Business news

New gym

A 24-hour fitness center that opened Dec. 7 at 1131 N. Kingshighway will be the first of five franchises of a national chain in the region.

Anytime Fitness is owned by Colin Reilly of Mandleville, La., and the club manager is Jill Mills of Jackson. Reilly already owns seven franchises with the Hastings, Minn., based company, which specializes in setting up entrepreneurs with gyms that provide 24-hour access through a key card system.

Along with the Cape Girardeau location, Mills said Reilly plans to open Anytime Fitness locations in Jackson, Sikeston, Farmington and Paragould, Ark.

"I am absolutely excited," said Mills, a 31-year-old one-time college track athlete. "I think it is going to be a big hit and I want do an excellent job. I believe this area needs a 24-hour gym for entrepreneurs."

Reilly has already hired one trainer and plans on bringing on perhaps two more, Mills said. The center won't offer class-based fitness programs, but instead will focus on attracting people who want the flexibility of being able to work out when it is convenient. While there may not be staff on hand 24 hours, the company promises "state of the art security" to its members.

Consignment auto dealer

David Kinder, formerly of Wieser Honda in Cape Girardeau and now employed as a training consultant for Chrysler dealers, has opened a consignment car sales dealership on Sappington Drive in Jackson behind Buchheit's.

Kinder said he's ready to help sell any car at any price. "In the month of November we sold an H2 Hummer in the $30,000 range all the way down to a $1,000 1988 Honda," he said.

Kinder will offer appraisal and inspection service and handle the marketing through newspaper and Internet ads for a cut of the sales price. Sellers can leave their car on the lot or keep driving it, making it available for inspection when a customer is interested.

"We answer and screen the calls that come in, work with prospective buyers and we handle all the necessary paperwork," Kinder said. The seller, he said, only has to cash the check.

New spa opens on Kingshighway

Monica McLain, a licensed massage therapist, has opened a spa at 1301 N. Kingshighway called Time Well Spent where she is offering treatments that include Swedish, deep tissue and hot stone massages as well as other options.

A Cape Girardeau native, McLain has held her massage therapist license for 4 1/2 years, and began her business after gaining experience at HealthPoint Plaza.

"I have always had that goal to grow, and I felt like the time is right and everything fell into place," she said.

Working alongside two other licensed therapists, Kim Watkins and Angela Jines, McLain accepts walk-ins and appointments. There are no set hours for Time Well Spent, but McLain said someone is usually there from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If the doors are locked, she said, there's information on the door about making an appointment.

Dollar General opens

BERNIE, Mo. -- Dollar General recently opened a new store in Bernie, Mo. Its opening was noted with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Debbie Smith is the manager.

Room to grow

Van Matre Buick, the auto dealership owned by Mark Van Matre and partners at 511 S. Kingshighway, took over Cape GMC Pontiac earlier this year. Now the dealership is revamping its service department, constructing a new building to consolidate the body shop operation and expanding mechanical service to 10 bays, sales manager Mitch Mayberry said.

Van Matre also acquired the Cadillac franchise for Cape Girardeau on Jan. 2 from Crown Cadillac, owned by accountant Gary Stanley and partners.

According to the building permit issued by Cape Girardeau, the 7,000 square-foot expansion being built by Boulder Construction Co. of Cape Girardeau is estimated to be worth $240,000.

The construction will add a new paint booth with up-to-date technology, shift four body shop bays and prepare the dealership for additional expansion opportunities, Mayberry said.

Theaters for sale

Wehrenberg Theatres, operators of the Cape West 14 Cine and 14 other cinema multiplexes throughout the Midwest, is looking at the potential for finding a buyer for the 101-year-old chain, said Kelly Hoskins, marketing director for the chain.

The move to find a buyer, first reported in the St. Louis Business Journal, was announced to the privately held theater chain's 800 employees Nov. 28, Hoskins said.

The theater industry is consolidating, she said, and the cost of upgrading screens to digital projection from film projectors is a major investment. None of the 14 screens in Cape Girardeau use digital technology, which allows for the showing of sporting events and concerts, among other innovative uses for movie theaters.

