A competitive business to be in

Last week's Business as Usual got me tangled in a controversy because of information I included on a hair and nail salon called All About You.

I discovered the business by chance when I reported on the new plaza on North Kingshighway. I interviewed the employees who were present. The comments I reported were, "we live by our name" and "we're not just teasing."

The day the story ran, someone from Jus Teasin' Hair & Nail Salon LLC on William Street in Cape Girardeau informed me that she received 63 phone calls about the quote. Before the woman got in touch with me, I didn't know there was a place called Jus Teasin'.

The owner of Shear Designs told me the cosmetology business can get competitive.

• After an unforeseen delay last spring caused by a visit by an endangered species of bat, groundwork for the University Research Village off Interstate 55 is set to begin in the next four weeks. Contractors, temporarily waiting for the earth to dry out, are planning to complete the project in the summer or fall of 2008.

The research park is intended to reflect the interests of the university as well as the community. "We want alumni to come back and live," said Dennis Roedemeier, chief executive officer of the Southeast-affiliated Missouri Research Corp.

With good soil, clean air and a spacious atmosphere, the grounds include active retirement units, which used to mainly focus on swimming but now tend to concentrate on walking trails, fitness and health centers.

• For people who can't get cable or DSL in the rural areas of Perry County and are looking for an alternative to satellite Internet service now have a choice of a high-speed Internet provider called INetPlus Inc.

The service costs $34.95 a month. INet offers a free site test to make certain you're in range of one of the five towers. For those who are not, the small company is still working on building its network.

"The first real test was when the storms came through and my satellite TV service was out but my Internet was still working," said Steve Delcambre of Perryville.

• James and Pat Allen of Celebrations Restaurant & Bar in Cape Girardeau plan to open up the new restaurant and bar in the bottom floor of the Marquette Towers in Cape Girardeau on May 1. They are still working on the name and menu but should be ready to release that information in about a week. It will be a full-scale restaurant and bar, upscale or casual.

They are using the entire floor, including the main lobby for special events like receptions, rehearsals, parties and private functions. The bar will be where Gatherings Cafe was, and the restaurant will be where LoDo's was.

"We're looking forward to coming to downtown and giving people another option," James said.

They will transfer one chef, to be decided later, from Celebrations, which will remain open.

"We're glad to have Chef Allen. He has a proven track record," said Bill Whitlow, the project manager for the Marquette Towers.

• Customers seem to be reacting positively to the transition from Famous Barr to Macy's, according to general manager Sharon Ebersoho. Sales have increased.

Improvements during the transition have included wider aisles, better lighting and fixture placement. Ebersoho says some of Macy's better brands are coming soon.

An I-N-C International Concepts fashion show, with a runway and DJ, will be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the store. Ebersoho didn't know whether the show would have both male and female models, but the I-N-C brand, exclusive to Macy's, does have a men's line.

"The fashion show will be a pretty big deal," Ebersoho said.

• Michael Jessup, owner of Cozmo's Coffee and Cream at 1929 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau, is holding a coffee tasting at 6:30 p.m. March 20. Scott Skrivan, a certified judge of espresso with St. Louis -based Ronnoco Coffee Co., says "The more you are educated, the more you'll enjoy the coffee."

He's going to discuss the history of growing beans, harvesting, cupping, flavor, profile, acidity, roast, bouquet and balance.

Tim Krakowiak is the business editor of the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, tkrakowiak@semissourian.com or (573) 335-6611, extension 137