Man floats Bar-ge & Grill concept downriver to Thebes; village board to vote on it today

THEBES, Ill. -- The Thebes village board is expected tonight to finalize a lease with the owner of a floating bar and grill on the Mississippi River, an idea rejected in Cape Girardeau.

Village leaders hope the 30-by-90 foot barge will provide an economic boost to the community of about 550 that has seen businesses come and go.

"We want to bring people into Thebes but don't have a lot of money to do so," said village Treasurer Lindsey Jones. "This will let people know that Thebes is on the map. There is nothing like it around here."

If the 10-year lease is signed during today's meeting at 6 p.m. inside Thebes Village Hall, the path would become clearer for owner Neal Day to open the barge along the riverfront near the village campground. Just as he previously did when he proposed having the barge docked alongside Cape Girardeau's riverfront, the barge would be called Grady's Bar-ge & Grill.

Day estimates he'll employ between six and eight workers, with some of those employees being seasonal and from Thebes and Alexander County. The food will include catfish, chicken and barbecue.

The barge will receive a fresh coat of paint, new furniture and carpet before the restaurant opens in April, Day said. A grand opening is planned for the Memorial Day weekend.

Day first purchased the barge in 2005 in United States Bankruptcy Court in Belleville, Ill. The barge was previously the Anastasia, part of an excursion boating operation that went out of business.

Day hoped to dock the boat alongside the riverfront but Cape Girardeau city officials turned down the idea on three separate occasions, twice in 2006 and again in 2007. At the time city officials said the boat would interfere with future dockings of other tourist boats.

Day said he hoped to bring the barge to Cape Girardeau, which he thinks could benefit greatly from tourism prospects.

"When I proceeded to come to Cape to ask for a spot on the river to bring this thing, it fell on deaf ears," Day said. "Thebes is going to greatly benefit from this. Cape Girardeau has once again missed the boat."

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson said the city would one day like to have a similar project alongside the riverfront.

"While there are numerous challenges that exist, mostly related to the changing stages of the river as well as the current, I do believe some type of floating attraction would solidify the riverfront experience," Knudtson said. "We have made great strides to improve the riverfront and I would hope that someday the right project will evolve."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

413 6th Street, Thebes, IL,