NEW `RUSH ROOM' OPENS, SEVERAL BUSINESSES MOVE

Catching up:

Every year, more than 100 new businesses open in Cape Girardeau.

That's the good news.

But every year about the same number of businesses close operations.

Since January 1 of 1993, a total of 139 licenses have been issued for new businesses. A total of 151 businesses have closed during the same period.

"That's about normal," says a spokesperson from the city license office. "The totals may be different each year, but it usually evens out on openings and closings."

Building and improvement permits have been issued for a number of retail business during the month of October. These include:

Gloria Jean's Expresso, a kiosk operation at West Park Mall.

A gospel book store at West Park Mall.

Remodeling and reopening of the former Hitchin Post, 351 Christine St., as the "Alibi-Club."

A new restaurant, to be announced later, will locate at 5 S. Kingshighway.

Although a permit has not yet been issued, sources say that a Walgreen store is being planned at 1 S. Kingshighway at the intersection of Independence and Kingshighway.

New single-residential housing starts continue to bolster the Cape Girardeau construction scene in October.

A total of 14 permits were issued for one-family residential construction in October, shoving the year's total to 88, only one shy of the entire 1992 total, with two months to go.

The latest group of permits averaged $127,000 per building, ranging from a low of $60,000 to a high of $185,000. October totals place the 1993 total at 88 one-family homes, at a total cost of $9,481,000 for an average of more than $107,000.

A "Rush Room" is now open at Rutherford's, 2001 Independence.

"We'll be serving food from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.," said Ron Mix, owner of Rutherford's. "But the Rush Room time will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., while Rush (Limbaugh) is conducting his radio talk show."

"Rush Rooms," spots where fans of Limbaugh's enormously popular show can gather to eat and pass a collective "ditto" to Rush, are cropping up throughout the country.

The menu features soups, salads and appetizers, catered by Ann Karmi and Scott Bucher, who operate Imo's Pizza.

Sides Steel and Metal Recycling is moving.

"We'll be moving to two different sites," said William J. Sides, owner of the steel and metal salvage operation in Cape Girardeau, Perryville and Chester, Ill.

Sides' operation at Independence and Kingshighway here is the former Pollack Hide and Fur Co., which was founded in 1916.

"We've been leasing from Mr. Pollack since we purchased the business in the early 1980s," said Sides.

The steel and non-ferris metals (including aluminum) portion of the business will move to 80 N. Broadview in the former Pepsi Cola Building.

"We have about 14,000 square feet there, and will have a drive-through facility," said Sides. "Our second location will be near the intersection of Giboney and Elm, across from the old Leming Lumber Co.

"We purchased about six acres of land there, and will construct a small building and scales. This location will be our scrap-iron site."

Some materials have already been moved to the Broadview site, which was scheduled for opening this morning.

"We'll hope to be in the Giboney site later this month," said Sides. "We've been clearing the land there, and hope to start construction this week on a 1,500-square-foot building and truck scales."

Sides and his wife, Karen, purchased Pollack Hide and Fur and Pollack Steel Supply Inc., in June 1989. The firm then became Sides Steel Supply and Metal Recycling at Independence and Kingshighway.

The company now purchases about a million pounds of aluminum cans a year, and handles as much as 400 to 500 tons of scrap a year. He ships much of his steel to mills at Blytheville and Newport, Ark., where mills manufacture I-beams and railroad specialty items, including spikes. The company averages shipping out a truckload of materials a day.

The Cape P&G Credit Union is expanding, under a new name and with new quarters.

The credit union, a member-owned, not-for-profit organization, opened as Cape Girardeau Regional Credit Union at 1602 N. Kingshighway today.

"We have a new name and new quarters," said Terri Penrod, president of the operation which was chartered in 1971. "The membership has voted to expand the field of membership."

Procter & Gamble is one of six employers currently being served by the credit union.

"Others include M&W Packaging and Saueressig, located near the P&G plant; Tri-Con, Havco Wood Products and Dana Corporation. We have about 2,300 members," Penrod said.

