Comings, goings and reshufflings in downtown

I decided to call this column "That's What They Tell Me" because most of the fodder for this space comes from fleshing out rumors and leads from readers, local business folk and co-workers. Finding a name was the hardest part of writing the first column. So now that the thing has a moniker, pounding out No. 2 should be a cinch, right? But there are always lingering doubts and second thoughts.

I'm thinking now I should've called it "Comings and Goings." This week we've got news about downtown Cape Girardeau and a number of comings, goings and reshufflings therein.

At the top of that agenda is Sean Wibbenmeyer, owner of Hempies head shop at 110 Themis in Cape Girardeau. He recently bought the old My Daddy's Cheesecake building at 111 Main St., which will be the new home of Hempies as of April 20.

"The downtown is looking good, and it's getting better," Wibbenmeyer said. He said his shop has also been doing well and that he felt it was time to expand at a larger location.

Wibbenmeyer also plans to continue renting the Themis Street location and turn it into a skate shop. The store will sell skateboards, roller blades and related attire. He wants to wait until the new Hempies is on its feet before opening the skate shop but is shooting for a June or July opening.

Just down Main Street, Cathy's Hair Supply is getting ready to move. Owner Cathy Noe gradually will start moving her operation from her current location at 35 N. Main St., where she's been for the past two years, to 519 Broadway. She expects the transition will take about three weeks, during which the Main Street store will continue regular operation. As of now, nothing is slated to replace Cathy's at the Main Street location.

Shamica Stilley has recently set up shop just across the street from Noe's new place. Last week, she opened her Perfumes on Broadway store at 520 Broadway. The business sells handbags, sunglasses, belts and men's and women's colognes and perfumes.

A 28-year-old resident of Olive Branch, Ill., Stilley said her affinity for fragrance and her desire to be self-employed were the drive behind the enterprise, which she plans to gradually expand to include a tanning bed and women's lingerie.

My Daddy's deal done: While the old My Daddy's Cheesecake building at 111 Main St. is being made ready for a new occupant, the new location on Cape La Croix Road has undergone a regime change of sorts. That deal has now been finalized. Wes Kinsey has taken on a partner, Kevin Stanfield, and together the two have set up a new company called River City Desserts LLC. In the deal, the new company purchased the recipes, equipment, trademark and name of the Cape Girardeau cheesecake institution. As reported earlier, Stanfield will handle the administrative and business side of the company while Kinsey will run the on-site operations.

Stanfield said the new ownership will resurrect My Daddy's mail-order business and Web site and revamp the breakfast and lunch menus.

Lawyer group buys building: Two Cape Girardeau lawyers recently purchased the office building at 2851 Professional Court, just south of Independence and east of Silver Springs Road. Jerry Jones and Michael Deimund will open their law practice in the building, which was originally occupied by Southeast Missouri Hospital's Pediatric Spot. Tom Kelsey, a broker with Lorimont Place Ltd. and representative of the new owners, said half that building is being leased by Dr. Thomas Gibbons, an optometrist who will continue at that location.

Quickly

By taking over this beat and this column, I've inherited a number of persistent business rumors. None has been asked about as much as the Home Depot rumor. A Home Depot spokesman at its corporate offices in Atlanta said last week that although Cape Girardeau has been scouted as a location for a new store -- along with about every other city its size in the country -- there is no plan to put one here in the near future. Cape Girardeau officials say the same thing.

A-1 Affordable Mini Storage is now leasing at 57 Sena Fawn Drive in Cape Girardeau. The gated facility has storage shed sizes ranging from 6-by-6 to 10-by-30, all with 10-foot-high ceilings and climate control.

Tony Rehagen is the business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to That's What They Tell Me, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699, e-mail trehagen@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 137.