New limo service coming to area

If you were ever a customer at the old Hecht's store in downtown Cape Girardeau, you know the name Dan Elkins.

For nearly three decades, Elkins worked at the upscale clothing store, working his way up from warehouse work to manager. He was employed there until the store closed in 2003, largely running the store for Marty and Tootie Hecht.

In the few years since, Elkins has opened Danielle on Kingshighway, the popular new women's clothing store.

Now, he's venturing out into the fancy world of limousines. Elkins is starting Executive Limousines of Cape Girardeau, a new service that provides limo service to Southeast Missouri.

"I often have used limo services myself," Elkins said. "I saw a need for it, so I wanted to start up a business of my own."

Elkins envisions the service for use in proms, weddings, airport runs or trips to ball games in St. Louis. Elkins owns two black limos, one that holds six passengers, the other 10. The six-passenger limo is a 1995 Cadillac and the other is a '97 Lincoln.

"You can do things in a little more style," Elkins said.

* Cape Area Overhead Door opens: One of the region's newest sales, service and installation businesses is Cape Area Overhead Door LLC. The general manager -- and one of the owners -- is Jack Wilhite, who has extensive experience in the construction and overhead door business. Wilhite was most recently a sales representative for another area overhead door company.

Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., said the company has purchased the former Minor's Harley-Davidson property at 905 Enterprise St., just off South Kingshighway. The property purchase involved two buildings combining 8,750 square feet. The new overhead door business has already established its operation in one of the commercial buildings; the other space is occupied and leased by the Postal Service as a temporary distribution facility.

Kelsey said he understands that sometime in the future the business will expand into the larger building using the existing showroom, offices, parts and shop areas. Wilhite said his new company will handle a line of new and replacement residential, commercial and industrial overhead doors. It will also offer complete service and parts for all types of doors and cover all of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

* Rust & Martin moving, not closing: The sign in front of the Rust & Martin building on William Street has some of you wondering if the longtime furniture store is closing. The sign says the 27,000-square-foot building on William Street next to Applebee's is for sale or lease.

Rust & Martin is not closing, but the building is for sale, owner Mike Rust told me. Rust just wants to sell the building and move the two businesses inside -- including Michael Tanner furniture -- to separate locations.

"The plan has always been to take the two companies and split them eventually," he said.

Rust & Martin, which opened in Cape Girardeau in 1933, sells higher-end furniture, with brands like Henredon, Century and Karastan Carpet. Michael Tanner sells more moderately priced furniture. The business has been at its present spot for 15 years.

Mike Rust said he was motivated to sell the building, though, when he was contacted by four parties interested in buying the building.

"I thought, 'Why shouldn't I sell it?'" Rust said. "It's not serving our purposes now anyhow."

Rust & Martin is increasingly relying on special-order items, he said, and needs much more room for samples, fabric and flooring.

"We're just jammed in here," he said.

Michael Tanner also needs its own space to develop its own business identity, he said.

Rust already has plans to build a new building for Rust & Martin, and he plans to lease out space for a new Michael Tanner location. He won't reveal where the two businesses will go, except to say they will both remain on Cape Girardeau's west side.

"But they both will be bigger and better," he said. "It will all start when someone pulls the trigger on this building."

He expects a new Rust & Martin and Michael Tanner will be open a year after the building is sold, he said.

As far as the existing building, Mike Rust says he has had several inquiries already. Two out-of-town groups have expressed interest in putting in a sporting goods store there.

But Rust thinks it would also be a good spot for a medical office.

* Meyer announces name change: After 50 years of doing business as the Thomas L. Meyer Realty Co., president Thomas M. Meyer has announced a new direction for the company that includes a name change and a new affiliation.

Exit Realty - Thomas Meyer Associates will be the new name, marking the company's new association with Exit Realty, a Canadian-based real estate company.

Exit Realty, Meyer explained, offers its associates the opportunity to earn commissions higher than the industry standard in addition to a pension when they retire -- something that currently isn't available.

"We offer each associate a residual bonus on sales made by agents they introduce to management," Meyer said. "The whole concept is not the traditional real estate industry's manner of business operation, but instead it's on the leading edge of marketing benefits for sellers and buyers, with better motivated agents representing them."

Meyer also is expanding his building to go along with these changes, including additional space for growth. The expansion includes new layouts, furniture, more parking and newly designed feng shui landscaping. There will be an open house at the offices at 230 N. Sprigg St. from noon to 5 p.m. on April 28. The open house will also be a celebration Thomas L. Meyer's 60th year in real estate and Rupert Meyer's 46th year in real estate.

* New tanning salon: Sun on the Run recently opened at 1115 Broadway, right across the street from Houck Stadium. Todd Goodson is the owner. In the past, Goodson owned Tans R Us, Plant Tan and U Tan. The new salon has seven beds with a capacity for 10.

* Congrats to Bill Zellmer, owner of Buffalo Wild Wings in Cape Girardeau. Zellmer is opening another BWW in Carbondale on May 7.

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.