Chan's to reopen this summer

When Peter Chan learned that the Chinese restaurant he had owned and operated in Cape Girardeau for years had been damaged in a fire Jan. 28, he was in Hong Kong. Within a matter of days, he and his wife were on a flight back to the United States.

It had been less than a year since Chan had retired and leased the building to Nicky Liu -- then a cook at Chinatown Buffet -- who had taken over and changed the name to the New Chan's. (Nobody ever called it that, though -- it will always be just plain old Chan's to Cape Girardeans.)

But apparently an outdoor neon sign had been left on overnight and started the fire. Chan's has been closed ever since. But last week, on my day off, I noticed some work going on at the building at 1159 N. Kingshighway. Maybe you saw it, too.

Chan told me that that the building is being restored to the tune of about $200,000. Because he still owns the building, he's back in the United States to oversee renovation. He's also in the process of selling his home here and expects to be back in Hong Kong for good by the end of the year.

He said he expects the work to be completed in about four months. He said Nicky Liu will still be running the New Chan's when it opens again. (I miss Peter Chan's won ton soup. The new soup isn't as good.)

The work is being done by Denali Construction, a Drury-owned company. Ed Thompson of Denali said that a realistic time frame for the restaurant to be open would be August.

When I told Peter Chan good-bye, I asked if there was any chance he would stay and take over the restaurant again.

"No," he said with a laugh. "I'm retired."

Too bad. I sure could use some of that won ton soup.

* Old J.D.'s convenience to open with new name, owner: The former J.D.'s convenience store at 1101 William St. will open at the end of April as AM/PM and will be operated by Alam Zahed, who also owns the Quick & Save at 2861 Themis St.

Zahed said it will be a standard convenience store, featuring fuel, booze, cigarettes, candy and soda. Zahed said he is renting the building from Ted McClellan, owner of Cape Restaurant Supply.

The new convenience store is admittedly in a part of town that is prone to crime, and Zahed said the last owner closed J.D.'s because of theft and other problems.

"Yeah, I'm taking a chance," Zahed said. "But I'll be there myself all the time. I'm just going to give it time."

Zahed said it's an opportunity.

"There's nothing like it in that neighborhood," he said. "It's been a running business, so I know there's some potential there."

* Data Business System relocates: Data Business Systems Inc. will relocate from 1749 Independence St. to the Eagle Peak Office Building at 760 S. Kingshighway. Commercial broker Tom Kelsey said the company anticipates being in its new location this week.

Kelsey said DBS is one of several new tenants to occupy the multitenant office building in recent months. Data Business Systems handles a line of copy and printing machines, business equipment and related furniture and supplies. It will use the new location as an equipment showroom, sales office along with parts and service departments.

Windall Wilson is the owner of the family company, which has been in business in the Cape Girardeau area for many years. DBS will be in Suite G, which on the south side of the 45,000-square-foot South Kingshighway office building.

* Lawyer opens office: Lawyer Michael Maguire has opened his own office in the Imperial Building at 1217 N. Kingshighway. Maguire deals in family and criminal law as well as worker's compensation and personal injury matters.

Maguire had been in practice with Gerald Johnson, but Johnson's in the process of retiring and is "winding up his practice," Maguire said. Before that, Maguire worked for Al Lowes and eventually became a partner in Lowe's and Drusch.

The new name of his practice? The Law Office of Michael Maguire.

"Inspired, isn't it?" he said.

* SMC Electric Supply buys warehouse for relocation: SMC Electric Supply will relocate to a much larger facility in Cape Girardeau. The aforementioned Tom Kelsey brokered the deal, and he tells me the electrical supply company has purchased a 26,650-square-foot warehouse building on eight acres at 2333 Rusmar St.

Kelsey said the former Paramount Liquor Distributorship facility built in 1983 has more than 4,700 square feet of office and showroom space that SMC will remodel into a parts counter, product showroom, training area and regional offices.

SMC, based in Springfield, Mo., purchased the former Schott Electric Supply Co. in Cape Girardeau several years ago and has been in operation at 1109 N. Kingshighway under the SMC name for the last year or so. The warehouse and showroom on Rusmar Street will allow the company to expand its product inventory and also use the larger facility for a regional distribution center for their other branches in the region.

The company recently opened a new branch in Poplar Bluff. It has 10 electrical distribution operations in all, including Sedalia, Lebanon, Belton, Chillicothe, Monett, Joplin, Springfield, Poplar Bluff, and Cape Girardeau in Missouri; and Coffeyville in Kansas. The business opened in 1950 in Springfield by Everett Squires as Southern Supply, an electrical and plumbing supplier. In 1975, the company was divided into two divisions and SMC Electrical Supply was formed. SMC is still owned by the Squires family and is a stocking distributor of electrical, industrial hardware, automation controls and data communication products.

Kelsey said he expects the company to be in its new location, directly off of South Kingshighway, in the late spring or early summer. No sales price was disclosed, but the Lorimont Web site listed the property with the additional acreage at just over $1 million.

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, or e-mail them to smoyers@semissourian.com or call (573) 335-6611, extension 137.