EXPANSIONS UNDER WAY; NEW BUSINESSES OPEN

When the 1994 Southeast Missouri "Top 25" business-industry list is compiled, expect to see the name of Hudson Foods Inc. high on the list.

Approximately 175 new workers are expected to join the staff of 350 following an $8.6-million expansion at Hudson's existing chicken processing plant, hatchery and feed mill in Dexter.

The "Top 25" list is compiled by the Southeast Missourian. It lists businesses and industries by employment.

Hudson's plans call for a 33,000-square-foot expansion -- 21,000 square feet at the plant and 12,000 at the hatchery.

The facility processes 325,000 chickens a week, a figure that is expected to double when the expansion is completed in September.

Hudson Foods has also announced a $24-million expansion project at its Hope, Ark., plant and hatchery.

Hudson, a Fortune 500 company, had a profitable 1993, said Michael T. Hudson, president and chief operations officer. "We're coming off a very profitable year, and these latest expansion plans are good signs for the future," said Hudson.

He said that due to increased production, Hudson will also be adding more contract growers in the area.

"We need about 110 additional contract broiler houses," he said. "We also need another 25 breeder houses."

Bill Tracey, manager of the Dexter facility, said he was thrilled with the progress.

"This is an exciting place to produce poultry," he said. "We are in a good area for grain production and we have a great labor market here."

Hudson Foods Inc., based in Rogers, Ark., reported 1993 annual sales of $920.5 million. The company sells a variety of chicken and turkey products under the Hudson brand name, as well as poultry, beef and pork products under the Ohse, Schweigert, Pierre and Roegelein brand names.

The firm operates 14 processing facilities in 10 states and employs more than 8,500 people.

"We're the nation's sixth largest producer of chicken products and 18th largest producer of turkey products," said Hudson.

Fazoli's Italian Restaurant will open at 5 S. Kingshighway at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Fazoli's, which features a fast-food concept, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Fazoli menu includes a wide variety of hot pasta dishes, pizza, salads, fresh-baked garlic breadsticks, and desserts.

"Quick service is a priority," said Dave Kadel, area Fazoli supervisor of the St. Louis district. "Guests may dine in or carry out. We also have a drive-through facility."

The local Fazoli's is the newest of 56 Fazoli restaurants since 1988, and the ninth in the St. Louis district. The company, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., has operations in seven states.

James Staats is general manager of the Cape Girardeau restaurant.

Construction is on schedule for a March opening of the new Tractor Supply Company (TSC) in Cape Girardeau.

The new store is across the street and down the road from its present store at 612 S. Kingshighway, said Larry Means, TSC district manager.

The new store, at 501 S. Kingshighway, will have total space of 18,750 square feet, an increase of about 7,5000 square feet. "Construction is almost complete on the exterior," said Means. "The interior dividing walls have been erected and the heating and cooling system is being installed."

The entrance vestibule, loading docks and road signs will be installed after the interior work has been completed.

TSC is expected to receive the keys to the new building early next month.

"It'll take us three to four weeks to get everything moved in," said Means. "We hope to be open by early to mid-March."

TSC was founded in 1938, and is celebrating 55 years of service. The company operates 150 stores in 21 states. Sales totaled more than $250 million in 1991.

Lowes Home Center is also looking to an early to mid-March opening here.

The Lowes Co., headquartered at North Wilkesboro, N.C., will open its $3.2-million facility in Cape West Business Park alongside I-55 south of Route K.

The new facility is a 115,000-square-foot retail center featuring lines of lawn and garden equipment; building materials; electrical, plumbing and electronics supplies; appliances and more.

The firm, which operates more than 300 stores in 20 states, is a Fortune 500 company and one of the nation's top 50 retailers.

A State Farm Insurance office has moved to 2524 William in West Park Village.

Andy Bullinger, who has been with State Farm for 23 years, moved to the new location after 20 years in Town Plaza Shopping Center.

State Farm, with headquarters in Bloomington, Ill., sells auto, fire, life and health insurance.

Wayside Inn is under new ownership.

Julian and Michelle Chavez have assumed operation of the restaurant on Highway 61 East in Jackson.

Chester and Dorothy Gerecke have retired from the restaurant business after 25 years.

Julian Chavez has more than 20 years experience in the restaurant business, including 10 years as a chef. He previously worked at TGI Friday, the Brett Hull Restaurant and St. Louis Live, and most recently was food and beverage director at Cedar Street in Cape Girardeau.

