CRACKER BARREL, OTHER BUSINESSES EXPAND INTO REGION

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has confirmed that it is coming to Cape Girardeau.

"There will be a Cracker Barrel restaurant-retail operation at Cape Girardeau," said a spokesman at the firm's Lebanon, Tenn., headquarters. "We have put the job out for bids, and hope to see construction under way in a few weeks."

Cracker Barrel, founded in 1969, had said earlier that it was considering Cape Girardeau. The company now has 125 stores in the group. The Cape Girardeau facility will be located near I-55, behind the Victorian Inn.

Two other chain companies Heilig-Meyers Furniture and Toys R Us also will soon join Cape Girardeau's commercial community. The two firms will share space in the former Wal-Mart building on Silver Springs Road.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has purchased 18.67 acres of property near its Supercenter Store in Cape Girardeau, adding fuel to reports that a Sam's Wholesale Club may be built there.

Among other commercial developments:

Lee-Rowan recently completed another 93,000-square-foot warehouse addition at Jackson.

Heartland Industries Inc. has opened a 43,000-square-foot facility at Marble Hill.

Western Press Inc. has opened a new facility at Flat River.

A total of 19 new business have located in Cape Girardeau County during the second quarter of 1992.

And there's more good news: Sixteen new businesses have located in St. Francois County and a total of 47 new businesses have been reported in a seven-county Southeast Missouri region served by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission headquartered at Perryville.

"Business starts have rebounded during the second quarter in the area," said Ron Steele, regional economic development planner for the commission.

The business scene throughout the area, especially in Cape Girardeau and St. Francois counties, is a busy one, and that's a good economic indicator, said Steele.

"Business starts and expansions during the first quarter of 1992 were down somewhat, but during the second quarter we have seen 45 new businesses in the area and several expansions," said Steele. "Overall, the region experienced an estimated increase of more than 255 new jobs during the April-May-June period."

All the economic news wasn't rosy, however. A total of 12 business closings were reported, with a loss of about 115 jobs.

"But growth is continuing," said Steele, who keeps tabs on business openings and closings in the seven counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Iron, Madison, Perry, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve.

First quarter January-to-March business starts were down, with 31 new-business openings and two closings.

Cape County, which has averaged more than 100 new businesses each of the past two years, is the area leader again in 1992, with 33 new businesses through June, 19 during the second quarter. Cape County is followed by St. Francois, with 24 new businesses during the first half of the year, 16 during the second quarter.

"Most of the new-business starts reported during the second quarter were in retail and service industries," said Steele.

Of the 45 new businesses, 23 were in retail and 19 in service. Three of the new businesses were in manufacturing operations: Heartland Industries, which packages and mails comic books and other publications; JJ Wood at Marquand, which manufactures yard ornaments and children's furniture; and Western Press, headquartered at St. Louis, a printing, warehouse and distributing company that is in the old Wal-Mart building at Flat River.

The largest expansion reported was that of Lee-Rowan at Jackson. It will result in at least 50 new jobs.

New Cape County businesses during the quarter include:

Amy's Fashions, ladies fashions; Wild Card Collectibles, sports cards sales; Peddler's Corner, furniture sales; Catfish Castle, restaurant; Thrifty Shopper, consignment sales; Sonic Drive-In at Jackson, food sales; Cape Vacuum and Sewing Center, vacuum cleaner and sewing machine sales and repair; Gallery St. Avit, artwork sales; Antique Center Mall Inc., antiques and collectibles; The Finishing Touch, auto detailing; Dial-A-Page, radio paging service; Stroder Country, dancing and entertainment; Jay's Beauty Salon, hair styling; Things Remembered, West Park Mall, specialty engraving; Fiddler's Roofing at Friedheim, roofing contractor: Capetown Safari, drive-through animal park; Securitech at Jackson, security system installation; and Home Run Hitter, batting cage practice.

Other new businesses and expansions throughout the seven-county area include:

Iron County: Tendercare Day Care Center, Ironton, child care.

Madison County: Castor Haven Bed & Breakfast, Marquand.

Perry County: Studio on the Square, Perryville, antiques and collectibles.

St. Francois County: Mercantile Mall, Bonne Terre, antiques and crafts; Carpet Gallery Inc., Farmington, carpet sales; Acetylene Gas Co., Farmington, welding supplies; Nutrition Network, Flat River, vitamin sales; Country Peddler Too, Farmington, floral sales; The Convenience Barn, Farmington, food, gas and general merchandise; Images in Print, Farmington, printed business supplies; Crown Equipment, Farmington, outdoor equipment sales; Naomi's Restaurant, Flat River; Columbia Street Mall & Backwoods Boutique, Farmington, antiques, collectibles, crafts; Quick Track Oil Change, Farmington; Blue Diamond Welding, Farmington; Mineral Area Adult Day Care; Medical Arts Clinic, Bonne Terre, medical services; and Little Rascals II, Bonne Terre, licensed child care.

Ste. Genevieve County: Deb's Do Dads, Ste. Genevieve, candy, party supplies; Hoog Heating & Sheet Metal, Ste. Genevieve; Al Agnew Collection, Ste. Genevieve, animal artwork, printed T-shirts; Langeneckert's Plaza Video II, St. Mary, video rentals; and Elpers and Innman PC, Ste. Genevieve, legal services.

Other expansions in the region includes Crader Tire and Retread Services, Jackson, 7,000-square foot addition; Subway, Ozora, expansion to new facility; and additions to four medical service offices.