Dalhousie Golf Club to open dining downtown

For the owners of Dalhousie Golf Club, the decision to open a private dining facility in downtown Cape Girardeau was as easy as choosing between a nine iron or a putter standing four inches from the hole.

"It really made sense," said Chris Heath, Dalhousie's operations manager. "We believe this will fulfill the need for the social aspect of the club."

She said they are in the process of remodeling the location at 17 S. Spanish to create what will be known as Dalhousie Downtown, a private fine dining facility for members of the golf club.

"If you're a member of the golf club, you automatically have the rights to Dalhousie Downtown," Heath said.

For nongolfers, a social membership will be available. Prices have yet to be ironed out, she said. The restaurant -- which will have food preparation supervised by Matt Tygett and Michael Risch of nearby Mollie's -- is expected to open sometime this fall.

"It's going to have an Old World European atmosphere," she said. "The menu is going to be Old World Scottish with fresh American flair. We haven't settled on the specifics, but that's the theme."

In the downstairs, the casual dining will be toward the front of the building and fine dining will be in the back.

The facilities will also have upstairs rooms for social use.

"The men are going to have their own card-playing room," she said. "It's going to have game tables. It's going to be a poker room."

That room will be named the Nicklaus Room, after Gary Nicklaus, who designed the Dalhousie golf course. He is the son of golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

Women will have their own room, the Stupples Room, named after Karen Stupples, the club's LPGA touring professional.

"The ladies will have the same type of area, to play cards, have luncheons or teas," Heath said.

Heath said that Dalhousie is still building a permanent facility at the golf course, which is along Bloomfield Road.

"We just had a chance to get into this rather quickly," she said. "We see this as serving a need."

She said she didn't know if Dalhousie Downtown would close when the permanent facility is built, but she doesn't think so.

"I don't look for that," she said. "We just see this as serving the social side of the club. It's needed."

Tracey's Place

Tracey's Place, a new coffeehouse and eatery, opened last week at 127 W. Main in Jackson, right across from Jackson City Hall.

The owner, Tracey Bonner, said the eatery has a small breakfast menu -- "I learned real quick that farmers love bacon and eggs" -- as well as a lunch menu that includes a various assortment of cold-cut sandwiches.

The coffee selection includes cappuccinos, lattes, iced coffee, frozen coffee and others. Bonner said the beans are roasted in St. Louis and the syrups come from Seattle. They serve food until 2 p.m.

She also plans to have live acoustic music some weekend nights.

Bonner, a Mississippi transplant, said she hopes to bring some of her southern flair to the place.

"I'm a southern girl," she said. "I even say, 'Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

Bonner has always loved the smell of coffeehouses and the quiet coziness of them.

"We have some candles. It's dimly lit," she said. "We have a lounge area. People can just come in and sit on the couch. We want people to feel welcome."

Classic Colors

Longtime painters Bill O'Kelly and Mark Schwartz have started their own business called Classic Colors Painting. Bill -- whom I've known for at least 20 years -- tells me that they'll be doing residential, commercial and interior painting.

They'll also do drywall, wall covering, power washing and spray painting.

Between the two of them, they've got 20 years of experience.

"We just wanted a chance to work for ourselves," O'Kelly said. "Everybody wants to be their own boss."

Classic Colors will use only the finest materials, O'Kelly said, including upscale brands like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams.

Closing down Broadway

Broadway Station's existence was short-lived. Owner Stephen Majeed, who also owns Sprigg Street Station, has closed the gas station at 600 Broadway, and the business is for sale.

Majeed said that if he doesn't find a buyer soon, he may open it in the fall when the college students get back to town.

That's all, folks.

Scott Moyers is the business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to Biz Buzz, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, e-mail moyers@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 137.