Owner making repairs to N'Orleans building to facilitate sale

The company that owns the former Royal N'Orleans building at 300 Broadway has invested in making the 15,000 square-foot structure sound and ready for occupancy, but the individuals behind Culinary Arts Specialties LLC, which purchased the building three years ago, remain anonymous.

Cynthia Austin of Realty Executives Commercial Realty said the owners have invested a "substantial" amount in cleaning and repairing the building, including this week using a crane to lift and fix a column on the structure's northwest corner. They intend to sell the building, including fixtures, furniture and restaurant equipment, "down to the wineglasses and coffee cups," Austin said. The former Royal N'Orleans has been "brought back to a condition where it would be very simple for someone to come in and set up shop," she said.

Austin said she was under contract not to reveal any details regarding ownership. She handled the transaction three years ago and then re-listed it for the buyer. An online real estate advertisement for the property shows an asking price of $650,000.

Culinary Arts Specialties LLC bought the building in April 2010. The administrative agent for the limited liability company is R. Michael Howard, a lawyer with The Limbaugh Firm in Cape Girardeau. A message left with Howard late Wednesday wasn't returned.

The former manager of the LLC, Jim Maurer of Cape Girardeau, said he no longer has any affiliation with the company or the building. It was previously owned by John and Jerrianne Wyman.

The brick structure was built in 1868 and has served as an opera house, meeting place for German immigrants, Masonic temple, grocery store and production facility for the Daily Republican, which later became the Southeast Missourian.

The property will be the reception area for Old Town Cape's downtown commercial open house tour from 4 to 7 p.m. April 18, and will be open to the public.

The last business to operate there, the Royal N'Orleans, closed in June 2009 amid reports of tax problems for the restaurant's operator.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

300 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.