Moving into a 'retail revolution'

John Bening recently announced that Bening Automotive Group has acquired land just south of Bluff City Beer Co. on Siemers Drive in Cape Girardeau. The 2.5-acre lot will be home to a new full-service Mazda dealership, replacing the company's current location at 2611 Auto Park Drive.

Bening said the new facility will be a prototype for Mazda's new "retail revolution." Although Bening was vague on the particulars of his new dealership, other Mazda dealerships in the country -- like Rosen Motors in Waukegan, Ill. -- that have been set up as "revolution prototypes" are reported to feature modern, industrial-looking buildings with bright orange and green signage that makes the stores stand out from other area businesses. They also feature certain amenities, including a coffee bar, electronic game area, children's activity area and a service viewing area.

Bening said he expects to break ground on his new dealership in the next 90 days.

Cape Family Practice builds new home: Over the past few weeks, the steel frame of a new building has been gradually sprouting off of Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. When the frame is fleshed out, it will be the new home of at least three Cape Girardeau businesses.

Doctors Lori Moyers and Anthony Keele, along with Keele's CPA father, Jerry Keele, are pooling their resources into AJL Investments to erect a new two-story, $1.2 million facility to house the doctors' Cape Family Practice.

The top floor of the building will allow the growing practice of Drs. Moyers, Keele and Thomas Sparkman to expand from its current location at 36 Doctor's Park. The bottom floor will be separated into three suites, two of which, Anthony Keele said, are already leased. One will house Pro Care, a home medical and oxygen supply company. Another will house Sleep Analysts Inc., a respiration testing company. Both of these are based in Kennett, Mo.

Anthony Keele anticipates an October completion at his new address of 1417 Mount Auburn Road, with a move following shortly thereafter.

New building to support Pillar Chiropractic: Just down Mount Auburn Road, west of the Independence Street intersection, there's another building project taking shape. The wood frame of this building will also house a place of healing.

According to Cape Girardeau chiropractor Jack Ruopp, the new 6,600-square-foot, story-and-a-half facility will hold a roof over three local chiropractic practices and will be dubbed The Pillar Chiropractic Physician Center.

Ruopp is the owner of the new structure, which will allow him and fellow chiropractor Aaron Andrews to expand from their current location at 115 S. Broadview. The third physician in the mix will be Ann Heisserer.

Ruopp said the Broadview building, which he also owns, will be up for sale.

The choice of the name for his new venture stems from the fact that a pillar is a structure of support for buildings, much like the spine is for the human body. The brick building itself will feature two columns on the south side entrance. On the interior will be three offices, 12 to 15 treatment rooms, X-ray facilities and an examination room.

Jack Ruopp has pegged an Oct. 31 completion of 3232 Independence St., with his move following in November.

Phoenix Buffet rising at Town Plaza: After almost six years of operation, owner George Yee has decided to sell the Imperial Palace Buffet on William Street.

While Yee looks into other businesses to occupy his energies, new owner Tommy Chen plans to open the buffet anew from Imperial's ashes and rename the establishment Phoenix Buffet. Along with the name change will come an expansion in the variety of foods offered. Chen will bring in a world-class chef, renowned in China, to take command of a new Mongolian barbecue in the restaurant.

Though a timetable is not yet set, the new ownership is shooting for having these changes in place by Sunday.

Worship Audio working to improve acoustics of the Word: Nowadays, a lot of churches incorporate full bands and multimedia presentations into their contemporary worship, and it is with that in mind that Matt Schwartz has started Worship Audio Video Consultants LLC. at 1606 Independence St., Suite 5, in Cape Girardeau. Through this business, he hopes to help churches that are looking to move in a more contemporary direction but don't have the knowledge of sound and sound systems to do so.

Opened on July 15, Schwartz's new business specializes in providing equipment and consulting for these churches. With his degree in audio engineering, Schwartz said he can help design churches being built and redesign existing churches to be more acoustically sound for the music and speakers. His new company can also help churches procure the right equipment for the job.

One of Schwartz's new toys is a computer program that will allow him to simulate and test sounds in certain structural designs. He said he can even take a recording of a particular pastor's voice and apply it over certain forms of amplification in certain acoustic designs.

After the design is set, Schwartz also offers professional training on the operation of sound equipment.

California Juice reopening: Gyros and mojos are for lunch again. California Juice Club at 1034 Broadway will have its grand reopening at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The restaurant will extend its late-summer hours and will again be open for lunch. Midday offerings will include dine-in or take-out pizza, vegetarian, Mediterranean fusion cuisine, chicken and mojos.

Tony Rehagen is the business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to Tony Rehagen, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699, e-mail trehagen@semissourian. com or call 335-6611, extension 137.