Texas Roadhouse to open next week

Last Tuesday, Brian Judd got into town from Jefferson, Ind., to make some last-minute preparations. He's checking on the new building. Following up with the contractor. Getting the new employees trained and the decorations up.

"Really just making sure everything is buttoned down," Judd said.

Everything is.

A week from today, Texas Roadhouse will open at 4 p.m. in west Cape Girardeau along Interstate 55 near Doctor's Park.

"We basically have everything in, and the restaurant's ready to go," said Judd, 42. "We're really excited."

The steak-and-ribs restaurant is employing 160 area people, 80 full time.

The employees there have already begun to fit in to the "family-type" atmosphere that Texas Roadhouse likes to project. Judd said the employees have donated money to help employees at a Texas Roadhouse in Louisiana that was wiped out.

"Some of the employees are missing, and some have lost their homes," he said. "The guys here really just wanted to help them out. You've got a pretty special community here."

Judd sees it to a good start to his 18th Texas Roadhouse that he owns. He said the new restaurant will primarily be a place for dinner. Lunch is served Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but the restaurant doesn't open until 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

"You can go to the other restaurants for lunch and then on Friday come to our place," he said.

* Waldenbooks spot taken: We all know that Waldenbooks closed last weekend. Well, now we know what's going to happen to their old spot at the Westfield West Park. Mall manager Paul Dobbins tells me that American Eagle Outfitters, which is adjacent to the old book store, plans to expand into that spot.

Construction will start on the expansion in about two weeks. American Eagle, the trendy clothing store, is expected to operate out of the old Carlton Cards location until the expansion is complete. The new location will open in time for the holiday shopping season.

By the way, El Durango, the new Mexican restaurant at the mall, should open later this month, Dobbins said.

* Glaus joining Dix law firm: Former county prosecutor Gordon Glaus has joined Jeff Dix's law practice. Effective today, the new firm will be called Dix & Glaus, LLC, Attorneys at Law.

Dix, a private practitioner since 1991, has been flying solo, but decided to bring Glaus on.

"I'm getting real busy," Dix said. "It'd be nice to have a partner to make court appearances for me and just another good attorney. It will help a great deal."

Dix & Glaus is a general practice law firm that will handle a variety of legal matters, including civil and criminal trial work, estate planning and wills, family law, personal injury and auto accidents, criminal defense, worker's compensation, and social security disability. Their office is at 1930 Broadway, Suite A, Cape Girardeau; right across from AAA insurance.

Glaus left the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office effective last week after three years there. He tried both misdemeanor and felony cases.

* High Street Station coming to Cape: In March of last year, Sue Walker and her two daughter, Lisa Walker and Lynette Strange, bought High Street Station, the home and garden decor shop in Jackson.

Now, they're opening a second spot at King's Center in Cape Girardeau, the strip center on North Kingshighway. The new High Street Station of Cape will open in midmonth next to the Meals in Thyme.

Lisa Walker said the store will sell gift items like candles, frames, home and garden accessories, as well as lamps, rugs and pillows.

"Some of our Cape customers said they didn't get to Jackson that often so we decided to open a store here," Walker said.

* The Mattress Guys: On Friday, the Mattress Guys opened in Cape Girardeau at 351 N. Kingshighway in the old Verizon location. Owner Dennis McDonald tells me his store sells mattresses and bed frames.

But with a twist.

McDonald, who also has owned similar stores in Paducah, Hopkinsville and Elizabethtown, Ky., said he has a deal with department stores like Sears and J.C. Penney. The deal allows him to sell mattresses that have slight scratches in the plastic. Then he can sell the mattresses with a 50 percent to 80 percent discount from the retail price.

* She is the egg (wo)man: Jo Manhart of the Missouri Egg Council was in Cape Girardeau last week to remind people to eat eggs.

Actually, she was here to give interviews to local media reps to get the word out that children need to eat breakfast.

"I don't care if they eat pizza from the night before," she said. "As long as they eat something."

But she doesn't mind it, either, if they opt to eat the incredible, edible ... well, you get the idea.

Missouri has a huge egg industry, by the way. Manhart told me that Missouri has 6 million hens that each produce 260 eggs a year. That means Missouri hens produce ... let's see ... carry the three ... um ... a lot of eggs.

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.