Consolidation of the movie theater business has been going on for a long time, and Wehrenberg is one of the last family-owned chains. The current chief executive officer, Ron Krueger Sr., and president, Ron Krueger Jr., are the third and fourth generations of the family to operate the business.

Meanwhile, it will be business as usual in Cape Girardeau and for the chain as a whole, Hoskins said.

Campground changes hands

The KOA Campground in Perryville, Mo., is now owned by Kyle McDowell, owner of McDowell South in Jackson. He took over the operation Oct. 1 and plans to add trailer and RV sales to the business.

Mortgage company opens

DEXTER, Mo. -- St. Charles Mortgage Company LLC has opened a facility at 88 Specialty Drive in Dexter. St. Charles Mortgage Company is a full service mortgage broker offering services in every area of lending from purchase to refinance to construction lending.

New salon opens in Dexter

DEXTER, Mo. -- Salon Bella on Stoddard Street in Dexter recently held its grand opening. It acknowledged the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Rose Bed Inn is stretching out

The Rose Bed Inn, the bed-and-breakfast opened by Eldon Nattier and James Coley just seven short years ago at 611 S. Sprigg St., is continuing to add services and offerings.

The latest addition is an eight-passenger white Lincoln limousine for customers of their evening dining room or overnight rooms. "We will take them down to the River Campus, take them to their show and bring them back for after-dinner cordials and dessert," Nattier said. "They don't have to find a parking spot and they don't have to walk."

Nattier, who has a chauffeur's license, will do the driving. The limo service won't just be for the quick jump to the River Campus. The pair also run a wedding service, and the limousine is insured for trips anywhere in Missouri, he said.

They have also opened a kitchen store, which is open by reservation, for those looking to find the gadget or kitchen tool that they can't seem to find elsewhere.

The Rose Bed began with three sleeping rooms in 2001. The partners now own every house on their block save one, and have 14 guest rooms, a full-service commercial kitchen, a seven-day liquor license and an event coordinator.

Bank branch receives trophy

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Southern Missouri Bank has announced that the Sikeston branch was the winner of the Traveling Trophy award for 2007. Sikeston was awarded the trophy for their outstanding performance over the past year.

Greg Steffens, president of Southern Missouri Bank, said "We are proud to recognize Terry Williams, Tera Kelley and all of their staff with the Traveling Trophy award. The Sikeston staff has developed a reputation for their hard work and dedication to their customers, the community and the company. They offer excellent service and are continually welcoming new customers."

The Traveling Trophy is awarded to the branch that had outstanding operational achievements for the year. These achievements include deposit growth, expanding their customer base and exceptional employee performance. Southern Missouri Bank is a publicly traded corporation with banks in Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Doniphan, Kennett, Sikeston, Van Buren and Qulin, Mo.

Cell phone business opens

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., -- Cell Phone Solutions has opened at 205 N. Westwood Blvd. The company offers prepaid plans and sells an assortment of new and refurbished phones. Jonathan Lemons is the manager.

River Nick's out; Arts Council may be in

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is apparently moving into River Nick's, the restaurant and bar at 1 N. Main St. that spans the entire block between Spanish Street and Main Street along Independence Street. River Nick's had recently cut back its weekday hours, and there is a sign on the door announcing it is closed and that the arts council will be moving in.

Arts Council director Delilah Tayloe said negotiations are ongoing, and nothing is settled yet.

Allstate Insurance Company opens new agency in downtown Sikeston

SIKESTON -- Allstate Insurance Co. has announced the opening of a new agency. Operated by agent Edward Wright, it is located at 107 W. Center St., Suite B. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. "My staff and I are excited about opening for business," said Wright. "This will be a full-service insurance agency, offering a complete line of insurance products and services including traditional life insurance. I am committed to providing extraordinary customer service." He noted that customers will be able to receive service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by calling his office number, (573) 472-5900. The agency will sell auto, property and life insurance. In addition, agency staff members will offer guidance and counseling about those products, helping customers choose what insurance coverages best meet their needs.