East Cape getting Greek restaurant

And now for something completely different, as those insane Brits from Monty Python might say.

The restaurant in East Cape Girardeau, Ill., has been Witz's, Joey's, Courtney's and Marjorie's. But each restaurant basically offered more of the same -- that so-called home-style cookin'.

I liked the food, but apparently not enough people did, as each one closed after a time.

But the new owners of the spot are doing something completely different:

Greek food.

Real estate agent Thomas L. Meyer told me last week that Musa Rahmani and his brother Al have bought the building and plan to open a Greek restaurant there, probably no later than Nov. 1.

They plan to call it Village Garden, the same name as their Greek restaurant in Anna, Ill. The transaction was closed about 30 days ago and the Rahmani brothers are already hard at work remodeling the building.

"They're bringing everything up to speed," Meyer said. "They're putting in new equipment and cleaning. They're updating the service area. You probably won't recognize it the next time you see it."

I couldn't catch up with the Rahmanis, but a waitress at the Anna restaurant told me that the menu is massive. It features burgers, and not those frozen patties. There will be steaks, Greek salads and all sorts of Mediterranean goodies.

I've written several times about this building changing hands. Let's hope that this one sticks around for a while.

* Radetic out at 2 North: Just a few months after he opened it, Ed Radetic has sold his part-ownership of 2 North Bistro in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Jack Rickard, who owns Illustrious Jack's, has bought out Radetic's portion, meaning Rickard is a partner with co-owners Nate Smith, Brad Robey and Brandon Ray.

Funny, when I interviewed Radetic about the new restaurant before, he never mentioned having partners.

Anyway, Smith told me Rickard had financed the deal for the other three to buy out Radetic and that they'll either repay Rickard or he will remain a partner.

Meanwhile, look for some changes at 2 North, Smith said. They're redoing the menu -- and lowering prices -- and adding entertainment on Thursday and Saturday nights. They're also flirting with the idea of serving lunch, but Smith doubts they'll do that.

"We want to make it a happening, nighttime spot," he said.

* H&R Block to open another Cape location: H&R Block tax customers will have an additional Cape Girardeau location by the time tax season begins. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., who handled the lease transaction announced the 50 year old tax-preparation and financial services company will open an office in the Shawnee Center development located at 623 S. Silver Springs Road.

The Lorimont broker said H&R Block will have a new 1,500-square-foot office in the center that is expected to be completed by Dec 1. The company began in Kansas City in 1955 and is currently the world's largest tax services company. It currently serves nearly 21.6 million clients in the United States and 11 countries. Clients were served at the approximately 11,000 H&R Block retail offices worldwide.

H&R Block has local offices at 2136 William St. as well as Jackson, Scott City and Marble Hill. The new Cape Girardeau location is in a multitenant center that is just east of Interstate 55 at the intersection of Silver Springs Road and Highway 74.

Kelsey said his commercial brokerage company is seeking other lease tenants for space ranging from 1,500 square feet and up in the complex.

* Southfork Lighting, Meyers Plumbing Haus open: Bob Garrett dropped me a note last week that I wanted to pass on. Garrett, the vice president of Cape Electrical Supply Co., announced that the new showroom facility adjacent to Cape Electrical Supply at the corner of Bloomfield Road and Kell Farm Drive in Cape Girardeau has opened.

As previously reported here, the 10,000-square-foot facility will house both Southfork Lighting and Meyers Plumbing Haus.

Southfork Lighting is owned and operated by Cape Electrical Supply. The new showroom represents a name change from The Lighting Center, which was operated at Christine Street for many years. The company now operates showrooms in Paducah, Ky., Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Cape Girardeau under the Southfork name.

The change also represents a large improvement in space and product selection. Meyers Supply has moved its downtown showroom to the new Meyers Plumbing Haus in the same building. Featuring a "Bold New Look of Kohler" format, the Plumbing Haus is a full line showroom for kitchen, bath and all around the home.

Meyers operates another showroom in Sikeston, and will continue to have their primary wholesale business in Old Town Cape on Good Hope Street.

* Gator tail and frog legs: Last fall, Bill and Linda Wooten opened the Bayou Bar & Grill out in Fruitland on Highway 177. Now the couple has bought the former Pokey's Pub and Grill in Pocahontas from Carl and Tina Burger and are in the process of doing some major remodeling. They hope to move their current business to the new location in mid-October.

Linda tells me they will be adding some new dishes such as shrimp scampi, frog legs, taco salads and gator tail to the current menu of po' boy sandwiches, steaks, shrimp, gumbo, red beans and rice and a variety of appetizers such as hot wings and loaded nachos.

I've never had gator tail or frog legs, but I love me some loaded nachos.

* Lang's Jewelers remodeling done: A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lang's Jewelers in downtown Cape Girardeau has two purposes: to unveil a remodeling job that was recently completed and to celebrate the business' 90th birthday.

Owners Roger and Judith Anne Lang said they are really pleased with the work, which called for using 2 tons of cast iron as the centerpiece of the business' historic storefront at 126 N. Main St.

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.