POPULAR CITY GATHERING SPOT COMES DOWN

Les Lindy Jr. wanted a small piece of history from the old Airline Lounge.

He got it.

Lindy, owner of Lucky Find Antiques at Gordonville, purchased at a recent auction the almost half-century-old, lighted, revolving, 4-foot world globe that stood high atop the structure.

"It'll cost a lot more to get it down than I paid for it," Lindy said Friday.

The globe and the Golden Dragon Restaurant sign was all that remained on the site at 217 N. Kingshighway late Friday.

Lindy was on hand Friday as a piece of mid-century history crumbled as Eagle Excavation demolished the building.

The Golden Dragon, also known as the Airline and the Grogg Shop, was demolished to make room for a bank. Also on hand for the demolition was Robert Meyer of Dexter, an officer for the proposed new Alliance Bank, which has filed application for entry into the local market.

"We're looking to install a modular bank building here," said Meyer. He said the building could be in place within 60 days.

Early recorded history of the Airline building, which was outside the city limits at the time, is sketchy. But it dates back to the 1930s or earlier, when it was the Airline Cafe and Motel, later becoming the Airline Lounge.

A spectator at the demolition site Friday said it was named Airline because at one time a small airstrip was located at the site.

The Airline building was heavily damaged during the 1949 tornado that swept a path through the city. The Airline was rebuilt as the Airline Club, featuring a snappy sign and the 4-foot world globe.

The Airline was one of the first nightclubs in Cape Girardeau. It featured a number of bands that would stop by on trips between Memphis and St. Louis.

Some top musical groups played at the Airline during its hey-day as the Airline Lounge, especially during the rock 'n' roll era of the 1960s.

"It is not known when the building was the Grogg Shop, but lettering of the shop was found on some of the front windows that had long been hidden by the newer outside walls.

The Airline became the Golden Dragon Restaurant during the late 1960s, and continued to operate as a Chinese restaurant under a number of owners until it closed earlier this year.