Now you can get schnitzel and borscht in Cape

Here's a question I've never been asked: Where the heck in Cape Girardeau can you get a good schnitzel?

If someone were to ask me that curious query I'd offer one of three responses: A puzzled look, gales of laughter or a question of my own.

Schnitzel? Isn't that a town near Diehlstadt?

But seriously, that question will have a legitimate answer when a new cafe opens in Cape Girardeau that will give people a place to sample such European-style food as schnitzels (German cutlets), borscht (Russian beet soup) or Hungarian goulash (beefy, tomato-based stew).

It's called Cafe Azu, and it will occupy the space as the recently closed Manee Thai at 1315 Broadway. It will be owned and operated by Erik and Lucy Minkin, a Russian couple who have lived in Cape Girardeau for several years.

The restaurant will feature Russian, Ukrainian, German and Polish food, Erik Minkin told me Saturday. He said he plans to open Cafe Azu -- azu is a traditional Siberian dish -- in about two weeks.

Minkin, 37, has been a professionally trained chef for more than 20 years. He worked as a chef in the former Soviet Union for 12 years before working as a cook in the United States for the past 10 years or so. In Cape Girardeau, he has worked at Holiday Inn and the Royal N'Orleans.

"We think that people around here would like something different," he said.

He said he realized the base of customers actually from Europe is small. But that's OK.

"We are not marketing our restaurant to Russians or Ukrainians or Germans," he said. "We're marketing to Americans."

He noted that Su Hill -- who owns Saffron and owned Manee Thai -- has a wonderful customer base for her Asian restaurants, even though there are, by his estimation, "only 20 or 30" people from Thailand in this area.

"We want to give people a choice," he said. "We think that by offering different kinds of food, we'll be fine."

Su Hill, by the way, said she has merged Manee Thai's menu with Saffron. She said she didn't want to sign another five-year lease at the Broadway spot. The parking situation is less than ideal.

Also, Su has moved into the old Key's Music Building downtown. She still is trying to figure out what she wants to do with the downstairs area, but watch this space for details.

Taking over White House

A full year before the presidential election, there's a new occupant in the White House. Bobby McDonald, who developed the strip mall at 820 N. Sprigg, has sold the White House club that had been in the back of the strip mall. The new owner is TJ Henderson, who already owns TJ's nightclub on Kingshighway.

The new club will be called TJ's Club, the Sequel. Henderson tells me he hopes to get the new club open by the time school starts back up at Southeast Missouri State University.

He plans to offer a 23-and-older night, so customers will have a place to go if they want to avoid college students. He also promises to have live bands and comedians. He also says he will have a "coming out" night for gays.

"I want to have something for everybody," he said. "I want it to be a place that offers different sorts of entertainment for everybody."

Apropos opens

Apropos Gifts and More has opened at 97 N. Kingshighway, Suite 4. That's the spot right next to Little Caesar's. The business is owned by Christie Crum and her mother, Janice Watkins.

The home decor and accessories shop used to be in Jackson right across from Immaculate Conception, but the tornado badly damaged the building.

The store offers religious items, such as Bibles, wall crucifixes, jewelry and greeting cards with religious themes, according to Crum. They also have a full line of Mikasa crystal, candles, Aromatique potpourri and bath products.

New Sylvan building

A letter from a Columbia, Mo., architect made it to my desk last week. The letter announced that Sylvan Learning Center of Cape Girardeau is constructing a new office building on West Drive, about half a block north of Denny's.

Sylvan will occupy about 3,000 square feet of the 7,500-square-foot building The letter goes on to say that leaves 4,500 square feet of additional retail space for lease as of this October. Space may be divided in increments as small as 1,500 square feet.

The area is zoned C-1, meaning it can be used for professional office space or retail.

New digs

Carpet Connection owners John and Connie Fodge have just purchased property at 766 S. Kingshighway to build a new 8,000-square-foot retail/ showroom/warehouse facility. The property, owned by Eagle Peak Properties, is between the Eagle Peak office building and Cape Carpet and Supply.

Tom Kelsey, with Lorimont Place Ltd., brokered the deal.

"We want to get the building done as soon as possible," John Fodge said. "We just outgrew this one."

Carpet Connection is currently at 330 S. Kingshighway and is about 5,000 square feet.

The Fodges hope the new building is done by January.

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