Town Plaza redevelopment project to give boot to bar, two other businesses; bar owner in 'tight spot'

A midtown, Cape Girardeau bar is being given the boot along with two other businesses because the building in which they are housed will be razed as part of a Town Plaza redevelopment plan.

Will Rhymer, owner of Rhymer's on the Plaza, said he will have to move out by July 1.

"I am in a tight spot right now," Rhymer said. "I have three months to decide where I can go."

Mayor Harry Rediger, whose term ends Friday, expressed sympathy for Rhymer's predicament. "We are all very interested in maintaining good businesses," he said.

Two other businesses in the building -- the Garden Gate home decor store and Hand Bags and More -- are relocating. Garden Gate is moving to West Park Mall while the Hand Bags store is relocating to another building in the Town Plaza redevelopment area.

Concluding the longtime Cape Girardeau shopping area along Independence Street is blighted -- a view not shared by Rhymer -- the Cape Girardeau City Council approved financial incentives last month for a local businessman to redevelop the site and create a "family entertainment hub."

The council authorized creation of the tax-levying Cape Dogwood Community Improvement District and approved property tax abatement for the 10-acre site in the Town Plaza area, southwest of the intersection of Independence Street and Sheridan Drive.

Anand Patel, president of Cape Dogwood Redevelopment Corp., recently purchased the property. Patel requested the financial incentives to move ahead with the development, which is expected to be completed in two phases over the next several years.

The Cape Dogwood redevelopment plan calls for renovating six of the seven existing commercial buildings. The northern most building on the property, bordering Independence Street, will be demolished.

Patel's development plan states businesses will be offered the opportunity to relocate within the commercial area.

Garden Gate owner Janet Hahs said Patel offered her different space in Town Plaza but it would have required her to spend money to fix it up.

She said she decided she didn't want to deal with Patel as a landlord and would rather move to available space in the mall later this month.

Rhymer said he needs at least 4,000 square feet of space for his business. Rhymer said Patel told him that he had no space that size available for rent.

A voice message left for Patel was not returned by early Thursday evening.

John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, said his organization has sought to help Rhymer find a suitable place to relocate.

Rhymer said a downtown location had been suggested, but his bar customers have indicated they won't patronize a downtown location. "It is not an option for me," he said.

Relocating downtown would make Rhymer's on the Plaza "just another bar," he said. "I would be out of business in a year."

Rhymer contends under state law he should be offered relocation assistance amounting to $3,000 for moving expenses and $10,000 toward "re-establishing" the bar.

"At the end of the day, all I want is a fair shake," he said.

But Mehner said the law applies only in cases of condemnation of properties or when there is a lease still in effect.

Rhymer said he has a lease in place through the end of June. But Mehner, who has had discussions with Patel about the redevelopment project, said Rhymer is not being evicted until after his lease runs out.

Rhymer said Patel has lowered his rent by $1,000 a month, starting two months ago.

He said Patel told him the redevelopment project includes opening two bars, and he was offered to run the bars. Rhymer said he refused the offer.

Rhymer said he wants to continue operating his own bar, a business he has operated for nine years.

But impending eviction has left him frustrated. "I have lost all of that," he said of his business and the improvements he has made, including constructing an addition to the Town Plaza building. "It is gone."

Rhymer said he believes Patel's actions amount to "buying out competition."

Mehner said Patel intends to establish two different bar areas in the former Venue building in the Town Plaza area. It will be similar to a Dave and Buster's, which has a restaurant/bar and arcade games, he said.

Mehner said he understands Rhymer's frustration over having to move. "I know he is upset," Mehner said.

But the chamber president said Rhymer doesn't own the building. "He is just not entitled to anything," Mehner said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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