Editor's note: This column has been corrected to indicate a demonstration of Avery's Amazing Marinade will be at Schnuck's on March 13.

In the near future customers will find alcohol on the shelves at Walgreens in Cape Girardeau. According to spokesman Robert Elfinger, the Cape Girardeau store is one of many in the nation that will begin selling beer and wine. Elfinger said the company decided to start selling alcohol to meet a growing customer demand.

"Our customers want more of a one-stop shopping experience where they can get a range of products at one location," Elfinger said, adding that only 2 percent of its space at most stores will consist of alcohol stock.

Elfinger does not know when the Cape Girardeau store will begin selling alcohol.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 138 Missouri Walgreens have applied for liquor licenses, including more than 70 in St. Louis.

* Construction begins on Plaza Tire Service: Recently crews began moving dirt on the site of the future Plaza Tire Service store in Cape Girardeau. By July or August the store at 1638 N. Kingshighway will open, owner Scott Rhodes said. The current location at 1634 N. Kingshighway will close once the new store is complete.

Rhodes said the 8,800-square-foot store will not only be much bigger but will have 10 bays where vehicles can be serviced.

* Sears Grand, Kmart avoid latest round of closings: Sears Holdings, which owns Kmart and Sears Grand stores, recently announced it will close 21 stores throughout the U.S. The Cape Girardeau Kmart and Sears Grand appear to be safe for now, though. None of the stores scheduled for closure were in Missouri.

* Real estate agents honored: The Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors recently elected officers and gave out honors. Jeff Martin, who stars in today's Talking Shop feature below, and Sheila King were named board and Multiple Listing Service president, respectively. Those named as board officers were Terri Penrod, Sharon Gill, Wendy Marberry, Paul Kitchen and Dave Soto. Thomas M. Meyer was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the community and profession. The award also was given to his father, Thomas L. Meyer, six years ago. And the Realtor of the Year award was presented to Tina McMahon. She is a Missouri Association of Realtors director and was a past president of the Multiple Listing Service.

* Magazine features Ray's of Kelso: The March issue of Rural Missouri magazine has featured the Southeast Missouri landmark Ray's of Kelso. The full-page article describes how Ray Ressel's family expanded both the menu and the restaurant itself through the years. Ray's of Kelso, 151 S. Messmer St. in Kelso, Mo., began in 1964 as a pizza and steak drive-in but now offers chicken, vegetarian dishes and seafood as well.

In addition to his Kelso location, Ressel in late 2009 leased space from Midamerica Hotels Corp. at the Plaza Conference Center for a full-service banquet facility.

* Gordonville woman unveils marinade: A Gordonville woman has unveiled a marinade that has been in a family recipe for more than 35 years.

Karen Freeman, who named the marinade after her show dog, recently secured a deal that allows Schnucks in Cape Girardeau to sell Avery's Amazing Marinade in its stores.

Freeman is demonstrating the product in Schnucks March 13.

She said she is negotiating with Schnucks stores in St. Louis to sell the marinade there in the spring.

For more information on Avery's Amazing Marinade, call 579-9973.

* Ribbon cutting: The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Friday at Hair Styling for Men, 835 N. Kingshighway, Suite 102. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 335-6670.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Brian Blackwell may be contacted at 388-3628 or bblackwell@semissourian.com.<I>