Cape Girardeau has a blossoming food-truck community, and it just became one truck larger.

Melting Co., with its navy blue exterior and minimal orange and yellow logo, has began making appearances throughout Cape Girardeau, offering gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches to hungry customers.

Amila Ramanayake and his wife, Rebecca, opened the Melting Co. for a number of reasons. Most immediately, it was a means of support, as Ramanayake attends Southeast Missouri State University. But perhaps more importantly, it's a testing ground as they consider opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the future.

"That's my goal," Ramanayake said. "I want to make sure there is a market and the concept is correct, and move forward from there."

The food-truck concept was one Amila and Rebecca always found appealing. In their travels, they would come across these mobile restaurants and dream of opening one of their own, working side-by-side.

Kavimal Senadeera helps a customer at the Melting Co. food truck while it was parked at Plato's Closet in Cape GIrardeau on Friday afternoon.Laura Simon

"I always wanted to do something like that: to do something for myself like, to be in business for myself," Ramanayake said.

The freedom was a long time coming and not out of left field for the new business owner. Ramanayake attended L'Ecole Culinaire in St. Louis before earning his degree from Southeast in hospitality and revenue management. For years, he served as operations director for Marriott Hotels before deciding to return to the area and earn his master's degree in management.

During summer and throughout the school year, the Ramanayakes intend to run the Melting Co. as Amila works toward his degree. His menu will change as the season dictates.

Already he's looking toward the fall, and planning menus involving butternut squash and more bacon, he said. Melting Co. now offers a classic three-cheese sandwich, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches featuring buffalo chicken, bulgogi Korean steak, barbecued pulled pork and sun-dried tomato basil.

The Ramanayakes are enjoying their new venture and hope to see it do well and support them through his schooling. But ultimately, Ramanayake said, success is defined less by money and by the impact made in the community.

"We always try to give good quality food at a reasonable price. Most of our ingredients are locally-sourced," Ramanayake said. "I want to share something clean and from the heart. When you're honest with your trade, the money will follow you later."

Area travel agents gain new certification

Travel agents Susan Berghoff and Leigh Segraves of 1st Class Travel recently attended the "Game On!" Certified Sandals Specialist Workshop 2016.

Susan Berghoff

The programs are intended to provide agencies and agents with an ongoing product education and resources and substantial sales and marketing support.

To become a Certified Sandals Specialist, agents must complete a four-hour workshop that offers detailed information on all the company's resorts and amenities. Agents who complete the course receive customized service, sales and educational support.

Leigh Segraves

"Expert knowledge means our travelers get the most for their vacation dollars," Berghoff said in a news release.

Pharmacy residents coming to area

A collaboration between SoutheastHEALTH and St. Louis College of Pharmacy will bring two pharmacy doctoral residents to Cape Girardeau for an intensive one-year residency.

According to a SoutheastHEALTH news release, the program will improve outcomes and offer valuable in-hospital training to the postgraduate pharmacy doctors.

"Having pharmacy residents as part of the care team improves the quality care and outcomes for our patients," said Nicole Allcock, director of pharmacy at SoutheastHEALTH said in a news release. "This collaboration will meet our goal of providing improved pharmacy practices for Cape Girardeau and the rural communities we serve in southern Missouri."

Southeast Cancer gets accreditation

As a result of a review by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the Southeast Cancer Center was awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Radiation Oncology. This makes the center one of eight ACR accredited radiation oncology facilities and the only accredited facility in Southeast Missouri, according to a news release from SoutheastHEALTH.

ACR accreditation includes a peer-review evaluation to assess patient care and treatment, patient safety, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality-assurance programs.

"Achieving ACR accreditation is a testament to our dedication to providing radiation therapy guided by strict standards for safety, quality and accuracy," SoutheastHEALTH vice president and chief nursing officer Judy Aslin said in the release.

"Our patients can rest assured knowing that their treatment will be done at a facility that has met the highest level of quality and radiation safety," radiation oncology medical director Joseph Miller said in the release.

Quizno's makes way for barbecue eatery

On Friday, the Quizno's restaurant at the corner of William Street and Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau closed. According to a sign on the door, the restaurant will reopen July 1 as Smokehouse 61.

The new restaurant will continue to serve sandwiches, soups and salads, but also will introduce smoked barbecue to the menu.

Area Mary Kay consultants honored

Several consultants with the Jana Jateff unit of Mary Kay Cosmetics were honored recently during a quarterly awards night.

Jateff was honored as a pearl start for the quarter. Chanel Tucker was promoted to senior consultant and honored for doing 30 faces in 30 days. Joy Duprey was recognized as a new consultant, and Rachel Cobb was recognized as a new beauty consultant.

Ribbon cuttings

• A ribbon cutting will be held at Kelly Waller American Family Insurance, 189 N. Lacey St. in Jackson at 4 p.m. July 7.
• The Jackson Industrial Development Co. spec building, at 2550 Industrial Drive in Jackson, will host an open house and ribbon cutting Tuesday. The open house will begin as 10 a.m., and end with the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m.

Business licenses

• Ochs Rent A Car LLC, 879 N. Kingshighway, is a car-rental business owned by Michael W. Ochs, Jr. The anticipated opening date is Friday.
• Psychic Readings is a home-based business owned by Sophia Marks, offering card, palm and crystal readings. The business opened June 20.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644