Comfort Suites opens in Jackson

Nearly a year and a half after ground was broken, Comfort Suites in Jackson has opened.

Construction of the 64-room hotel at 2904 Old Orchard Road began in 2007. It is part of the Choice Hotels chain, which includes 10 brand-name lodging groups, including Quality Inn, Econo Lodge, Sleep Inn and Clarion.

Mike Monchino of Monchino Management in Southern Illinois was contacted by owners Manny and Pete Patel a few months ago with a request to manage the all-suite hotel. Comfort Suites has amenities including a hot tub, fitness center, a full breakfast, wireless high-speed Internet access, local calls and weekday newspaper. Monchino said rates are between $89 and $99.

For more information, visit comfortsuites.com or call 204-0014.

n Mediterranean on Broadway remodels, expands menu: After being closed for two months, a Mediterranean restaurant at 411 Broadway has reopened, and the owner says it's better than ever. Sam Alsmadi reopened Mediterranean on Feb. 23 with an expanded menu and new kitchen.

The restaurant now offers pasta and muhammara, a dip made of roasted red peppers, pomegranate molasses and walnuts. He also has added kabobs during the evening hours (they aren't offered on the lunch menu because they take nearly 45 minutes to make). Alsmadi's rebuilt kitchen includes an 11-foot hood, griddle and fryer. Alsmadi hopes to add specials to the menu soon.

The hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for supper Monday through Saturday.

"I'm beyond excited," Alsmadi said. "This is my dream come true. I now have a full kitchen to serve more real authentic Mediterranean food."

n Meeker opening sixth Subway in Cape Girardeau-Jackson area: Subway continues its expansion in Cape Girardeau and Jackson when Jeremy Meeker opens his sixth sandwich shop Tuesday. The new Subway, at 1812 Carondalet Ave., Suite 103, in Cape Girardeau, will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. The new location may be reached at 335-8600.

It will be the second tenant at the 1812 Carondalet Ave. shopping center. Late last year Beef O'Brady's opened there.

n Holiday Happenings changes names, ownership: I was taking my usual weekly stroll through West Park Mall and noticed the Holiday Happenings sign was gone. William Horman told me he bought the business Aug. 1, 2008, from Rick Werner, the son of the former owner who had died a month earlier, and has made it Gerard's Gift and Floral. He had kept the Holiday Happenings name in place until he was ready to make the switch official.

Gerard's is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Gerard's may be found online at gerardsgiftandfloral.com. The shop may be reached at 332-8662.

n Acupuncture and Herb Clinic set to open Friday: Sheila LaPlante plans to open Acupuncture and Herb Clinic on Friday. A 1999 graduate of the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in Santa Fe, N.M., LaPlante practiced in Sikeston, Mo., in 2004 until she moved to Cape Girardeau last week. She first became interested while working for a traditional Chinese neurosurgeon in California.

"He said that he could help more people with acupuncture and herbs than neurosurgery, and that was very instrumental in my decision to enter the field," LaPlante said.

The clinic at 618 Bellevue St. is open by appointment only at 450-5164.

n Century Farms sought: Several state agricultural organizations are seeking farms that have been family owned since Dec. 31, 1909, for recognition as Missouri Century Farms.

The Missouri Farm Bureau, University of Missouri Extension and the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources are sponsoring the call for submissions. Qualifications are:

-- The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years;

-- The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption;

-- The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

"It is important to honor and respect our history," said Michael Ouart, vice provost for University of Missouri Extension. "These farms represent both Missouri's cultural heritage and the good stewardship that our farmers strive for."

Early applications are accepted through May 1 for $40. For those applications received between May 1 and May 15, the cost is $50. Applications must be postmarked by May 15.

For more information, call 800-292-0969 or visit extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.

• New subdivision holds grand opening: A new subdivision outside Gordonville, Enclave Lake Estates, held a ribbon cutting Friday with a live radio show and special bank loan rates. The event was organized by 360 Land Development. Most of the 92 lots inside the gated community surround a lake. Home prices start at $189,000. For more information about this community off County Road 325, visit www.360land.com or call 450-1370. The opening of a new subdivision is certainly good news for the region's continued development.
• More on National Entrepreneurship Week: Last week we ran a story about SPARK (Service, People, Area, Results, Keys to success) awards presented by the Southeast Missouri State University Innovation Center in conjunction with the university's National Entrepreneurship Week. But there was much more to the week.

Dr. James Stapleton, director of the Southeast's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, said more than 500 local high school and university students attended two events held on campus.

Chris Beuhrle, founder, president and chief executive officer of National Asset Recovery Services, met with more than 100 students Tuesday. During three class sessions Beuhrle shared his story of how he grew NARS.

Mayor Jay Knudtson spoke with students about the importance of entrepreneurship and the effect that new jobs, such as those created by NARS, has on a community's economy.

The program was co-sponsored by Missouri REAL Entrepreneurship, a program provided by the Southeast Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, which receives support from the Southeast Workforce Investment Board and their WIRED Initiative.

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