Store for outdoor enthusiasts opening soon

A company offering home decor and specialty gifts online for the outdoor enthusiast will open its first retail outlet in Cape Girardeau.

Gray Goose Products, 821 Broadway, plans to open Jan. 18. Owner Thomas Lowe said the business began selling over the Internet such products as deer- and horse-themed wine bottle holders and bass- and shotgun shell-themed mailboxes in 2008, and now needs a retail location.

"I've lived in St. Louis for a while, but when we saw the need to establish a retail store, Cape Girardeau was a perfect fit," said Moore, a Sikeston, Mo., native. "We've been looking for a location here for some time and when the one on Broadway became available, we knew it was the perfect place to set up shop."

You can reach Gray Goose Products at 339-1555 and www.graygooseproducts.com. The business is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

* Insurance agency opens Jackson office: Modern Woodmen of America has opened a Jackson location. District manager Bruce Qualls and Bob Houchins -- who will soon become a manager -- can be found in their new home, 810 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite B-1.

Houchins said the agency, which also has a local office at 1427 Thomas Drive, Suite A, in Cape Girardeau, has room for at least two more agents at its Jackson office. In a time when many companies are struggling to stay afloat, Houchins said his agency had its best years in 2008 and 2009.

"We're expanding and looking for great things to happen, in our area and beyond, in 2010," Houchins said.

To reach Modern Woodmen of America's Jackson office, call 204-3692.

* Kid2Kid changing names: Kid2Kid children's and maternity store will soon change its name to Kid Biz. Owner Sharon Ebersohl said that because of an increasing amount of business via the Internet, she'll be using the online tool to sell more of her items.

* Semo Port members retire: During its recent meeting, two members of the Southeast Missouri Port Authority board retired. Board vice chairman Mark Kluesner presented plaques honoring Gene Penzel of Jackson and Mike Marshall of Sikeston.

Penzel served as commission member at large during 2008 to 2009, as he did during 2004 to 2005. The position alternates between Cape Girardeau County and Scott County.

Marshall served at commission member from 1996 to 2009. He also has served as mayor of Sikeston.

Replacing Penzel is Martin Priggel, a former presiding commissioner of the Scott County County Commission, and taking Marshall's seat is Rice "Pete" Burns Jr., a lawyer from Sikeston.

* Commerce Bank named among America's best: Kansas City may be known for barbecue and fountains but to Forbes magazine the city can add the banking industry to that list.

Both UMB Financial and Commerce Bancshares, which call Kansas City their home base, made No. 2 and 3 of Forbes' top 10 American banks. Commerce Bank has five branches in Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson.

"Must be something in the water in Kansas City as the city is home to two of the three banks in our ranking," Forbes magazine wrote on its website. "Commerce is the largest bank ranked in the top 10."

* Concord adds new digital press: Concord Printing Services, which shares the same office with the Southeast Missourian at 301 Broadway, recently acquired a Xerox digital press for its Cape Girardeau Insta Print division. The new digital press allows Concord and Insta Print to compete strongly in the short-run, 4-color print market.

"The print market has evolved over the last couple of years, trending more and more to short-run, fast-turnaround jobs," says Mike Tenholder, general manager for Concord.

Concord and Insta Print offer a full line of copying and offset printing services including large-format printing, direct mail and design services. They can be contacted at 334-7100.

* Several ribbon cuttings planned: A new financial advisory office in Jackson is among the ribbon cuttings scheduled by both chambers of commerce this week.

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Tuesday for Ameriprise Financial at 5303 Old Cape Road East in Jackson. Agent Tom Novak said he opened the new office to meet the growing demand for financial advice and personal long-term financial planning from an Ameriprise in the Jackson area. The Jackson office of Ameriprise Financial can be contacted at 334-3530.

As for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, it will hold a ribbon cutting today at 1 p.m. for Select Physical Therapy, 155 Siemers Drive, Suite B. And on Friday, Soto Property Management will have an 11:30 a.m. ribbon cutting at its new location at 1213 N. Kingshighway.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Brian Blackwell may be reached at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.<I>