East Cape restaurant closed, but not for long

For more than 10 years, it was Witz's, and the East Cape Girardeau, Ill., restaurant drew raves for its home-style cookin'. Then it was Joey's for a few years. Then Courtney's. Most recently, Marjorie's.

Now, it's closed and a for sale sign is hanging on the front.

But real estate agent Thomas M. Meyer said that should change soon.

"It's going to be back open before too long," Meyer said. "We're talking to several people who have expressed a real interest."

In late July, the most recent owner, Majorie Foster-Stout, closed the restaurant and put it on the market. Foster-Stout is in the hospital dealing with a case of pneumonia, Meyer said, but that's not why she closed.

"She had other interests that were demanding more of her time," Meyer said. "She had to make a choice. But she didn't close because of a lack of income or earnings or customers. It was a business decision."

The business is still intact, Meyer said, down to the spoons on the table.

On a personal note, Meyer, who is the town's wise old gentleman of real estate, also took time to tell me that he knew my grandfather, Charlie Moyers, who owned Moyers Brake and Alignment Shop on Middle Street for years. He told me Grandpa was a fine man and a hell of a mechanic, and it meant a lot to me.

* Retail revolution: Bening Automotive Group's new full-service Mazda dealership is coming along, with the actual steel structure already coming up on Siemers Drive, just south of Bluff City Beer Co.

General manager Mike Schumer tells me the new dealership, on 2.5 acres, will be Mazda's new "retail revolution" concept.

"There are only a few in the country, and Cape's going to have one of the few," he said.

It's Mazda's new theme facility. There will be a colorful, high-tech display of the latest models, a computer kiosk for Internet research to compare car manufacturers and prices, customized test drives and a cafe with a "salesperson-free" zone to sit and have a cup of coffee to think about a purchase.

Schumer said the structure should be under roof in about a month. They are hoping to be open in January or February, depending upon the weather.

* Golf Mart plays back nine: Mark Allen has closed Golf Mart at 351 N. Kingshighway after a five-year run.

Business was OK, Allen said, but he couldn't turn down an opportunity to go to work for Plus 2 International and help design golf clubs. Plus 2 is in Carlsbad, Calif., but Allen, a Jackson resident, said he can work from here.

Allen said he had been in golf design for 12 years before he opened Golf Mart and is looking forward to getting back into the field.

* Jackson Manor's Phase 1 remodel complete: Dave Walker, administrator of Jackson Manor, told me last week that Phase 1 of the manor's remodel is complete. Jackson Manor can now offer fully carpeted private suites. The new community has been designed so that the residents will feel more at home. House siding and porch lights have been added to the hallway to create the feel of "coming home and living in a community," Walker said.

Employees in the community are considered "homemakers," Walker said, and are available to provide community activities, showers on demand and whatever the residents in that community would like to do. Homeowner's association meetings and block parties will help determine how this community will operate, he said.

"Residents want what any of us want: a normal life in which they have control over their health, relationships, personal needs and home," he said. "They want acknowledgement from the people around them that their lives have meaning and value."

* Little Lambs Children's Sale: Stacy Taylor has let me know that she, her husband, Andy, and their partner, Nicole Wolfe, are in the process of purchasing the Little Lambs Children's Sale. That's the twice-a-year (spring and fall) consignment sale that includes all kinds of items for children and maternity items at affordable prices.

Their sales are held at the National Guard Armory in Cape Girardeau. The fall sale will be open to the public Sept. 15 to 17.

The previous owners, Joanne Lewis and Lisa Burns, have moved out of the area. For more information, check out their Web site at mylittlelambs.com.

* Change of scenery: Charlie Harrison, president of the Evening Optimists, said the group has changed its meeting place to the new VFW building in Cape Girardeau. The group had been meeting at Port Cape, but Harrison said the move had nothing to do with Port Cape.

"Sometimes, people just need a change," she said. "A little change of scenery."

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.