Consumers and businesses will have local access to the services offered by the Better Business Bureau starting today with the opening of a new Cape Girardeau office.

Services of the organization include alerting the public to scams and fraudulent business practices, fielding consumer complaints, accrediting local businesses and charity organizations, reviewing businesses and services for consumers and remediation services to facilitate fairness in trade.

"The goal is to help create a community of trustworthy businesses, as well as setting standards for marketplace trust," said Michelle Corey, president and CEO of the BBB in St. Louis. "We will also celebrate exceptional role models for best practices and denounce substandard marketplace behavior in a very public way."

Corey said the organization has been serving a 92-county area of eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois since its founding in 1917, but felt the region could be better served with a physical presence in Cape Girardeau. Feasibility studies commissioned by the BBB that measured growth of communities and the availability of consumer watchdog services in Missouri determined a need for a Columbia office to open in 2010 and now the Cape Girardeau office. The local branch will cover a 28-county area in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Joey Keys

The Cape Girardeau office will be led by Joey Keys, who was hired as regional director. Before joining the BBB, Keys was Cape Girardeau County's chief deputy clerk and election supervisor for seven years. He also is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. Keys' primary responsibilities with the organization will be to communicate alerts to the public and provide outreach and education to consumers and the community.

Paula Ball

Paula Ball, formerly of St. Louis, has been hired as the office's business relationship representative. In that role, according to Corey, Ball will share information with businesses on how to become accredited by the organization.

A ribbon cutting for the office is planned for 10 a.m. Dec. 8.

The office is at 3065 William St. in Cape Girardeau and will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is available by calling 314-645-3300.

First Friday Coffee to feature Koster

Chris Koster

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will be the guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly morning event Friday. First Friday Coffee sponsors this month are the Southeast Missourian and CPU, Inc. Doors open at 7 a.m., and a continental breakfast will be served.

Carolyn Sandgren- Kempf

The speaker program begins at 7:40 a.m. at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center.

IHOP opens in Cape

A new International House Of Pancakes restaurant has its first day in business today in the old Pasta House location. The restaurant, at 2406 William St. in Cape Girardeau, serves breakfast all day and lunch and dinner.

The owner, according to a business license filed at Cape Girardeau city hall, is Pancake Holding Co. LLC.

The managing officer is listed as Anand Patel.

Prescription shop attends national convention

A local pharmacy's owners and employees recently returned from a trip to Austin, Texas, where they took part in the National Community Pharmacists Association's 116th annual Convention and Trade Exposition.

The purpose of the trip was to "highlight the importance of independent community pharmacy to our health care system and to promote patient health," according to a news release from Broadway Prescription Shop at 710 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. At the convention, attendees participated in educational seminars and round-table talks that covered trends, technologies and best practices.

Business licenses

• Webcurrent Communications, 339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, is listed as opening today. The business is a web developer service owned by Julie K. Wolpers.
• Cape Medical Weight Loss and Family Practice, 2132 William St., Cape Girardeau, recently changed ownership. Debbie Evans is the new owner.

Fireplace Center closing this year

The Fireplace Center at 1028 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau plans to close its doors at the end of the year because of the retirement of its owners, David and Noretta Blattner.

Sales at the store will be ongoing until all merchandise is sold. After closing, the location will be available for rent.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632