Specialty shuttle opens next month

Cape Girardeau is about to get a boutique shuttle service.

On Monday, the city council unanimously approved a license for Brad Isaac of Cape Girardeau to operate a limo bus.

Isaac, 34, applied to the city in June for a license to open Superior Shuttle. He'll use a 14-passenger vehicle to take groups to sporting events in St. Louis, winery tours, and birthday and dinner parties. He said he got the idea for the home-based business after attending a bachelor party in Kansas City last year.

"I took the small business course that Southeast Missouri University offered at the Innovation Center," he said. The course required him to identify a plan for estimating costs, scoping out possible competition, planning advertising and employing others. "I'm hoping to eventually get a bigger bus and do bigger trips," he said.

Superior Shuttle is not structured to compete directly with other area transportation companies, he said, such as Bootheel Area Rapid Transport (BART), the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority, Southeast Missouri University's bus system or the Designated Driver shuttle.

BART primarily provides shuttle service between Southeast Missouri cities and Lambert Airport in St. Louis. Southeast Missouri University offers services in and around campus and limited off-campus service to students and staff.

Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority provides public transportation in the county with limited trips to St. Louis. A one-way trip to St. Louis using the transit authority would cost $300, according to dispatcher Amanda Brooks.

Designated Driver is geared toward getting bar patrons home safely.

Isaac's shuttle service is a second job; he works full time at the Slumberland Furniture warehouse.

He said he is in the process of getting fliers and business cards printed for the new company, which officially opens for business next month. He said he plans to hire a part-time driver for the limo, a 1998 Chevrolet he purchased this week from a similar Tennessee-based business.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127