MOVING DAY FOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Today is moving day for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

"We've been packing boxes here for the past two or three weeks," said John Mehner, president of the 1,211-member, 76-year-old chamber, which will move into a new, 4,000 square foot building at 1267 N. Mt. Auburn Road.

"It may take a few days to get everything back in order," said Mehner. "But we'll have plenty of room and parking at the new location."

Day Transfer Co. of Cape Girardeau -- a member of the chamber -- was low bidder to move boxes and furniture from the current location at 601 N. Kingshighway.

"The facility at its present location has served the chamber well," said Mehner. "But, we're anxious to get into our new building."

The new facility will be showcased next month, noted Mehner. ""We're planning a ribbon-cutting and open house in late June."

The new location is only the fourth for the chamber since it was officially founded in 1920. The chamber met in the Elks Building its first eight years of existence before settling in at 225 Broadway in 1928, where it remained until 1974, when it moved to the N. Kingshighway site. Although the chamber was founded in 1920, the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club was in existence three years earlier, in 1917. The Commercial Club had fewer than 100 members before evolving into the chamber.

The idea of a new chamber headquarters facility emerged in 1992 during the chamber's annual retreat. Chamber officials cited a need for additional space and more parking.

But it wasn't until late 1994, following the sale of the present building, that serious planning started for a new building.

Property, eight-tenths of an acre with 150-foot frontage, was purchased in mid-1995. Bid documents were ready by September. Only chamber members were eligible to bid on construction of the building.

Kiefner Brothers Inc. was contractor for the new headquarters, and Tom Holshouser was the architect.