CATFISH CASTLE BOASTS VARIETY ON MENU AT NEW RESTAURANT

Catfish Castle opened at 2145 Independence Monday.

The restaurant features a variety of menu entrees, including catfish, steaks, chicken and seafood.

"We looked at a number of communities before selecting Cape Girardeau for our restaurant," said Gary Bass, an owner.

Bass and his brother-in-law, Ron Gobin, have been in the restaurant business six years.

"I have another restaurant at Forest City, Ark.," said Bass. "Gobin has restaurants at Marion, Ill., and Columbia, Tenn."

The Cape Girardeau restaurant is being operated by Bass; his wife, Rhonda Bass; Gobin; and his wife, Juanetta Gobin. It is open six days a week and can seat about 240 people. The restaurant also has banquet facilities.

Catfish Castle is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.

The restaurant occupies the site of the former Pagoda Gardens Chinese Restaurant, which relocated to 329 S. Kingshighway. The building more recently was used as a retail boat and accessories sales company.

Thomas L. Meyer Real Estate and Insurance Co. arranged the transaction for the 8,000-square-foot building.

"We had some help from Judy Moss on this one," said Thomas Meyer. "She knew this building was empty and had previously been used as a restaurant. She directed the Catfish Castle folks to us."

Moss served as economic developer in Cape Girardeau three years.