Employment improves; fuel remains a concern

Good news out of Jefferson City: Unemployment rates have improved in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Economic Development reported last week that Missouri posted the largest percentage job increase in the country in August and was the second in actual numbers of new jobs created.

Missouri's percentage increase in employment in August was 0.6 percent -- tops in the nation -- while the 15,500 new jobs created in August was second only to California's 17,200. Missouri's overall unemployment rate dropped a full point from a seasonally adjusted 5.6 percent in July to 4.6 percent in August.

In Cape Girardeau, the unemployment also dropped a full point from 5.2 percent in July to 4.2 percent in August. In Cape Girardeau County, the unemployment rate dropped from 4.7 to 3.8. In Bollinger County, the rate dropped from 6 percent to 4.4 percent.

Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET industrial recruitment association, said it's hard to put a finger on why we've seen such a drop.

"It's a measurement we watch and use as a gauge," Robinson said. "But it's hard to get a real understanding of what that means or why it happens."

Robinson said it was a combination of people entering the work force, new businesses opening and all of the new restaurants and other retailers coming to the area.

"In general, the economy has picked up," he said. "Overall business activity is going very well."

But there is one red flag -- fuel prices.

"That will be a big factor," he said. "Trucking costs, farmers, everything. It's a major concern. It could have an impact on these numbers. ... But generally, what we're seeing here is activity level in the business sector is very high."

There's your vegetables. Now for some dessert.

* Steve & Barry's moving fast: I had an interesting tour at the Westfield last week. Not only did I get to meet the mall's new marketing director, Lindsey Meyr, but I also got to see the interior of the Steve & Barry's, which is slated to open Oct. 14.

So much work has already gone on. The Steve & Barry's sign is up ,and the inside looks great, with the hardwood floors. Mall manager Paul Dobbins told me that the merchandise -- university sportswear -- is expected to arrive this week.

Inside the mall Friday, one of the new Steve & Barry's managers, Jim Kuehnert, was taking applications for up to 90 new jobs that the store will provide. The other managers will be Staci Class and Justin Johnson.

While at the mall, I noticed that Michel's Jewelers is now Starr's Jewelers. A Halloween costume seasonal shop called Kostume Shop is in the former Mr. Bulky's. And I also ate at El Durango, the new Mexican restaurant. The food was good.

Personal observation: The mall seems to be fuller than it has been in years.

* Cup 'n' cork opens: Cup 'n' Cork has opened on Main Street. Owner Kim Robinson said it's gotten off to a good start.

"We opened the weekend of City of Roses and we got a pretty good weekend," she said of the wine and coffee establishment.

She said their lunch business has also really picked up. They're also very happy with the renovation job. I saw the inside of the building early on. They've clearly done a lot of work.

* Blasting with soda? Actually Jackson Soda Blasting uses baking soda, said Michelle Seabaugh, who opened the business with her husband, Shannon. The process calls for using baking soda and water -- along with the help of a mobile unit -- to strip and clean ... well, pretty much anything, from stone walls to vinyl siding to vehicles.

"It will clean everything," Seabaugh said.

They just purchased the mobile unit two weeks ago, and she said they've already done a lot of business.

Baking soda is easier on things that sand, she said. Baking soda is also biodegradable and will wash away, unlike sand, she said.

* New bookstore: Steve Robertson said his old Robertson Photography building on Broadway has been bought by Janet and JoAnn Bohnert, who intend to open a bookstore and coffee shop. I'm trying to reach the new owners for details, but Steve told me it will also include the bed and breakfast that the Robertsons ran for years. The city business license office lists a Dec. 1 opening date.

As for Steve, he tells me he's moved his photography office to Annie Laurie's Antiques just across the street.

"I've retired from the wedding and portrait business," he said. "I'm going to concentrate on writing and commercial photography."

For example, he's trying to line up 30 or so newspapers to run his automotive column that you see here in the pages of the Southeast Missourian.

* Illustrious Jack's reopens: Illustrious Jack's opened Friday afternoon at 205 S. Kingshighway. Owner Dave Gerlach said this second incarnation of the frozen custard shop will include indoor seating for up to 30 and include a drive-through. Gerlach also recently opened the car wash, which he said is different from others where the car is prepped before it goes through.

"Other car washes are kind of car rinses," he said.

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.