MR. K's FOOD CENTER OPENS HERE

Bob Schade had company last weekend.

Schade's parents, Bill and Connie Schade, a brother, Tim Schade, and his brother's fiance, Andrea Pescaglia, were all on hand for the ribbon cutting of the new Mr. K's Food Center, a family-owned supermarket.

Also on hand for the opening of the 60,000-square-foot supermarket were Bob Schade's wife, Windy, and the couple's 22-month-old daughter, Courtney Schade.

Mr. K's Food Center opened at 254 S. Silver Spring Road in Cape Girardeau Sunday.

Mr. K's, a family supermarket operation with two stores in Pekin, Ill., is the largest supermarket in Cape Girardeau.

The full-service supermarket is operated by Bob Schade, in the former Shop 'n Save supermarket.

"We've been working at the store the past few months, in preparations for the opening," said Schade.

"We were ready to open," said Schade. "It's taken a while, but I think it will be worth the wait."

The doors opened Sunday, and will remain open 24 hours a day.

"We don't have a video department or a pharmacy," said Schade, grandson of the company's founder. "We will have a deli, bakery, special 'service' meat department and a full line of other grocery items."

SuperValu, with facilities at Scott City, owns the property and will be Mr. K's distributor.

The new store will employ about 100 people, said Schade, who has been in the family business for four years.

"I think people will find the new store a good place to shop," he said.

The store will be supplied primarily from the Scott City SuperValu distribution center, with some supplementary variety products coming from the St. Louis distribution center.

SuperValu is one of the nation's largest food wholesalers, providing products to 4,350 independent grocery stores in 47 states.

Mr. K's Food Center was founded more than 50 years at Pekin by Wilber Korsmeyer. Involved in the family operation are Korsmeyer's daughter, Connie, and her husband, Bill Schade; Bob Schade and his brother, Tim Schade, who recently joined the group.