AMERITECH TO CLOSE CAPE RETAIL CENTER

Ameritech Cellular Communications Center will close its retail center at 500 N. Kingshighway here this month.

"It's all part of our retail strategy," said Chris Gronkiewickz, director of public relations for Ameritech. "We're expanding our distribution channels."

Ameritech, a provider of communications services, has four Ameritech retail dealers in Cape Girardeau and about 20 in the Southeast Missouri area, said Gronkiewickz. Ameritech dealers in Cape Girardeau are: ]

-- JCS/TEL-LINK, 1606 N. Kingshighway.

-- Advanced Business Systems, 2845 Independence.

-- Homestead Cellular and Paging, 3443 William.

-- MVP Communications, 106 Farrar Dr.

The Ameritech retail center will close May 30.

The Ameritech administrative office, 1221 Kingsway here, will remain open "for the present time," said Gronkiewickz

JCS/TEL-LINK was Ameritech's first cellular dealer in Southeast Missouri.

"We have a knowledgeable sales staff, experienced technicians and installers to provide technical services," said Reg Swan, vice president of JCS.

Advance Systems will be enlarging its Ameritech operations in Cape Girardeau.

"We have already added staff and are training them," said Jack Mehner, of Advanced Business Systems. "We already have some Ameritech customers in Cape Girardeau, and hope to add to them."

Mehner said his company's big Ameritech base to date has been at the company's Dexter operation.

MVP Communications is also expecting an increase in new customers.

"We're committed to taking care of existing customers, and adding new ones," said Rozan Bonsignore, MVP sales manager.