Will you be home for Christmas? AAA thinks so

Last week AAA motorist group said the tough economy is forcing more Americans to stay closer to home for Christmas than in 2007. The organization estimates that about 63.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, a decrease of 1.4 million travelers from last year's total of 65.3 million. That marks the first decline in Christmas holiday travel since 2002 and joins a decline in travel for the other four major travel holidays in 2008 -- Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

The largest drop in mode of travel is by airplane, with 800,000 fewer travelers than the 8.9 million who took to the skies in 2007. AAA also expects to see a decrease in Americans who drive from the 53 million who traveled by automobile last year. For those who do drive, they can expect to pay $1.30 per gallon less than in 2007, even with the recent increase in gasoline prices we've seen in Southeast Missouri

One can surmise that those who traveled by car or plane are now choosing other forms of transportation, such as train or bus. An increase of 0.7 percent is expected from a year ago by the two methods of transportation.

Travel agent Carolyn Kempf of Elite Travel in Cape Girardeau believes airlines continue to be more reliable and frequent but that people are only going to get great buys if they book early. She cited flights from St. Louis to Orlando, Fla., for less than $250 and to Chicago for less than $150 on some airlines.

"However, people are only going to get great buys if they book early," Kempf said from a packed St. Louis-Lambert International Airport on Friday, noting that half of the passengers she saw were military personnel. "There are no last-minute deals on straight airline tickets. Only advance purchase gives lower pricing.

Regarding bus travel, "it stops constantly and it takes forever to get there, sometimes days to get to places that are a one-day trip," Kempf said.

My wife and I will be spending our holiday in Cape Girardeau, as I'll be attending a Christmas Eve service at my church and working Dec. 25 here at the office. After that we'll head out to my parents in Alabama. I hope all of you will stay safe, whether you're here in Southeast Missouri, traveling to see relatives far away or cruising in the Caribbean. But most of all, remember the reason for the season.

n New look: You may have noticed a different format and design for your business page. This is an effort to spice things up a bit. We've instituted a question-and-answer format to replace the business centerpiece. But we'll still have my column, people on the move, memos and the weekly poll. Let me know what you think about the new look.

n Global Cafe temporarily closing for holidays: Global Cafe at 1315 Broadway in Cape Girardeau is temporarily closing down for the holidays. With its proximity to Southeast Missouri State University, co-owner Belen Lichtenegger said the closing coincides with the university holiday. She plans to close Dec. 24 and open sometime after Southeast resumes classes in January.

When it reopens in early January, Global Cafe will have an expanded menu. It currently serves Thai, Indian and Filipino dishes and plans to add Korean foods to the menu. The restaurant serves a buffet 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

n Candlewood Suites coming to Cape Girardeau: A Farmington, Mo.-based hotel developer has plans to build a new Candlewood Suites Hotel along South Mount Auburn Road near the Highway 74 and Interstate 55 interchange. ARV Group has closed on the 1.73-acre site, according to commercial broker Tom Kelsey, who handled the real estate transaction.

Kelsey said the hotel developer intended to start construction in the spring on an 89-room Candlewood Suites Hotel, which is Holiday Inn's extended-stay product. The group went before the Cape Girardeau city council in November and was approved for a zoning variance to build the four-story hotel at that location. The site is within an 11.75-acre development parcel recently sold and handled by Kelsey to Mayson Investment, primarily owned by Jim and Jeff Maurer.

Engineering and construction has already begun on the water, sewer and street infrastructure. The development has been named Cape West Crossings and will have several other lots available for retail, office, restaurant and other commercial uses.

ARV Group owns several other hotels in the Midwest including locations in Missouri and Arkansas. They are an approved developer with Marriot, Holiday Inn and other hotel franchises. They chose the Candlewood Suites for Cape Girardeau since the area does not currently have an extended-stay type hotel, Kelsey said.

n DeWitt appears at grand opening: Some of you may know that I love the Cubs. But what you may not realize is that I'm also a Dodger fan, which is why an e-mail from Talley Haines piqued my interest. Haines owns Balls-n-Strikes indoor baseball and softball facility, which had its grand opening Sunday. Dodgers player and Sikeston, Mo.'s own Blake DeWitt made an appearance at the event.

The 5,000-square-foot facility at 826 Enterprise St. in Cape Girardeau was formerly Southeast Missouri Baseball Academy, which Haines opened in 2005. Haines, who played 10 years of professional baseball and is a Cape Girardeau native, and his staff of five instructors who played college and pro baseball, videotape their students and then do a walk-through with them on how to best improve their game.

n Happy anniversary: Some Cape Girardeau business are celebrating milestones this month. Town Plaza Cinema, 2136 William St., marks its 35th year in business Tuesday while West Park Lanes, 354 S. Silver Springs Road, opened its doors 25 years ago Friday. If your business has an anniversary of at least 25 years, contact me so I can let everyone in our coverage area know.

n New year brings planned Wood Re New expansion into Cape Girardeau: A Missouri-based exterior-wood restoration business is planning an expansion into Cape Girardeau sometime next year.

Twenty years ago, as a partner in a fence installation company in Springfield, Mo., Stan Krempges said he had many customers ask about maintaining their new fence against the elements. He thought this maintenance need was essential to other exterior wood structures as well, such as decks and siding. With the assistance of a chemist, Krempges decided to find a solution for his customers and founded a new company, Wood Re New, in 1993 for the purpose of providing an exterior maintenance service to homeowners in Springfield.

Today, Krempges and his wife, Sonja, have established eight Wood Re New franchises in the state.

Krempges said he is excited about Wood Re New's expansion plans to Cape Girardeau. "With the uncertainty of the economy and numerous company layoffs, there has never been a better time to take control of your own destiny and own your own business," he said. "We're confident that we'll find the right individual to join our team and make Wood Re New a household name in the area."

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