Cape looking closely at business licenses that haven't been renewed

The city of Cape Girardeau is cracking down on businesses operating without a city business license.

City officials have identified 19 businesses currently operating without a license and are working with the police department to ensure the businesses are closed.

Ten additional businesses have until July 26 to obtain a valid business license or face closure.

The businesses all received a renewal form from the city in December that stated licenses must be renewed by Jan. 31, said Heather Brooks, assistant city manager. The city issued a second notice Feb. 28 to businesses that still had not renewed their license. Then in May, the city attorney's office sent a third warning that businesses needed to renew their city license.

"Police are now working with us to ensure the businesses are closed. It may be that some of these businesses have moved or closed shop, but we need to be notified of that. Unfortunately, some on the list may still be operating," Brooks said.

Businesses that have been or will be closed due to not having a valid business license are:

Data Investments, A-1 Lawn & Garden, All in One Cleaning & Maintenance LLC, C&E Cleaning Service, Cape City Maps, Davis Power Washing, Heartland Window Treatments, Knowles Gifts, Lamouria Landscape, Logical Time Solutions, Mackey Client Protection of Missouri, Mack's Power Cleaning, One Stop Exhaust, River City Cleaning, the Gloss Boss LLC, Ya Choicer, The All Good Grill, Synergy Performance and Sportsman's Trail.

Businesses that have until July 26 to contact the city and renew their license are:

EClips School of Cosmetology & Barbering, Memories of the Heart, Cornerstone Countertops Inc., Sun & Tan, Builders Unlimited, Spectrum Transformer, Kitchen Automotive, House of Hair, Sine Em Up Auto Detail and Riverfront Auto Sales.

Brooks said the latter group did not receive the third warning from the city attorney when the others did. The warning was sent later and the businesses given 10 days to respond.

In order to obtain a business licenses, all businesses subject to sales tax must present a copy of their Missouri retail sales

license to the city. License fees vary depending on the type of business, starting around $25. Hotels are subject to a license tax of 4 percent of gross receipts, and restaurant licenses are subject to a license tax of 1 percent of gross receipts,

This week, Cape Girardeau police officers have gone to several businesses to inform the owners that they must close until they obtain a valid city license.

"A lot of times it's just notification such as posting a notice on the door. Our goal is to get these businesses get in compliance. We're just trying to help encourage that," officer Darin Hickey said.

Operating without a license is not an arrestable offense, but in some instances, officers could issue a summons if the business has been out of compliance for a long time.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO