Membership drive adds to Jackson, Cape Girardeau chambers

Friday morning I attended a breakfast honoring new Jackson Chamber of Commerce executive director Brian Gerau, who assumed the post Nov. 1. Gerau, who is the husband of Southeast Missourian advertising executive Sara Gerau, seems to be a great fit for the job. The chamber's membership increased by 38 during its October membership drive to its current 400 members.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's October membership blitz also proved successful with the addition of 14 new members, plus four members not attributed to the blitz, said Tracey Glenn, vice president of organization and leadership development.

Let's hope both chambers can continue building their membership bases as they strive to make the area's business community the best possible.

n Jaspers reopens, changes name: Since the city's Independence Street project began July 22, some businesses along the street have seen a significant decrease in sales. One business — Jaspers convenience store at the corner of Independence Street and West End Boulevard — took a proactive approach by closing Sept. 8 and transforming its store into a Rhodes 101 stop. It reopened Nov. 3 and has a grand opening planned soon.

Rhodes 101 president Keith Boeller said the inside of the store looks remarkably different. Once inside, he said, customers will notice a similar layout to other Rhodes 101 locations in the area. One additional aspect of the convenience store is a new brand of fried chicken the company is offering just at that store. I'm a big fan of fried chicken and am interested to see how this brand matches with my favorite fast-food clucker.

"When the Independence Street project began, we had the opportunity to go ahead and close it down," Boeller said. "We're excited about the new items we're able to offer to our customers."

n Update on Rhodes' East Main Street development: A year ago, Rhodes 101 acquired a piece of property along Jackson's East Main Street with the intent of building a convenience store in 2009. If you've driven by that property lately, you'll notice a lack of progress there. Boeller said that while they'd love to start building a Rhodes 101 stop next year, the current economic situation has delayed their plans.

n Comfort Inn and Suites update: For some time construction has been ongoing at 2904 Old Orchard Road in Jackson. The owners of Comfort Inn and Suites told me Friday they are expecting the 65-room hotel to be complete by December. More to come on this in the future.

n Construction of new Social Security building underway: If you've driven around the area near the Cape Girardeau Public Library and Cape Regional Credit Union, you may have noticed a crew working on a new building on Cape Center Drive. Gary VerMaas told me his company, VerMaas Construction based in my beautiful hometown of Lincoln, Neb., is building the Social Security facility. The 9,738-foot structure should be complete by March 2009.

n Publication honors Prudential Bridgeport: Roger Skinner of Prudential Bridgeport Inc. Realtors told me that Prudential Real Estate was ranked highest for Seller satisfaction in J.D. Powers & Associates 2008 Home Buyer/Seller Study. Prudential Bridgeport was started by the present owners, Skinner and David Dormeyer, 30 years ago and became a Prudential affiliate in 1993.

n Renovations, expansion have begun at Fireplace Center/River City Masonry: The Fireplace Center/River City Masonry at 1028 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau is currently in the process of renovating their business and adding 1,000 feet onto its showroom. Fireplace Center co-owner Noretta Blattner believes that once complete, the showroom will be the largest one between St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn.

During the expansion the business will remain open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Fireplace Center is owned by David and Noretta Blattner and is managed by daughter-in-law Danette Ketcher. The business carries wood-burning fireplaces and stoves, gas fireplaces, stoves and logs, pellet stoves, fireplace mantels, screens, glass doors, tool sets, grates and other accessories.

River City Masonry is managed by the Blattners' son, Mark Ketcher, and specializes in various types of custom brick, block and stone work.

The Blattners recently purchased the lot between the Fireplace Center and Food Giant and added a new parking lot for better accessibility to offices in the upper floor of their business.

n New restaurant opens inside Saint Francis Medical Center: The Tuscan Sun Restaurant at Saint Francis Medical Center is now open for business, doubling the size of the former cafeteria. The restaurant's dining area added 52 chairs, bringing total occupancy to 243 people. Both booth and table seating is available, as well as raised and additional outdoor (nonsmoking) seating. The restaurant features an expanded menu with such items as an open-flame stone pizza oven, a cooking station with a wok, make-your-own Belgian waffles and enhanced services and equipment. It is on the lower level of the Registration Center on the north side of the Medical Center campus.

The Tuscan Sun Restaurant provides meal service daily to nearly 2,000 patients, visitors, volunteers and employees. Hours of service are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. For more information, call 331-5142.

n Midwest Agri-Chemico Inc relocates: A Cape Girardeau-based supplier to retail fertilizer dealers has relocated from 4868 Nash Road to the old Nestle Purina building at 94 Airport Road. Lorimont Place Ltd. president and broker Tom Kelsey handled the sale of Midwest Agri-Chemico's 12,000-square-foot office, which is 9,000 square feet larger than its former facility near the Southeast Missouri Port Authority.

The majority of the 25 employees who work at the office all are Southeast Missouri natives and come from an agriculture background. President Russ Mothershead believes the future is bright for his company.

"People will continue to eat in the future, which is good for us," Mothershead said. "Like any other business, our expenses continue to go up, so we'll have to continue to look at ways to modify our business model as the markets change and evolve."

With recent cutbacks at Newell Rubbermaid, Rapco and Thorngate, news of a healthy company such as Midwest Agri-Chemico is encouraging. Let's hope more businesses clue me in on positive happenings in the future.

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