"We have an all-new menu," said Michelle Chavez. "We offer lunch buffets Wednesdays through Sundays and specialty evening buffets Wednesdays through Saturdays." The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and Sunday evenings.

Lunch buffets are served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with evening buffets from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

The specialty buffets include prime rib on Saturday, catfish and shrimp Friday, a Mexican menu on Thursday and stir-fry on Wednesday.

Julian and Michelle Chavez also own "The Mayor's Place," a restaurant at Puxico. Joan Arnold, manager of The Mayor's Place, will help oversee the cooking at Wayside.

Cafe Cape and Bazaar opened recently at Lorimont Place, 280 Mount Auburn Road.

Adnan and Janet Ipek are managers of the operation, which provides sandwiches and salads and an all-day breakfast menu of rolls, jams and jellies.

"We feature gyro sandwiches on hoagie buns, baked potato, salads and various rolls with jams and jellies," said Janet Ipek. The bazaar features hand-crafted jewelry, other gifts and collectibles.

The store will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Budget Motor Co. opened Friday at 1001 N. Kingshighway.

"We'll be specializing in late-model cars," said Leonard Seabaugh, owner of the business.

Seabaugh, who has more than 15 years experience in auto sales and management, most recently was a partner in a Chrysler-Nissan dealership at Farmington.

"I was dealer-operator at the Farmington store," he said. Previously, he was manager of the former Town & Country Co. in Cape Girardeau.

Seabaugh hopes to stock 20 to 30 vehicles.

Budget Motors will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Dr. Shanon T. Kirchhoff, an orthodontist, has expanded his practice to include a satellite office at Chaffee.

Kirchhoff will be at the Chaffee office, 218 S. Main, two Wednesdays a month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kirchhoff is a specialist in orthodontics and provides comprehensive treatment for all ages.

Appointments are available by calling 651-4400.

Kirchhoff's Cape Girardeau office is at 1461 N. Kingshighway.

BOAT NOTES:

Fritz A. Johnson, a veteran casino hotel executive, has been appointed vice president and general manager for Aztar Corp.'s planned riverboat casino at Caruthersville.

Johnson joined Aztar's predecessor, Ramada Inc., in 1978, and has served as vice president of finance at Ramada Express since 1989. He is a graduate of Bradley University with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting.

Aztar, which has been selected by Caruthersville city officials to operate a riverboat casino on the Mississippi River in downtown Caruthersville, has filed application with the Missouri Gaming Commission for a permit.

The East-Coast Trump Organization and Missouri-based Charles Drury have formed a partnership on the hotel part of Trump's $300 million proposal to land a riverboat gambling lease at Laclede's Landing riverfront at St. Louis.

The Trump Organization's new partnership with the hotel developer would not only build at least one hotel on the riverfront but also probably expand Drury's 180-room Drury Inn at Union Market. A group representative said Trump and Drury could work together to promote St. Louis to conventions, tourists and gamblers. Drury recently acquired property in Laclede's Landing -- the historic Witte Hardware Building -- which the representative said might be a "potential" hotel site. Druco is also looking into purchasing an adjacent 100,000-square-foot parking lot.

The Trump group has revised its $300 million riverboat gambling proposal, agreeing to move its 1,100-room convention hotel from the waterfront to the site the city favors.

Fantasy, a bus limousine service headquartered near Arnold, will start a twice-a-month shuttle service to the Casino Queen riverboat casino at East St. Louis.

"We're looking at the second Thursday in February to start the service," said Mike Nelson, one of its owners. "We'll start with twice-a-month trips."

Passengers will ride in a luxurious bus limousine, which contains two televisions, nightclub sound system, restroom and a hostess. The bus also includes three bar areas and will seat 30 passengers.

The bus limousine service, which was founded two years ago, also schedules charters to college basketball and football games, baseball games, Fairmount Park, weddings and other events.

Additional information is available by calling (314)-440-5100.

ELSEWHERE:

Construction is under way on Reids' Inn, a 46-unit Best Western motel that is expected to open at Chester, Ill. this spring.

The motel will be owned by Bob and Joan Reid, and their sons, Jim and Brad Reid. The Reids operate Reids' Harvest House Smorgasbord, 2440 State St. in Chester. The motel will be just south of the restaurant.