Downtown home decor, gift shop to undergo renaissance

Sherry Yaeger is a Renaissance woman.

For nearly 15 years, the Cape Girardeau businesswoman has been an artist, selling paintings all over the world, especially her personalized portraits of people's homes based on photos they send her.

In October, she and her husband, Mike, took their talents and opened Renaissance, a shop at 33 N. Main, that she describes as featuring romantic home decor and charming, unique gifts.

Walk into the downtown shop and you'll see smell-good candles, cast-iron knick-knacks, artistic pieces to hang on the wall, pillows, garden and wall accents, as well as a ton of other goodies, including a line of bath and body products.

In other words, it has everything a highly caffeinated Martha Stewart could ever want.

"Everything has to have a vintage, nostalgic look," Yaeger said. "People come into the store and say it's a feel good store because it makes you feel good."

But shortly after opening the shop -- by Christmas, in fact -- the Yaegers realized they had already outgrown it.

"And we wanted a building of our own," she said. "We wanted to make it more us, and with renting there's so much you can't do."

So when they heard that the old Hale's Casual Corner building was for sale at the corner of Broadway and Main, she and her husband knew they wanted it. The couple had a friend who knew the owners and put the buyer and seller in contact. The deal closed April 1.

They plan to open a much improved Renaissance either Thursday or Friday at their new two-story store.

"There will be artsy touches throughout the building," Yaeger said. "I want to do a couple of murals inside. I want it to be more than just a store. I want people to be inspired when they come in, to do something different with their own house."

The upstairs will also feature a seating area with a telescope and binoculars to look out at the river. The upstairs will also have Yaeger's art studio.

Ka-POW!

I almost wish I could write this in word balloons.

But Marvels & Legends, a specialty comic book store, has moved from 1030 Broadway across the street into the old Burritoville building at 1027 Broadway.

"I'm hoping I have the same success," said owner Ken Murphy, who has leased the building. "I've wanted this property for four years."

The bigger space will allow Murphy to expand to include more comics as well as figures and toys, busts and other collectibles. Most of the figures are of superheroes like Batman, Robin and Wolverine. There are also 9-inch porcelain statues of characters like Thor, Wolverine and the Punisher (which is also what I call my wife).

Murphy admits that the wildly popular "Spider-Man" movie has sparked interest in comics.

"There is a wonderful renewed interest in comics right now," he said. "There always is after big, multi-media events like movies and television shows."

He also will have an on-site gaming center, which will feature a soda fountain and coffee shop, and big-screen television and seating for 14.

"It's for my customers to have a place to visit and talk about things that they like," he said.

Spectrum in new office

Spectrum Transformer has moved into its new digs at 624 Commercial right next to Cape Skate, owner John Cunningham says.

The manufacturer of electrical transformers moved after operating for about 10 years out in the county on Deefield Lane. Cunningham said they needed more space.

Spectrum makes transformers for professional audio applications and has four employees.

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 to smoyers@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 137.