CONTRACTOR SUPPLY AND HOME CENTER NOW OPEN

Contractor Supply and Home Center opened recently on Highway 74, a mile west of Interstate 55.

"We have four buildings in the supply complex," said Michael Annis of the business, a subsidiary of Michael L. Annis Inc. "We have more than 18,000 square feet of building supplies."

The list of supplies is lengthy, with all types of building materials, including lumber, kitchen cabinets, windows, carpeting, roofing supplies, and a lighting center, said Annis.

Many name-brand items are available, including Therma King doors, Kitchen Kompact cabinets, American windows, Superior aluminum columns, Peerless faucets, Merillat cabinets, and Shuttercraft vinyl shutters.

"We've been working toward this type of operation the past two or three years," said Annis. "During that period we have developed good buying power, which permits us to keep prices in line. We buy by the truckloads."

Michael L. Annis Inc. was founded about 10 years ago, and includes Annis Construction and Excavation Co., the new retail center, and interests in a couple of subdivisions in the Cape Girardeau area.

"We feature several exhibits at the center," said Annis. "People can come in and see various settings for kitchens, bathrooms and stairways. They will know just what they are getting."

Annis said the operation would be geared toward the retail trade.

"Our approach toward the retail market is twofold," said Annis. "We'll sell to the do-it-yourselfer or we'll sell the materials and be available to install them."

Annis said the firm would also offer a free design service for decks and porches.

"We can also help people with home plans, too," said Annis. "We have more than 2,000 plans in our Home Plans Library, and we can use the Computer-Aided Designer (CAD) system plan to customize almost any project."

The business will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.