Cape's west side gets Contract Postal Unit

U.S. Postal Service officials have announced the addition of a Contract Postal Unit to provide postal services to customers on the west side of Cape Girardeau. It will open Wednesday at the First State Community Bank, 2527 William St. The center is scheduled to operate 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"We're very pleased that First State Community Bank is teaming up with the Postal Service to offer our customers greater convenience," said Robert Fleming, Cape Girardeau postmaster.

This is the second Contract Postal Unit to open in Cape Girardeau. The other is at 920 N. Kingshighway.

The unit will be able to conduct the same business as the main post office at 320 N. Frederick St., with the exception of money orders.

"This will make it even easier for our customers who live near or shop around the west side of town," said Cape Girardeau manager of customer service Daniel Strauss. "I believe our customers will find this very exceptional, and we're excited to offer this to them."

Wednesday's grand opening celebration will include a 2 p.m. ribbon cutting and a cookout by bank and USPS employees, who will offer free grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks between 1 and 4 p.m.

n Qdoba update: My colleague Rudi Keller reported June 6 that longtime Cape Girardeau automobile dealer Jerry Wieser was going into partnership with his son, Keith Wieser, and son-in-law, Richard Davidson, with the aim of opening four Qdoba Mexican Grill locations in the next three years. Last week Davidson updated me on their progress.

Davidson expects the first of four Qdobas to open by early-to-mid March. The partners are finalizing a lease on the Cape Girardeau location. There may be an announcement on the location in the west part of town in the next two weeks. After Cape Girardeau, the partners plan to open one Qdoba in Paducah, Ky., and two in Southern Illinois.

I hear it's a pretty popular restaurant. Since the first Qdoba opened in Denver 13 years ago, the franchise has grown to about 440 locations. And Davidson is excited about what the future holds for his four Qdobas.

"This franchise is really growing up all across the U.S.," Davidson said. "We felt like this was something that was needed here for our community to enjoy."

n Sikeston's Drury Inn and Suites to open by January: Since moving to Cape Girardeau in late May I've traveled to Sikeston, Mo., a few times to enjoy one of its restaurants: Lambert's Cafe, famous for its throwed rolls. While there I've noticed some construction taking place on a new Drury Inn and Suites in the town. Company vice president of development Joe Pereles told me the company expects to open its newest hotel in Sikeston by January.

The new five-story, 155-room hotel will join two existing Drury hotels, the Pear Tree Inn and the Drury Inn. Once Drury Inn and Suites is finished, the Pear Tree Inn's name will change to Thrifty Inn and the Drury Inn to Pear Tree Inn.

"It'll be a new product for those traveling on Interstate 55 who want to spend a relaxing evening here," Pereles said. "Since our last hotel was built in 1995, this newest edition will be something the entire community can be proud of."

n Party-planning business in Cape Girardeau to open Nov. 1: A month ago Misty Griffin and Joni Walters were discussing their desire to plan events. That conversation developed into an idea to open a party-planning business in Cape Girardeau.

Their dream will become reality Nov. 1, when Trendy Spot boutique and event planning is scheduled to open at 2031 Cape LaCroix Drive, Suite C. The business will have a women's spa and party room that will host such events as Christmas celebrations, wedding showers and children's parties. Trendy Spot will also carry maternity and children's clothing and items such as organic lotions and heartburn tea for pregnant women.

Business hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and during events. The business can be reached at 335-7800.

"We're booking events like crazy and having lots of interest from the community," Griffin said. "And to think it's happened in just a matter of a few weeks."

n Marble Hill hardware store closing; space to be occupied by another retail business: After 32 years in business, Fetterhoff's True Value Hardware store in Marble Hill, Mo., is closing. Owner Bill Fetterhoff said he and his wife, Carol, made the decision so they could retire.

The closing date is not final, though Fetterhoff said it most likely will be near the end of the year. While the name of the new business could not be released, Fetterhoff said the company will sell similar products as his hardware store.

"We're happy about it," he said. "We're not having to do this because of financial or health reasons but because of the opportunity that presents itself. My wife and I are looking forward to retirement."

n Artisan Contracting forms partnership to promote safety of mining industry: Cape Girardeau-based Artisan Contracting Inc., an affiliate of Bloomsdale Excavating Co. Inc., and Edward Lopez, South Central District manager with the Mine Safety and Health Administration, have formed a partnership to promote safety and health in the mining industry. Artisan is the second independent contractor in the United States to form such an alliance. The partnership allows both groups to continue developing safe practices to prevent accidents and incidents in the mining industry in Missouri and throughout the United States.

"Artisan Contracting is very excited at the opportunity to participate in a partnership focused on increasing the overall safety for our workers," said president Larry Frankum.

Business reporter Brian Blackwell can be reached at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.