New businesses opening in Cape

Even against strong headwinds, entrepreneurs continue to try to build on their dreams in Cape Girardeau. I continue to see a variety of new business licenses and commercial building permits when I visit city hall on a weekly basis.

And my inbox continues to receive news releases detailing the investments people are making in our community.

Oftentimes, this space will include news of new businesses after I have found the business license application and spoken to the owners. I try to give a bit of their history and let people know what they are offering.

But oftentimes, I leave messages, people don't get back to me and things fall by the wayside. So in the spirit of offering an offset to last week's column, where I discussed the woes retailers are feeling as customers cut back to afford higher fuel and food prices, I'm taking a different approach.

I was able to talk to some people about their business moves, but I want to list everything I know about recent commercial activity to give the full flavor of the local action.

So here goes:

• The Beef O'Brady's restaurant, a family-style pub chain Lee Hillman of Cape Girardeau and Robert McGillivray became franchisees for last July, is under construction. A building permit for remodeling 3,510 square feet at 1812 Carondolet at an estimated cost of $160,000 was issued last week. I couldn't reach either Hillman or MacGillivray for comment.
• The Drop Zone restaurant at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport has closed and changed hands. The new owner, Sandy Ladd, will call the restaurant Sandy's Place. I reached her briefly but she was too busy to talk much. The restaurant's offerings will not change dramatically, she said. According to her license application, Sandy's Place should be open on or about July 7.
• Healing Hands Therapeutic Massage will open in July or August at 2029 Independence St., according to the business license application. The owner will be Lisa Douglas. She did not return a message.
• Yulunda Pryor is opening The Way Barber and Hairstyling at 87 Plaza Way.
• Land clearance and site preparation work is underway at Boulder Crest Estates, a condominium and commercial development on U.S. 61 next to County Park South. Wayfield LLC, a company owned by Stacey Mansfield and Eugene Holloway, has obtained the permits necessary for this phase of the work, which includes about 4.5 acres. There are another 3.5 acres designated as phase two of the development and the entire property is zoned commercial. Mansfield did not return a call.
• Two Sonic Restaurants in Cape Girardeau are undergoing a face lift. The $110,000 project for the restaurants off Broadway and on North Kingshighway included a replacement for the awnings that extend over cars waiting for orders and new signs promoting Sonic's offerings.
• A $665,000 project will prepare new quarters for Osburn, Hine, Kuntze, Yates & Murphy LLC at Rivendell Court, 3071 Lexington Ave. Rivendell Court's first phase was completed last year and Ross McFerron from the law firm sent a news release detailing the move. From four lawyers in 1995, the firm has grown to 11 attorneys plus support staff, founding member Ted Yates said in the release. In all, the firm will use 9,300 square feet of the 12,865 square feet included in the remodeling project at Rivendell. The firm is moving from current quarters at 3266 Lexington Ave.
• Marquette Restaurant & Bar, 338 Broadway, is expanding its hours, owner James Allen said in a news release. The restaurant, which features upscale casual dining, will now be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays.

There are some other items that shouldn't pass without being mentioned, but that don't involve new businesses:

• Downtown Cape Girardeau has suffered another casualty. Memories Made in Missouri -- a shop that specialized in Show Me State goods including jams, T-shirts, playing cards, mugs and quilts -- closed its doors at 110 Themis St. Co-owner Gary Johnson told my colleague Brian Blackwell a less-than-stellar economy was the main reason why the store, which opened three years ago, is no longer in business.

"Even though it's a great location, the gas prices, ice storm and floods this year were too costly and, in the end, really did us in," Johnson said. "I can't imagine other retailers in the downtown part not getting hit like we are."

• Bill Kiel, vice president of development at Saint Francis Medical Center, is leaving his post to take a similar job at Foote Health System in Jackson, Mich. "This has been an extremely difficult decision to make," Kiel said in a news release issued by the hospital. "Having been a part of the Saint Francis family and this community for the past 11 years, the most difficult part will be leaving behind a very loyal and committed group of donors, volunteers and friends."

Kiel was presented a plaque on June 10 for his efforts by the Saint Francis Foundation board of directors, who praised him for helping raise more than $7.5 million for the medical center.

• Finch Marbanks Insurance Consultants will now be known as Marathon Benefits Group following the acquisition of two ING Financial Services offices in St. Louis and merger with a Springfield investment firm, owner Rock Finch said. When the merger is completed the new combined firm will have $225 million of assets with ING, an international investment and financial management firm. Finch Marbanks has been an ING broker for 11 years, Finch said.
• Cape Club Complex is for lease. The property at 433 S. Sprigg St., originally built as Lorberg Funeral Chapel, has most recently been a night spot for Cape Girardeau's gay and lesbian community. The bar changed hands late last year but the new owners ran into difficulties by operating when they had not secured all the necessary liquor licenses, property owner Cheryl Stoffregan said. The club reverted to the previous owners, but they decided not to stay in business, she said. Now it is on the market. "It really is a nice bar setup," said Cheryl Stoffregan's husband, Frank Stoffregan. "It really is a turnkey operation if someone wanted to put a bar in there." The tables, chairs, beer tappers and ice makers are all in place, he said. Inquiries have come from several people wanting to open a bar and even from one potential tenant interested in using it as a church, Cheryl Stoffregan said.

Rudi Keller is the business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at rkeller@semissourian.com or cal 335-6611, extension 126.