Ray's of Kelso to close, then reopen under new ownership

Ray’s of Kelso is scheduled to close and reopen under new ownership next month as a new restaurant called Kelso Corner Grill.

New owner David Turner said Wednesday he plans to run the restaurant in Kelso, Missouri, with his wife, Sara, and their children.

“It’ll be a family-owned and operated business,” he said.

Although the look of the restaurant may change, the menu will continue to feature much of the same items, Turner said.

“We’re going to retain the chef from Ray’s,” he said. “So we’ll have the steaks and the pizzas, but we’ll also be cooking some of the food that I know: catfish, fresh burgers, wings, things like that.”

Turner has operated City Limits Grill in Charleston, Missouri, for about the past two decades.

Greg Rich, general manager at Ray’s of Kelso, said the restaurant hasn’t been the same since his father, Ray Ressel, retired last year.

“I think our talents are better suited to doing the catering with Ray not being there,” he said. “It’s a restaurant founded on Ray, so moreso we’d like to focus on catering and the banquet center.”

Rich said his family will continue to own and operate Ray’s Plaza Banquet Center in Cape Girardeau and catering service.

The Kelso sale was beneficial to both parties, Rich said. He also said the family has not ruled out possibly of starting another Ray’s restaurant in Cape Girardeau.

“I want to stress that no changes will be made in regards to Ray’s Banquet Center or catering,” he said.

Ray’s of Kelso will be open through Feb. 25 and is expected to conduct a soft reopening in mid-March, Turner said.

“We are saddened and excited about the changes to come to the restaurant in Kelso,” Rich said.

“I just hope to do my best and make people happy,” Turner said.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

151 Messmer St., Kelso, Mo.

3257 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.