HotShots to open next week

HotShots sports bar and grill will open Thursday at 15 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau in the former Breakaways building. Next week is a soft opening, with a grand opening celebration planned for January, said owner Michael Hess.

Breakaways closed in July so Hess and his crew could work to renovate the interior, double the size of the kitchen, relocate the bar and add more seating.

A total of 16 flatscreen televisions have been added. "We'll have all the games on all the time," said Hess.

HotShots will also offer a much broader menu than Breakaways including pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Hess described it as "gourmet bar food."

Darts, pool tables, foosball and arcade games are also located inside the new HotShots.

This is the first HotShots franchise outside of the St. Louis area, where there are 9 other HotShots locations. The Cape Girardeau HotShots is the only one that is independently owned, Hess said.

While Breakaways had just four employees, Hess now has a staff of 24 for HotShots.

"In this economy, it feels pretty good to be able to provide employment for people," he said.

Hess opened Breakaways in October 2000 and purchased the building, originally built in 1896, two years later. In 2009, Hess embarked on an renovation project to bring the exterior of the building back to its original facade.

In 2010 he won two awards for his efforts: the John Boardman Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation Award from Old Town Cape and the Missouri Main Street Connection Best Facade Rehabilitation Over $10,000.

For more information, visit the HotShots Cape Girardeau Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1366473133