Rhodes building new store

When it comes to building bigger, better convenience stores, Rhodes 101 Stop has established a successful formula: Build a new larger store near an existing Rhodes, then close the old Rhodes down and allow it to be developed for something else.

That's what they did with the Rhodes on North Sprigg Street. The old Rhodes on North Sprigg Street is now a Dairy Queen/ Fresco and the new Rhodes is doing gangbuster business across the street from the Show Me Center.

Now they're at it again.

Dirt work has already started for a new Rhodes on North Kingshighway, about a block from the existing Rhodes, near the Osage Community Centre.

Jim Maurer, a co-owner of Rhodes, said the new Rhodes will cost in excess of $1 million and will be similar to the Rhodes near the Show Me Center. The new store will be 4,500 square feet on about three acres, almost double the size of the existing store.

"We needed to enlarge the existing location and upgrade it," he said. "We looked at trying to expand the existing store, but we couldn't find anything that worked to do what we wanted to do."

Once the new store is finished, they plan to tear down the old one and develop it as something else. "It's a great piece of property," Maurer said.

The new store -- expected to open sometime in June -- will be in the 1700 block of North Kingshighway between Bank of Missouri and Plaza Tire, Maurer said, just to the north of the existing area. The existing Rhodes is at 1610 N. Kingshighway.

The expansion plan will allow Rhodes to add more fuel dispensers and expand services inside, including more food and a full-service deli.

As far as what they plan to put on the site of the existing Rhodes, Maurer said they have some ideas but nothing definite.

* "Sideways" in Southeast Missouri: Kimberly Robinson has never seen the movie "Sideways," the film about friends who have mishaps while traveling through California wine country, but she says she should.

That's because she and her husband are about to open Cup 'n Cork, a cappuccino and wine cafe that is slated to open around May 1 at 46 N. Main St., the former home of Hecht's II and Space Walker Internet Cafe.

The business will feature wines, sausages and cheese, as well as cappuccinos and coffees, Robinson said.

"He's more of the cork person and I'm more the cup person," she said.

The couple used to live in Cape Girardeau but currently resides in Kansas City. Robinson said they're in the process of moving back here. Her husband, Barry, is in town getting the establishment ready.

"But I don't want people to mistake it for your regular kind of bar," she said. "We'll have wine tastings and food to go with it."

"We've missed the Cape area," she said. "We know the area and we know the people. We love the idea of being in the downtown. There's so much history, and the architecture is neat."

One of the things on her to-do list is to see "Sideways."

"I guess I need to see that movie so I know what to say when people make the connection," she said.

By the way, they're completely redesigning the interior. Construction on the inside is to start March 15.

* Chan's sold: Peter Chan has sold his popular Cape Girardeau Chinese restaurant. The new owner is Nicky Liu, who recently bought it from Chan. Liu had been a cook at Chinatown Buffet, where he worked for his uncle.

Liu, 25, has also been a cook at Chinese restaurants in New York, New Jersey and Hong Kong.

"Peter wanted to retire," Liu said. "I wanted to buy it, and he said yes."

Chan will be splitting his time between Cape Girardeau and Hong Kong, Liu said. Chan currently is in Hong Kong.

Liu said he will be making some modifications to the menu, such as using less oil and eliminating MSG, and he will is in the process of adding a new stove.

The name of the restaurant is now the New Chan's.

"I wanted customers to remember the old name but add something new," Liu said.

Chan will be missed. After running a restaurant in Hong Kong for several years, he moved to the United States with his wife and two children in 1984 after several visits.

* Dress Barn coming: The Dress Barn, a discount women's clothing retailer, is coming to Cape Girardeau. According to the city business office, the store hopes to open by March 25, but project manager Scott Gertzen, with Best Barn, said that's tentative. He said an official opening date will come later.

Best Barn will go into the Cape West Plaza at 258 Siemers Drive, the former home of the Fashion Bug. As of Feb. 26, company operated 774 Dress Barn stores in 45 states and 473 Maurices stores in 39 states.

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.