Jackson Save-A-Lot undergoing changes

A family ownership group has purchased the Jackson Save-A-Lot at 1905 E. Jackson Blvd. The St. Francois County-based Can Stockers -- a group of two brothers, two sisters and a father -- recently acquired the store and are in the midst of a major remodeling project.

Co-owner David Hawkins said changes include installing produce cases, replacing refrigeration cases, renovating bathrooms and offices, and completing a makeover of the store's exterior. Changes should be complete by the end of March, Hawkins said. All store employees have been retained.

This is the fifth store Can Stockers has purchased since 1987, when it bought a store in Bonne Terre, Mo. Since then the company has bought stores in Park Hills, Mo., Farmington, Mo., and Ironton, Mo. Future expansions in Southeast Missouri are planned, Hawkins said.

Store hours at the Jackson location are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

n Ribbon cutting for Jackson computer business set for today: The Jackson Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. today for 333 Computer Services, which moved to 117 E. Jefferson St., Suite D, on Feb. 9. The shop offers carry-in repairs, on-site business calls, in-home service, wireless installation and maintenance, computer application training, custom web-based business start-up assistance and other services.

Owner John Distefano had been operating out of his Sedgewickville, Mo., home since July but said demand prompted the relocation.

"After some surveys from my customers I determined there was a demand for people to drop off their computers after work" to a central location, Distefano said.

333 Computer Services is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Customers can reach the business at 204-0550 or online at page333.net.

n Family-style restaurant opens for business: I first told you Jan. 15 that the former Cape Branding Iron property at 1015 N. Kingshighway was getting a new tenant this month. You may remember that the Branding Iron on Kingshighway closed Nov. 23 to better concentrate its efforts on its Jackson location.

On Feb. 19, Bobby's Kitchen opened its doors for business. Krissty and Bobby Steers, who opened Fruitland Diner in August 2008, told me in January they think they'll succeed because they've gone in with another partner. The menu at their new restaurant will be the same as Fruitland Diner's in Jackson.

n Johnson Insurance Group announces merger, March 1 move: Johnson Insurance Group in Cape Girardeau has been busy lately. Not only did it announce a recent merger with First State Insurance Agency but the company said it's moving to two new locations March 1.

Currently at 6 N. Clark Ave., Johnson Insurance Group will have offices on the second floor of First State Community Bank at 2527 William St. and across from Ford Groves at 1602 N. Kingshighway.

In a letter to customers, the insurance group staff said it's retaining contracts with its current companies and will have access to additional ones. The William Street location will focus on commercial and business insurance while the Kingshighway office will emphasize personal insurance such as home, auto, life and health.

After the move, customers can still reach the insurance group at its current phone number, 334-8100.

n 2009 Leadership Jackson class begins Wednesday: The first session of this year's Leadership Jackson class kicks off Wednesday. Participants are scheduled to tour city and county offices and meet elected officials. This year's class, as always, is made up of a diverse group of individuals from sectors including medical, media, education, banking, manufacturing, not-for-profits and small businesses.

Wednesday will be the first of eight monthly, one-day sessions in various locations in and around Jackson. The purpose of the program is to identify current and emerging leaders in the city while building leadership skills and increasing awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing the community.

"Leadership Jackson provides a thought-provoking experience focusing on the attributes of our town, and what it means to be a leader," according to a news release from the chamber.

n Chamber photos online: This year I began taking pictures at every Cape Girardeau and Jackson chamber event for Business Today and semissourian.com's photo galleries. We're doing this as another way to showcase some of you readers who attend such events. Look for the gallery of Friday's Jackson Chamber of Commerce business breakfast in the business section of our website.

n Storm continues to affect area's businesses: January's ice and snow storm greatly damaged a number of buildings throughout Southeast Missouri, including the roof of Blair Packaging at 24 S. Sheridan Blvd. Earlier this month marketing director Joe Bullock told me a structural engineer determined it could take six to eight months to repaired the collapsed roof.

Bullock contacted me again last week to update me on the progress of the roof's repair. The process of stabilizing the building was completed Feb. 9 and the excavation and clean-out inside the structure is underway. Companies from throughout the region will continue getting the building back to its proper form, though Bullock is unsure when the project will be complete.

"We are back up to manufacturing at full speed with additional help from outside sources," Bullock said. "Our entire vacuum-forming operation will permanently move to our Scott City location as soon as we can get the equipment out of the [Cape Girardeau] location and the space prepared in Scott City."

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