New yoga studio opens in Cape

The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Judy Grier tells me, is the largest yoga center in the United States and is known the world over as the premier yoga retreat destination and a first-rate yoga teacher training organization.

Now residents in Southeast Missouri can get what Grier calls a "Kripalu experience" at Yoga East, Grier's Kripalu affiliate studio that recently opened at 1606 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.

In an e-mail, Grier explained that local yoga students at Yoga East will be able to find classes for all levels from beginner to advanced. She said her center will be modeled after the Kripalu Center in the Massachusetts Berkshires.

Grier, the program director, is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and a registered nurse. She owned and operated a yoga studio for the past several years in Nashville before recently moving to the Cape Girardeau area.

Grier stresses that yoga is for people of all ages and body types.

* Inman's Century 21 buys Trentham & Associates: Century 21 broker/owner Ken Inman has announced the purchase and merger of Trentham & Associates, which has offices in Marble Hill, Mo., and Jackson. Those two offices will merge with Century 21 offices.

Cathy Trentham has been named manager at the Century 21 Heartland office in Jackson. Jane Lysell, who has been managing the Century 21 office, has been promoted to director of marketing and training.

* Wedding photographer sets up shop: Elegant Wedding Photography is set to open today at 20 N. Pacific St., next to Francine's. Owner Pamela Sue Kirkwood had opened on Themis Street but was run out by a mold problem.

She specializes in taking wedding pictures. But Kirkwood, who has been a photographer for eight years, also takes what she calls, um, romantic pictures.

"If you say boudoir around here, they think you're doing porn," Kirkwood said.

It's not. They're romantic shots, she said, of people who are dressed in lingerie.

"They're special portraits for their spouse," she said. "Honestly, I do more boudoirs than weddings. I'm the only one between St. Louis and Memphis that does a lot of that."

Still, she said her passion is taking weddings, though she also does family portraits, children and seniors.

She also has what she calls a really posh gallery where potential customers can view her work. Some of her work has been in "Bride" magazine.

* Hunter leaves Westfield for Buchheit: In my most recent column for Business Today -- you should check out that revamped magazine if you don't already read it -- I wrote about Joyce Hunter, who recently left Westfield Shoppingtown West Park to head up Buchheit's marketing division. Here's an excerpt:

For the past 6 1/2 years, Hunter has been senior marketing director at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park. Now she's taking that mission of marketing to Buchheit, the home center with Missouri stores in Jackson, Perryville and Herculaneum and Illinois stores in Sparta and Jacksonville.

Hunter has taken a job as co-director of marketing for the store chain that sells home and farm products. Hunter said her job will be to help Buchheit better establish its brand in an increasingly competitive market.

"With big-box competition moving in, they need to tell their story," she said. "When you establish a brand, it drives business, in enables you to grow to help with the strong growth pattern they've already established."

Doug Buchheit is the general merchandise manager for Buchheit.

"We kind of want to take it to the next level and tell more of the story about Buchheit's. ... It's more a positioning strategy. How to position ourselves, not only to better compete with the big-box stores, but our other competition, too."

* Two new flooring businesses opening: Two new retail flooring businesses are poised to open soon in Cape Girardeau. Ultimate Flooring Inc., is opening March 7 inside House of Color II -- formerly MAB Paint -- at 1802 Broadway.

"We've done the same thing in Sikeston," said owner Darrin Johnson. "We're going to repeat it for Cape."

Like at House of Color in Sikeston, Ultimate Flooring is within the business, and cells all kinds of flooring: carpet, vinyl, hardwood, ceramic and natural stone.

"Half the store will be dedicated to floor covering," Johnson said. "We're a full-service dealer with a showroom."

Meanwhile, Kelly Montoya is opening Tri-State Flooring at 1001 N. Kingshighway on March 1. Montoya said they will sell laminate, hardwood flooring and tile.

"My aunt does the same thing in Mayfield, Ky., and she told me, 'There's no reason you can't do this,'" said Montoya. "It's worth a shot. We're going to try it and see how it goes."

* Blatant rumors: You've seen the "sold" sign on the old Cast-A-Ways building at 502 Broadway. I hear that Paul Dirnberger, part owner of Bella Italia and Rhodes 101, is in the process of buying it and plans to turn it into a restaurant. That's a neat old building.

Also, expect some news in the coming weeks on a certain high-profile Italian restaurant. (Here's a hint: Olive Garden.) The deal is close, I hear. A spokeswoman for the company said there's nothing to announce yet but coyly suggested I call back in a couple weeks.

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, extension 137. They can also be e-mailed to smoyers@semissourian.com.