An ice cream shop of the future

As I write this, they're calling for snow. So what better time is there to tell you about a new ice cream shop?

Dr. Michael Jessup, a Cape Girardeau obstetrician-gynecologist, plans to open Cozmo's at 1 S. Plaza Way, in the spot formerly used by Kandy Kane Cleaners, in April.

Jessup said this ice cream shop will be vastly different than your run-of-the-mill old-time parlor.

"The name is from a very futuristic Space Age type of atmosphere," Jessup said. "I want you to feel like you're on a starship, lots of stainless steel, brushed aluminum. We're going to be using lots of Space Age-type materials."

Jessup said he wants a "futuristic" ice cream shop because, after he thought about it, he realized that a lot of people do the "old-fashioned" ice cream parlor.

He wanted to avoid that rut.

"The truth is a lot of people can't relate to that anymore," he said. "Younger people never saw ice cream shops like that. Everybody's curious as to what the future might look like, so I just thought it might appeal to more people."

Jessup said he got the idea for opening a hand-dipped ice cream store -- which will also feature gourmet coffees and pastry -- a week or so after Baskin-Robbins closed at the Town Plaza a few years back.

"Within a week or two, I kept hearing people say, 'I wish we had a Baskin-Robbins back,'" Jessup said. "I thought, 'This town could really use that.'"

The advantage of being in the old cleaners is that the drive-through already exists. Jessup also plans to offer delivery.

He's basically gutted the place and also has added central heat and air and a walk-in freezer.

"I want it to look like a franchise and top-shelf the minute they walk in," he said.

Ask Jessup what the ice cream will be like and he's honest.

"Very fattening but very good."

* Aaron's Sales buys Express Rent to Own: Tom Martin of Wichita, Kan., who also owns Aaron's Sales and Leasing in Cape Girardeau, has bought out Roy Griffaw's Express Rent to Own.

Martin's first act as owner was to shut the place down, and it was to close for good at 5 p.m. Saturday. Express Rent to Own is at 320 S. Sprigg St., and Aaron's is at 334 S. Kingshighway.

Aaron's is a rent-to-own store that sells and leases televisions, appliances, computers, furniture and other items. The store opened here last spring. Martin's son, Mike, moved here to manage the store.

Martin said he was moving all of Express Rent to Own's inventory to his store and he was keeping both employees. The deal was finalized earlier this month.

"We're doing phenomenally well in Cape Girardeau," Martin said.

So well, he said, that he has plans to open a total of 10 stores in places like Paducah, Ky., Marion, Ill., Sikeston, Mo., and Mayfield, Ky.

"If stores No. 2 and 3 do half as well as store No. 1 -- Cape Girardeau -- we'll be doing great," he said.

The sale wasn't to eliminate the competition, Martin insisted.

"It was more we knew that for every one of those customers, we could lease them better merchandise," he said.

* Botanicals: Amy O'Kelly has always been her own boss, but she's always wanted her own place. Now she has it at 208 Independence St. She plans to open Botanicals on March 1.

Botanicals will offer pedicure, manicures, candles, body products, accessories and haircuts and hairstyling.

O'Kelly has been in the business nine years.

* Congrats: I want to send my heart-felt congratulations to Sonny Minor and Jim Limbaugh for their recent awards. As you know, Minor's Harley-Davidson was awarded the Small Business of the Year Award at Friday night's Chamber of Commerce dinner. Jim Limbaugh won the Rush H. Limbaugh Award -- and I know it was special for him to win the award named for his grandfather.

The community is lucky to have Jim and Sonny as a part of it.

Scott Moyers is the business editor of the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to "Biz Buzz," 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, extension 137. They can also be e-mailed to smoyers@semissourian.com.