Top 40 Under 40 submissions due today

All right, you procrastinators, today is the deadline for submissions to Business Today's Top 40 Under 40. In its third year, this list recognizes 40 professionals for their career and community achievements. A panel of Business Today staff members and Southeast Missourian representatives review each nomination and select those outstanding men and women who have had a significant affect in their workplace or in the community.

Last year's list included people from a wide range of industries including health care, telecommunications, banking, restaurants, media, law, education and real estate.

Nominate deserving individuals by logging on to www.semissourian.com/bt40/ or emailing cmiller@semissourian.com.

n Cape Art, Dolls and Toys closing on Feb. 21: After 30 years in business, Cape Art, Dolls and Toys will close its doors Feb. 21. Jary Reppen, who owns the business with his wife, Nancy, said the current economic climate made the decision to close the store and retire easy.

"It's kind of bittersweet," Reppen said. "We'll miss it for sure, but we'll enjoy retirement and visiting with our grandchildren."

The business began selling art supplies out of its 2,400-square-foot building at 21 Plaza Way Town Plaza in Cape Giradeau and, when that industry began to decline, the business transitioned to offering a selection of Middleton dolls and Thomas the Tank engines.

Until its closure the business will maintain normal days and hours of operation, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

"I'd like to thank our consistent customers for their enthusiasm and allegiance to us," Reppen said. "They've been very faithful. We have college kids who used to buy arts supplies but now they're bringing in their children to buy dolls and toys."

n Southeast Missouri State alumni open bar and grill: A group of Southeast Missouri State University alumni have opened one of Cape Girardeau's newest restaurants, Hecklers Beer Barn and Grill. A huge baseball fan like myself, general manager Rob Foeste named it in honor of the fans who cheer on the Southeast Redhawks from Cherry Hill in Capaha Park from the outfield.

Foeste opened the eatery to fill what he calls a niche market.

"We are a small, local community bar and grill on Sprigg Street whose sole purpose is to entertain our guests and make them feel at home," Foeste said. "We have a passion for cold beer, fresh chicken wings and Southeast baseball."

The establishment at 1000 N. Sprigg St. offers a wide range of items from fried green beans and jalapeno bottle caps to traditional bar fare such as chicken wings made with Foeste's signature homemade sauce, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and, of course, a wide assortment of beer. The beer comes from a stadium chill chamber that gets the drinks down to 22 degrees. Hecklers also offers daily specials on food and alcoholic beverages. And for the sports fans, Heckler's offers NFL Sunday Ticket and UFC events.

Hecklers is open 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 1:30 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday. The restaurant can be reached by calling 332-8900.

n McAlister's Deli to add new menu at Cape location: The week before the big winter storm hit our area, I stopped in at McAlister's Deli at 244 S. Mount Auburn Road for my usual muffaletta, chicken tortilla soup and sweet tea. Owner Donnie Harris happened to be in the store and clued me in on some menu changes in store for the restaurant.

By the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter, a new menu will be unveiled featuring paninis, pizzas and hand-tossed salads. But most other items will remain on the menu, although all desserts except brownies and cookies will be eliminated.

"The company found that since our meals were such big portions, people didn't have room to eat the desserts," Harris said.

All food items will be served on real plates, not the plastic dinnerware patrons are given now. Harris, who also owns McAlister's Delis in Kentucky and Illinois, said the Cape Girardeau location will undergo remodeling in six years, similar to the Paducah, Ky., restaurant he opened Jan. 26. He said that's what McAlister's corporate office is mandating all its restaurants do by then.

"McAlister's nationwide is updgrading their image and targeting the dinner crowd," said Harris, who opened the Cape Girardeau store in October 2004.

n More Howard's news: Last week I wrote an article about Southeast acquiring the buildings that housed Howard's Athletics Goods and the old Sinclair gas station. The article has since created a buzz among some historical preservationists in the city. I can understand arguments from both sides.

"The time was right," Dave Howard, owner of the property and Howard's Athletics Goods, said in a news release. "The most important ingredient was we were able to find a place to relocate. We have a 12-year lease with a good location for us. The university met our needs, so it all worked out to everyone's satisfaction."

Howard told me the deal was a 20-year charitable trust in which he'll receive payments on the properties at 900 and 834 Broadway for the next 20 years.

As for Howard's, the business relocated to 835 Broadway on Jan. 26 after 62 years at 900 Broadway. Howard said he'll carry the same products and merchandise for the most part. The hours and days of operation also are the same, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

n Jackson Chamber schedules Business After Hours: The Jackson Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours is at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Creative Edge, 160 N. Enterprise Lane. The event is co-sponsored by Creative Edge and Tractors Classic American Grill.

n Gittin Place Auction scheduled to open Thursday: A new consignment auction business will soon make its home at 2100 Big Bend Road in Cape Girardeau. Owner Jeff Sides said he'll have three to four dealers offer new and used items at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. On the first Thursday of the month, meat from a dealer in Perryville, Mo., will be sold to the public. Sides, who previously operated a similar consignment operation in Marble Hill, Mo., said he made the decision to open because he wanted a location closer to his Cape Girardeau home.

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