Menards set to open Cape Girardeau store Tuesday

Cape Girardeau's newest home improvement retailer, Menards, will open Tuesday.

The $8 million store is the largest retailer to open in Cape Girardeau since 2006, when both Kohl's and Sears Grand opened their doors.

Mayor Harry Rediger said he's been eagerly awaiting the store's opening and that the city is looking forward to the additional tax revenue it will bring. Rediger said he didn't have an estimate available of how much revenue the store will bring in.

"Having another major retailer for our city and our region will continue to enhance our position as a regional hub," Rediger said. "It is a major name. It will draw people to that area and our community."

The Menards Mega Store has 162,340 square feet of retail space, a garden center and lumber warehouse.

"Menards is well-known throughout the Midwest for its complete selection of high-quality, name-brand merchandise, tools for any job and state-of-the-art in-store computers to help guests design their special projects," said Jeff Abbott, Menards spokesman. "Menards carries the materials and tools for all of your home improvement projects from just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home."

The store will also carry name-brand appliances, pet products, lawn and garden supplies and even a line of convenience groceries.

The Menards Mega Store in Cape Girardeau will be managed by Brett Griffin, who has been with the company for about 10 years.

Griffin comes to Cape Girardeau from Sterling, Ill., where he also served as Menards general manager.

Employees have been training at the store for the past three weeks and will continue until Tuesday's opening. Griffin declined to say how many employees the store has hired.

"Most of our stocking is done. We're making sure our displays are out and looking good. We're doing some polishing and putting on the finishing touches," Griffin said.

While Tuesday is described as a soft opening for the store, grand opening events are planned toward the end of the month, Griffin said.

He said Menard's service and selection will set it apart from other home improvement retailers.

Rediger said he is hopeful Menards will serve as an anchor and attract other retailers. Work is scheduled to begin this summer on Armstrong Drive, which will run west of Siemers Drive starting behind Menards and extending over to Route K.

City officials hope Armstrong Drive, a $2 million project that was part of the Transportation Trust Fund 3 program, will open the area up for development.

"I really feel we are going to have some additional retail coming now as the economy starts to blossom again," Rediger said.

The Cape Girardeau store is the southernmost location for the Wisconsin-based Menards, which has 267 home improvement stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

535 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO