RV park taking shape in Cape

The earth is moving in Cape Girardeau, and it has nothing to do with New Madrid.

Over the past few months, more than 43,000 cubic yards of earth has been moved at 1900 N. Kingshighway, where retired banker Stan Thompson and partner Ronnie Wesbecher are making way for their new RV park.

Cape Camping and RV Park is a $1 million venture that is starting to take shape on the 15 acres of land that used to be Southeast Discount Golf shop and driving range. Right now, all that stands on the grounds is the log-walled main office overlooking a vast field of dirt, but Thompson said the plan is to be open by mid-May.

The park will feature 90 pull-through sites with hookups for electric, cable and phone for RVs, plus five cabins and 12 tent sites for other campers. In addition, there will be two bath houses, a refurbished miniature golf course (left by the previous tenant), swimming pool, playground, dump station, a 1,000-foot paved walking trail, a two-acre fishing pond and an office housing groceries, supplies, video games and pool tables.

Thompson said that although the opening is at least a month away, he is receiving up to five phone calls a week from people wanting more information. He said they've already booked their first big client, a club of more than 65 RVs from Alabama that is coming to stay the first week of June.

Krieger's coming: Mark and Kimberly VanMatre have contracted land beside Schnucks at Merriwether and Leming. Mark said the plan is to install a Krieger's Pub and Grill on the site. Krieger's originated in Chesterfield, Mo.; since it began franchising in 2002, six locations have opened in the greater St. Louis area. VanMatre's Cape Girardeau outlet is one of several scheduled to open this year.

Mark said the goal is to break ground in six to eight weeks and have the restaurant and bar ready to open by Nov. 1.

More downtown action: Since November there has been an absence of odor emanating from the kitchen of the Bel Air Grill at 24 S. Spanish St. But now passers-by can catch a whiff of bleach on a spring breeze as new operators Trae and Misty Thrower clean and ready the establishment for reopening. The Throwers currently own Out of Bounds Bar and Grill in Fruitland.

"As long as Misty has wanted to go into business for herself, she's wanted a place in Cape," Trae Thrower said. "When this property came open, we felt it was a prime location."

The Throwers will lease the building from John Wyman, who's owned it since 1995. Trae said they plan to keep the name Bel Air Grill, and will offer mostly the same fare. He plans to be open and spreading the aroma of grilled burgers and chicken by mid-May.

Meanwhile, a couple blocks away at 127 N. Main, Mike Rust and Ryan McCarthy are preparing to open Ashley Bailey Custom Cabinets. The shop, which manager McCarthy has dubbed "a little brother" to Rust and Martin interior design, will offer three custom cabinet lines, Viking appliances, flooring and wall covering.

The big brother company will still have a hand in the new operations. McCarthy said that all the Rust and Martin designers will contribute to projects out of the Main Street business. He expects Ashley Bailey to be open for business in the next four to five weeks.

Lazy Days and Lil Mama: Staying on Main Street but switching ZIP codes, Ashley Bollinger opened Lazy Days Country Store in Scott City last Tuesday. The retail outlet sells a little bit of everything, including new furniture, knickknacks and clothing. The new business is in suite 9 of the building at 1418 Main.

A little down the road, Beth Gibson has brought her trade up from Arkansas and into Lil Mama Grizz's Auction at 1414 Main. Every Friday at 6:30 p.m., Gibson auctions off all kinds of merchandise, mostly liquidations and overstocks from places like Big Lots, Wal-Mart and Bass Pro Shops.

Old tenant, new owner: In Jackson, Alan and Janey Foust have recently bought the High Street Center building at 130 S. High St. Janey's American Family Insurance business has called the 70-year-old town square fixture home for the past five years, and when previous owners Bob Adams and John Johannes were ready to sell the structure, the Fousts were quick to take the chance.

"It's a good investment," Janey Foust said. "It's an excellent building, and we think this area is booming."

The condition of the building can be attributed to a 1996 refurbishment done by Adams and Johannes.

Now the Fousts will be their own landlords, as well as renters to the building's other tenants, Smith and Company engineering firm, Adrian Bratcher Drafting Services, Adams Appraisal Services and B-Tan Tanning Salon. Janey Foust said that, as far as she knows, that lineup will not change in the near future. But she does intend to make some changes with the unfinished basement. Future plans for that space include meeting rooms, office space and archival rental space.

New name, same bank: Montgomery First National Bank announced Friday that it will change the name of all 11 of its locations in eastern Missouri. Effective May 3, the bank and all its locations will be known simply as Montgomery Bank.

Tony Rehagen is the business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to That's What They Tell Me, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699, e-mail trehagen@semissourian. com or call 335-6611, extension 137.