New restaurant, music venue to open in former Bel-Air building

A new restaurant is coming to downtown Cape Girardeau, offering fresh food, games and live entertainment.

Cathy Thompson, owner of The Library and The Study, seeks to expand her business. The Playground soon will open in the old Bel-Air Bar and Grill building.

With volleyball courts, cornhole toss and a new bandstand planned for later this summer, Thompson hopes to create an environment that promotes socialization while offering a menu of freshly made food.

The building, Thompson said, has been cleaned, painted and updated as needed, and fencing will be put around both sides of the deck to enclose it.

The fencing will allow The Library, The Study and The Playground to be contained together "so it can be one big music venue that way," Thompson said.

Thompson plans to build a new stage for The Playground. It will be on the north side of the property and face away from residences to avoid disturbing neighbors.

Under previous ownership, The Bel-Air Grill came under fire for violating noise ordinances. In 2010, residents in the area complained when outdoor bands played at the Bel Air, claiming the sound of the amplified music was disruptive; citations were issued to the owner.

Thompson expects to have a streamlined operation in The Playground. Servers will take orders on tablets, allowing them to be sent directly to the kitchen and the bar for fast turnaround.

The menu has not been finalized, but Thompson said it will be made fresh daily.

"I have a full-time chef who's been a chef for 15 years," Thompson said. "He has two sous chefs under him."

Thompson is aiming for a June 18 opening, with several soft openings before then, though dates are not finalized. She looks forward to expanding her business and offering her customers a greater variety of food and entertainment.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

24 S Spanish St, Cape Girardeau, MO