WEST END MERCHANTS MEET TO FORM WEST END MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION

About 20 merchants on Cape Girardeau's west side gathered Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn to form the West End Merchants Association.

An invitation to attend was extended to the owners of 263 area businesses, primarily those situated west of Kingshighway. Bob Hoppmann, who was elected secretary of the group, said west end merchants wanted more weight in city planning, marketing and other issues.

He said the group was modeled after the Downtown Merchants Association, and the two organizations' bylaws are nearly identical.

There had been talk of organizing a west end group for four or five years, but independent consultant Walt Wildman got things started, inviting merchants to the organizational meeting.

"With all the construction, it was just time to get things together," Treasurer Shirley Talley said. "There is so much going on on this side of town, even the people who are here can't keep up with it."

Talley is with West Park Mall management and Hoppman is with the Pasta House Co. Other officers are President Greg Tobin, a physician, and Vice President Randy Holdman, who is with DSW Development.

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. June 27, at the Holiday Inn. There will be a short program on west end construction.