Dollar Tree moving into Circuit City building

File it in the better-late-than-never category: The sign in front of the old Circuit City building beat me to the punch, but I guess I can fill you in on some of the details anyway.

For those of you who didn't see the sign, Dollar Tree -- the nation's largest $1 discount variety store chain -- is moving to the vacant Circuit City building at 164 Siemers Drive.

The newly renamed Super Dollar Tree is set to open in its new location May 30, according to Adam Flentge, assistant manager of the store.

The former Circuit City building is 17,000 square feet, which means there will be a lot more room for the rotating list of goods, including health and beauty items, household chemicals, food and beverages, seasonal goods, toys, stationery, books, pet supplies, automotive products and glassware.

"It's going to be four times the size of what we have now," Flentge said.

He said that the existing -- just regular old Dollar Tree -- store at 252 Siemers Drive will close.

Dollar Tree must be selling a TON of items for a buck. Dollar Tree Stores Inc. reported total sales for its fiscal fourth quarter were a record $987.5 million, a 10.6 percent increase compared to last year's fiscal fourth quarter.

Dollar Tree operated 2,735 stores in 48 states as of Jan. 29.

* Tool and die company moving: The folks at Dollar Tree aren't the only ones moving to a larger locale. Jackson Machine and Manufacturing has started dirt and concrete work to construct its new facility, which is 1 1/4 miles north of its existing spot at 2380 N. High St.

Rich Gross, vice president and general manager of the tool and die shop, tells me that the bigger building will include a 15,000-square-foot shop with an additional 1,500 square feet of office space.

The new space will be more than 2 1/2 times bigger than the company's existing locale.

The prefab steel building should arrive next week, Gross said. He hopes the business is moved in by June or July.

For those who don't know, Jackson Machine and Manufacturing services several clients in Southeast Missouri, primarily Procter & Gamble. The company makes fabricated parts for P&G's diaper lines and for tissue, towel and paper converters.

The company has grown from three employees in 1999 to 14 today. With the expansion, it will add three more, with lots of room to grow more on the property purchased.

"Business has been strong," Gross said. "There are other places and other businesses we'd like to do work for. Now, we're looking to add that capacity to do that."

By the way, the land and the building represent a total investment of about $600,000.

* New fitness center: You can sit this one out, gentlemen. This is for ladies only. A new women-only fitness club called Contours Express is going into the Town Plaza in the spot formerly occupied by 3 R's.

The franchise owner, Emily Stapleton -- also new to the community -- said the fitness studio will open sometime around June 1. Contours Express is a privately held company with hundreds of franchises in the United States and abroad.

The reason that Contours Express is catching on, Stapleton said, is that it uses actual weight-bearing equipment as opposed to hydraulic systems.

"That allows women to work at their own level and adjust as they get stronger," she said, adding that Contours encourages three half-hour workouts a week.

Another reason that female-only gyms are becoming more popular is that women are more comfortable.

"It's a non-intimidating environment," Stapleton said. "You don't have to worry about how you look. It's a workout, it's not supposed to be a social scene."

* Charter's new service: On Tuesday, Charter Communications will cut the ribbon on its new payment center at 623 S. Silver Springs Road, Suite 500, in Cape Girardeau. That's in the new Shawnee Center.

But more intriguing is that Charter spokesman Brian Posnanski said the cable company will be introducing a "major new service for customers."

I prodded. I pried. I even threatened to switch to satellite, but to no avail. All that Posnanski would say is that this is not to announce Charter DVR, which is still on target to come out soon. Tuesday's event will also include a demonstration of the new service. I'll let you guys know what it is as soon as I know.

* Plaza Tire breaks ground: Cape Girardeau-based Plaza Tire Service recently broke ground on its 42nd retail location, with a new store in Potosi, Mo. The new store will be on 703 E. High St. Company vice president Scott Rhodes is estimating an opening in mid-July.

Rhodes said that Plaza Tire chose to enter the Potosi market because of the community's need for a full-service tire and automotive repair center. The new store will be a six-bay facility, which will occupy 4,400 square feet.

Tire Business lists Plaza Tire as the 20th largest tire dealership in North America based upon its number of locations.

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