NEWS OF CLOSING SURPRISES BUSINESSES IN NEIGHBORHOOD

The announcement that Schnucks will close its midtown location later this month came as a surprise to many area businesses late Monday.

The closing represents a big blow to the neighborhood, said Dennis Meyer, owner of Meyer Supply Co. He heads up the Haarig Area Development Association.

The store has played an integral part of the neighborhood for many years, he said.

"We hate to lose it," said Meyer. "We already lost the bank facility."

In mid-June, the former Boatmen's Bank in downtown Cape Girardeau closed its doors. The bank had been a downtown banking landmark since the mid-1950s.

Ted Coalter of Heartland Insurance Agency was a little shocked by the announcement. His business operates at 207 S. Sprigg, just a block south of Schnucks Midtown.

"It will put a hardship on people who live in that area," he said. "I happen to know a lot of people walk to and from the store."

"I'm shocked," said Greg Hahs, owner of Heartland Antiques. His business operates just across the street from the grocery store.

He sees a lot of foot traffic to the store.

"I see them walking by and see them going the other way carrying their groceries," said Hahs.

He also notices a large number of Illinois license plates in the parking lot.

"The store offers easy access to traffic across the river," Hahs said. "I'd bet Southern Illinois customers are probably 60 percent of their business."

He said the closing won't hurt his business since most of his customers are from out of town.

But Hahs said he personally shops at the store and will miss the convenience.

Meyer said the closing might present another opportunity for someone else to open a grocery in that location or elsewhere in the area.

"I'm really surprised they are closing," Meyer said. "It's hard to say why sales declined. There were a few negative things that happened in the parking lot the past few years."

Two daylight robberies occurred just a week apart on the parking lot in June 1996. In the first case, an elderly woman was pistol-whipped. Two men were arrested.

John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, said the decision was tough for Schnucks.

"I know they've tried very hard in the last year to make it work, but it had to be a business decision," said Mehner.

"Obviously, I -- like the rest of the town -- would like to have a grocery store open in that area," he said. "It's frustrating to lose a neighborhood grocery store."

He pointed to the opening in the last six months of Sam's Club, which sells groceries. "I'm not saying there is a direct correlation, but you have to wonder where the people are shopping if sales have continued to decline," said Mehner.

If the new Cape Girardeau public elementary school is built near the corner of Sprigg Street and Bertling in the coming years, Mehner said that may spur additional development in the south part of town.

Mehner was happy to learn that Schnucks would offer all 56 Midtown employees jobs at either the Kingshighway store or at Schnucks' new store in Carbondale, Ill., which opens next month.

Schnucks Midtown is not considered part of the downtown area, but Judith Anne Ventrella, president of the Downtown Merchants, said they will miss the store.

She believes many people heading downtown to shop would stop off at Schnucks Midtown. But she doesn't feel the closing will have a real impact on the downtown merchants.

It's a shame that neighborhood stores are almost becoming a thing of the past, she said.

"That's what we really try to promote downtown -- neighborhood stores that are owned by families and not chains," she said. "Maybe it will spawn the opening of some smaller stores."

STORE TIMELINE

The closing July 26 of Schnucks Cape Midtown supermarket will end more than 38 years of retail food sales at 121 S. Sprigg.

* 1959 -- National Food Market opens 12,600-square-foot grocery store at William and Sprigg.

* 1969 -- National expands to 22,600 square feet.

* 1977 -- Construction starts on expanded National supermarket just north of the building.

* 1978 -- 33,000-square-foot National supermarket, with 170-car parking lot, opens.

* 1995 -- Schnucks Markets Inc. purchases Del-Farm National chain from Loblaw Companies Ltd. of Toronto, Canada.

* July 7, 1997 -- Schnucks announces plans to close Cape Midtown store on July 26, 1997.