The credit union will now operate out of two offices.

"We will continue to keep our office open at the P&G plant," said Penrod. "The new office in Cape will give us better access for some of our current members, and we will be contacting other employers with hopes of expanding."

The credit union offers its members several services.

"We have a share-account (savings), share draft account (checking), Christmas Clubs, IRAs, first-mortgages, CDs, and Visa cards. We also offer various consumer loans," noted Penrod.

She added that the group is also looking at some new services, including home equity and student loans for its members.

"We are member-owned," she stressed.

The local credit union is a member of the Missouri Credit Union System, and of the Southeast Missouri Chapter.

It's time to start thinking Christmas trees again.

Christmas "magic" has arrived at the River Ridge Christmas Tree Farm.

Jerry and Joannie Smith say it's time to reserve your favorite Scotch Pine, White Pine or Virginia Pine for the holidays.

The tree farm officially opened last weekend, and will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Sunday hours from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Also at the site is the Yule Log Cabin, which offers gifts and decorations.

Fraser fir trees will be available around Thanksgiving.

"These are the only trees we do not grow," says Joannie. "But, Dale Long will be delivering his fresh cut Fraser fir from the mountains of the Carolinas."

Thanksgiving Day hours will be 2 to 5:30 p.m.

To reach the tree farm, go five miles south of Scott City on Route N; or take Route E out of Benton, six miles to Route N, then left a half-mile.

Perry Travel Center has moved to a new location.

The full-service travel agency, previously located on South Plaza Way, has moved around the block, to 294 Christine St.

"We have larger quarters here and better parking facilities," said owner Judy Bullock.

Perry Travel was founded at its previous location in 1976.

Glik Stores has opened its 38th store.

The Glik chain, headquartered at Granite City, Ill., recently opened Glik Sports Store in the Maple Valley Center at Farmington.

The 96-year-old, family-owned company operates stores throughout Illinois and Missouri, including a store in West Park Mall at Cape Girardeau. The company plans to open store number 39 at Decatur, Ill. in the near future.

The Scott City Medicap Pharmacy is under new management.

David Charlier, a registered pharmacist with 10 years experience, has joined the Scott City operation as co-owner/manager. Charlier, a graduate of St. Louis College of Pharmacy, most recently worked as staff pharmacist of the Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy.

Meanwhile, Brad Amrhein, former owner/manager at Scott City, has relocated to West Des Moines, Iowa, where he will work with Medicap Pharmacies Inc. as operations supervisor. He will serve as a corporate consultant to Medicap Pharmacies around the nation. Amrhein will retain a financial interest in the Scott City operation as a co-owner.

Medicap currently has 98 stores in 19 states with 13 more to open before the end of the year.

G and D Communications Inc., headquartered at Sikeston, opened a branch operation at Jackson today.

The firm, a two-way radio sales and service shop, will hold an open house Nov. 8-13 at its new location, 510 S. Hope.

"We're dealers for Motorola Radius and Midland Mobil," said Joanne Dudley, one of the owners of the company which was founded in 1982. "We are also an agent for Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems for cellular phones."

The firm provides a paging service that covers Southeast Missouri. Owners of the firm are Robert and Joanne Dudley and Michael and Carol Gentry.

"A Taste of Little Egypt" will give consumers an opportunity to have a "little taste of home" for the holidays.

A food gift basket will include items produced or manufactured in Southern Illinois, says Nick Rion, the project's creator.

"Even the basket is made in the Southern Illinois area," said Rion. "Each basket is numbered and signed. They make a good gift, especially for friends or relatives who have moved from the area."

The baskets include various barbecue sauces, popcorn, chocolate, honey, beans, dessert spices and a greeting card. Two baskets are available $49.95 and $59.95 -- from Lick Creek General Store, Route 1, Box 360, Anna, Ill., 62906, or by calling (618) 833-4410. The store is open only on Saturdays.