EMPTY BUILDINGS OFFER ROOM TO GROW

Need about 2,500 square feet? How about 105,000? Or 260,000?

It's out there, and it's available.

Going into the new year, well over a half million square feet of space under roof could be found, indicating there's plenty of space for expansion of industry and new business in the Cape Girardeau area.

Available space ranges from a small storefront to a 35,000 square-foot office/warehouse to a huge warehouse/distribution center complete with several docks and a drive-in entrance to the building.

While some might see the empty buildings as a sad sign of the times, others see those spaces as potential moneymakers for the area.

"Having buildings for new prospects and expansion businesses is a big selling point for an area," said Mitch Robinson executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association. "About 70 percent of the prospects who contact us want to talk about available space first. Industries look for different things. Some have need for special height requirements, some want dock doors and all want a building they can get into quickly."

Speculation buildings can be an asset in attracting new industrial prospects. Says Robinson, "It helps economic development efforts."

Though none is available in the immediate area now, over the past few years spec buildings in Nash Road Industrial Park Cape West Industrial Park and Jackson Industrial Park have been filled with new or expanding businesses.

Industry magnet

Cape Girardeau seems to be a hot location for industries.

There may not be one compelling reason for a company to come to Southeast Missouri. There are many.

To start with it has a strategic location.

Cape Girardeau's location in the heart of the United States is ideal, giving firms quick access to national and international markets, Robinson said. And its location along the Mississippi River offers river, rail, air and ground transportation.

"Our area is one of the fastest growing commercial centers in the region and people are looking for retail industrial and manufacturing sites," said Tom Kelsey of Lorimont Place LTD., a real estate operation. "They're looking for two things: availability of land or existing buildings and the work force," said Kelsey.

Robinson said the Cape Girardeau area offers an outstanding, well-educated work force with an excellent work ethic. "Workers here are 10 percent more productive than the U.S. average," said Robinson.

In fact, Missouri ranks 13th in the nation in number of higher education institutions and the Southeast Missouri area offers Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girdeau and Three Rivers Junior College at Poplar Bluff. Within an hour's drive across the Mississippi River are Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and half that distance Shawnee Community College near Ullin Ill.

What's available

For the large industrial prospect there is the SuperValu Distribution center at Scott City.

This structure offers a total of 260,000 square feet with 13,685 in office space. It's served by spur track of Union Pacific Railroad.

"It's available for sale or lease," said Robinson.

The former Tri-Con manufacturing plant offers just over 100,000 square feet and has 8 loading dock-truck doors.

A 58,368 square foot building at 254 Silver Springs Road has served as quarters for two different grocery outlets Shop n Save and Mr. K's.

Other available spaces include the old Moon Distribution/Recycling Center in Nash Road Industrial Park with 34,293 square feet; the Bunny Bread Building at 310 Christine St. in Cape Girardeau with almost 45,000 square feet and a 41,300 square foot building near the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

A large retail space will become available in Westfield Shopping Center soon. Shopko which has More than 80,000 square feet at the shopping center will be moving out.

That space could be expanded, said mall manager Jim Govro. A former four-screen movie theater contains 16,000 square feet which could be absorbed to shove the total to 96,710 square feet.

There's more. The old Jim Wilson buildings at 2100 Themis area available following the move of that company to giant new warehouse on Southern Expressway in Cape Girardeau.