Pockets moving to better spot

Carol Littge always felt a little bit behind the eight ball at her old location.

Pockets, the sports bar she's owned for the past four years, has been in the Plaza Galleria at 2021 Independence St., tucked away in the building's southwest corner near the back -- the last tenant in an otherwise vacant commercial building.

The building wasn't in the best shape. And it really wasn't large enough to support her growing customer base of pool players, dart sharks and beer swillers. So when her lease expired, she closed down on July 2.

But not without a plan, one that she began implementing a year and a half ago. The plan, she hopes, will culminate with a new and improved Pockets at 1444 Independence St. across from Thorngate.

"I really wanted something better and bigger," she said last week, taking a break from moving items into the former spot of Dean Taylor Cadillac Olds and several other things.

She'd always wanted that building, she said. So she contacted the recorder of deeds office in Jackson and found out that Steve and Donna Essner owned it. When she found out that its latest incarnation -- Cape Doll Shop -- was closing, she contacted the Essners and told them she wanted to buy it.

That was a year and a half ago. Since then, in her spare time she's been working on renovating the 9,000-square-foot space.

Now, it's nearly ready to go. The new Pockets will feature eight pool tables, eight dart boards, a shuffleboard table and several big-screen TVs. Within the next few months, she plans to add food.

The renovation also includes adding 120 to 150 feet of counter space and a wooden bar. There will also be 400 square feet of dance floor.

She also plans to add an outdoor beer garden, with activities like horseshoes and sand volleyball.

"It was time for a change," she said. "Pockets had been there for eight years, and I've had it for four. Lots of people never even knew it was there. Now it will be in plain view."

* Cafe Azu for sale: Erik Minkin says business has gotten so bad at Cafe Azu, his European-style restaurant, that he's put the restaurant up for sale.

"Construction on Broadway is basically breaking our back," Minkin said. "So we had to put it on the market. We can't wait until the work gets right in front of us, so we've decided to sell it now."

Cafe Azu is at 1315 Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

He says he hopes to keep the restaurant open until he sells it, but that may not happen.

"We'll see," he said. "But it's a financial situation. If we can't pay our bills, we're going to have to close."

* Copi-Rite changes name: After operating in Cape Girardeau under the name Copi-Rite for 37 years, the well-known photocopier dealership has changed its business name to The Rite Group. The new name accounts for the addition of its two divisions, Connect-Rite and Rite-OF, which operate alongside its Copi-Rite photocopier division.

"When I say Copi-Rite to people, they think of copy machines," said company president Robin Cole. "There really are new dimensions to our business that are far beyond copy machines."

The company is epxanding into the Nextel wireless communications business by its Connect-Rite division and into the office furnishings business by its Rite-OF division, which represents a range of factory-direct office furniture manufacturers and offers office design, layout and installation services.

"Copy machines are still an important core business, but it's not THE core business," he said. "We simply can't stand still and live off of copy machines. We have to modernize with the times."

* New card store: For two years, Carrie Tracy has been making meticulously handmade cards and invitations from her home.

"They're kind of funky, unique," she said. "I try to use a real whimsical style."

The popular cards were sold at Grace Cafe, Piccadilly's and Annie Em's.

Now, she plans to expand into her own store at 2119 Broadway, the former spot of Country Wide Home Loans. She also plans to incorporate her graphic design background into a relatively new part of her business -- designing official logs of companies that are just getting started.

The new shop will have cards that are already made and unique gift items. Cards can also be specially ordered. The grand opening will be in September, she said.

* Tank's rolling into Scott City: Coop's Gas Station in Scott City has sat vacant for a little over two years, but a new convenience store is set to open there in late July or early August.

Owners Jim and Kelly Talley tell me that Tank's One Stop will be at 1708 Main St. and will sell fuel, deli sandwiches, hamburgers, barbecue and other convenience items.

They're in the process of replacing the roof and giving the building a good scrubbing.

This isn't a first- time business for the Scott City couple. Jim owns Microcomputer Systems in Scott City, and Kelly owns Just A Buck, a dollar store in Charleston.

Oh, and where'd the name come from? It's a nickname from Jim's former football playing days at Scott City High School.

* Is there a doctor in the garage? Auto Doctor is opening in Cape Girardeau within the next two weeks, according to owner/mechanic Kerry Taylor.

The auto shop will be at the rear of 1300 Water St. Taylor, who has been a mechanic for 20 years, said he will specialize in engineer diagnosis and repair and general maintenance.

* Consignment shop: Crites Corner Consignment Shop has opened at 400 Crites St. in Scott City. The new store sells dishes, clothes, books, shoes and other items, both new and used. The store is open Friday and Saturday only, owner Laura Spangler tells me.

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