Drury Southwest purchases former Bob Evans building, searching for tenant

The former Bob Evans restaurant building has a new owner — one now on the hunt for a tenant.

Adrienne Henry, who handles commercial leasing for Drury Southwest Inc., confirmed the company’s purchase of the building just south of the Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center construction site.

It has been vacant since April, when the restaurant was boarded up and closed with little notice given to employees. The sale became final last week.

Drury Southwest is seeking a tenant for the building.

“We’re shopping it around,” Henry said.

In October, before the sale was final, Drury Southwest president Dennis Vollink said it hoped to replace Bob Evans with another restaurant.

“It’s a great location,” Vollink said.

Henry said Drury Southwest is focusing on finding a tenant that will fit the space available.

“It’s a larger restaurant, so we’re narrowing down who would be a good addition to Cape that we don’t already have,” Henry said.

The company is open, she said, to all potential tenants, including local restaurants and national chains. She said Drury Southwest staff are excited about the possibilities.

“Anytime we have the opportunity to bring something new to Cape,” Henry said, “it’s always exciting.”

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

156 Vantage Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.