawyer with The Limbaugh Firm.

According to records kept by the Cape Girardeau County assessor's office, the property has an appraised value of just more than $650,000.

A selling price was not disclosed on the building, which was previously owned by John and Jerrianne Wyman. The Wymans operate Mollie's Cafe and Bar and Roxy's Big Country Saloon and Brick Street Gallery.

The structure was built in 1868 and has served as an opera house, meeting place for German immigrants, Masonic temple, grocery store and production facility for the Daily Republican, which later became the Southeast Missourian.

* New hotel sets opening date: The Candlewood Suites hotel now under construction at 485 S. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, will open to guests June 3.

The property is owned by Premier Management Inc. of Farmington, Mo. The company currently operates eight hotels and has two under construction. In addition to its new site in Cape Girardeau, Premier Management is also building a Hampton Inn in Farmington. It is set to open in July.

Candlewood Suites will be the first extended-stay hotel in the Cape Girardeau area, said Scott Perry, regional director of operations with Premier Management.

The new hotel will create about 20 jobs including housekeepers, front desk and maintenance staff.

"The community was definitely in need of an extended-stay hotel to meet medical and industry needs that are growing in Cape Girardeau," Perry said.

Its one- and two-bedroom suites include fully equipped kitchens with refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves and stovetops. The kitchens also have a variety of dishes, cookware and utensils.

Some suites have a separate office, living room and bedroom area.

* Farmers market now open: The Cape Farmers Market is now open for the season rain or shine, from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday through November 18 in the Plaza Galleria parking lot at 2001 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.

Items for sale are grown or produced within a 75-mile radius of Cape Girardeau.

Products available at today's market include lettuce, asparagus, onions, radishes, herbs, pickles, jellies, honey, eggs, and grass-fed beef and pork. Bedding plants and flowers also will be sold.

For more information on the Cape Farmers Market, call 334-7676

* Dino's Pizza to open: The former California Juice Club will reopen in July as Dino's Pizza, at 1034 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Owner Kostas "Gus" Demopoulos said he plans to open Dino's Pizza featuring Mediterranean cuisine, fried chicken and mojos in addition to pizza. Demopoulos also operated Dino's Grill and Sports Bar in Anna, Ill. California Juice Club closed in early 2009 and the building has remained under renovations since. Demopoulos' family has been in the restaurant business in Cape Girardeau for 43 years and has operated its Anna location for 30 years, he said.

* Customer service training offered: The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a workshop titled, "How to Win Customers and Reduce Lost Sales" from 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday. Reservations should be made by 5 p.m. today by calling the chamber office at 335-3312.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.<I>