K'S MERCHANDISE PLANS MOVE HERE; SAM'S CLUB STILL ON HOLD

The on-again, off-again, Sam's Warehouse is "off-again."

No plans are on the board for a Sam's Club warehouse in Cape Girardeau this year.

It was in September 1992 that Sam's Club officials announced plans to build a 134,000-square-foot warehouse adjacent to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cape West Business Center near the Route K-Siemers Drive intersection.

A year later, the plans were placed on hold, with an expected 1994 start.

Plans are still on hold.

The latest report from the Bentonville, Ark., headquarters of Wal-Mart and Sam's, is that the project isn't on the schedule this year.

"We're still interested in Cape Girardeau," said a public affairs spokesman from Bentonville, "but, there are no plans for 1996."

Meanwhile, two large retail stores have emerged in the Cape West Business Park over the past two years. Lowe's Home Center, a 115,000-square-foot building with a 40,000-square-foot live nursery, greenhouse and garden center opened in early 1994, and Target Store, 97,000-square-foot discount center in early 1995.

Another giant retailer, K's Merchandise, will open operations at Broadview and Bloomfield Road this fall, offering customers a variety of name-brand products in sporting goods, electronics, toys, small appliances and other items.

K's Merchandise, a family-owned retail company based in Decatur, Ill., has purchased the former Central Hardware Building to house the company's 14th store.

The new K's store will be about two blocks south of the American Superstore, a big retailer of electronic, video and other appliances, which opened in 1993. Also opening during that same span of time was Hobby Lobby Creative Center, which offers a complete line of arts and crafts supplies.

Joining the Cape Girardeau retail scene within the past year was a new Dollar General Store at 1142, N. Kingshighway, marking the third store for the Nashville-based chain here. Other Dollar stores currently operate at 20 N. Spanish in downtown Cape Girardeau and at 64 Plaza Way Shopping Center. Also new in 1995 were two large, 20,000-square-foot-plus bookstores -- Barnes & Noble on the perimeter of the West Park Mall and Hastings Book, Music & Video in the Town Plaza Shopping Center.

Remodeling construction is currently under way on the 85,000-square-foot K's Merchandise building.

"We're looking at a September opening," said Don Ouellette, vice president of merchandising. "The new store here will be the largest store in the chain and the first K's Merchandise store in Missouri."

The company will start interviewing for personnel in July. The store will employ more than 100 people.

K's Merchandise was one of nine sealed-auction bidders on the 85,320-square-foot former Central Hardware building. The property was offered for auction with the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

K's Merchandise is a rapidly growing regional retailer.

"We offer the largest product selections available and a complete range of prices on all name-brand merchandise," said Ouellette. K's Merchandise also offers bridal, gift and baby registries.

The new Cape Girardeau K's jewelry department will showcase some of the world's finest diamonds and precious stones, said Ouellette. "We'll have a full-time master jeweler in the store."

K's Merchandise is a family-owned business founded in 1957. K's now has 10 stores in Illinois and three in Iowa. The company also operates eight Eldridge Fine Jewelry Stores in Missouri, Kansas and Florida.

K's Merchandise opened its 13th store late last year in Carbondale's University Mall.