Global Cafe to open in three weeks

Still lamenting the loss of Shangrila and Cafe Azu, the Indian and European-style restaurants that closed last year? Then you'll be glad to know that popular menu items from both of those restaurants are being incorporated into Global Cafe, which is opening in Cape Girardeau in about three weeks.

Owners Jerel and Belen Lichtenegger know there isn't exactly an abundance of ethnic restaurants in town. Their son-in-law had owned and operated Shangrila at the mall, and they had known Erik Minkin, who owned Azu at 1315 Broadway.

So when the couple bought that strip mall from Saffron owner Su Hill, they knew they wanted to put a variety of foods from around the world at their new restaurant, which will take up three sections of the mall.

"We thought at first we were just going to make it Shangrila," Belen Lichtenegger said. "But we wanted to include all sorts of food, so we expanded it."

The Lichteneggers have remodeled the building and hope to have it open in three weeks, she said.

The restaurant will feature dishes from India, Europe and some noodle dishes from other parts of the world, she said. They consulted with Minkin and their son-in-law, Raj, to see what their most popular dishes were.

The business will employ about 15 workers, she said.

* Four buildings on Broadway sold: St. Louis businessman Tim Schloss has bought the four older buildings on the northeast corner of Broadway and Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau -- including the old Players bar -- which he intends to remodel and lease for new commercial uses. The buildings are at 622 to 632 Broadway.

Schloss' son, a student at Southeast Missouri State University, told his father of the buildings. The purchase deal with owner Jerry Ford was closed last week. The transaction was handled by Rupert C. Meyer and Paula Sedgwick of Exit Realty Thomas Meyer Associates.

I couldn't reach Schloss for comment, but Sedgwick shared some preliminary plans that Schloss has for the buildings, some of which are at least 100 years old.

Schloss intends to remodel the buildings and use the upstairs of three of them for apartments. The downstairs of the three buildings down from Players will be leased for commercial use, Sedgwick said.

One idea calls for converting the Players building into a new restaurant/bar area.

But whatever he does, Sedgwick said, people should expect the buildings to be better.

"He is planning to improve the whole area," she said. "He wants to restore those old buildings to their original beauty rather than tearing them down, which was an option."

* Excuse our mess: During May, Broadway Prescription Shop at 710 Broadway is undergoing a complete remodeling. Pharmacy manager Brandy Hamm said the drug store hasn't been remodeled since the mid-1970s.

"It was time," she said. "We needed a facelift. We needed better work flow."

The store is getting redone on the inside, she said, with new carpeting, new walls and redesigned shopping areas. It is also getting new pharmacy computers, new software, new equipment and a new phone system.

* Subway at Wal-Mart: Jeremy Meeker, who owns the two Subways in Jackson, is putting a new Subway sandwich shop in the Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau. Meeker tells me it will go where the mall food court and McDonald's used to be right by the Wal-Mart entrance. The new Subway is expected to open next month.

The Subway will include its popular sandwiches and side dishes, but it will also include hot dogs, slushees and popcorn.

* Theater getting facelift: On my day off last week, I noticed some work going on at the old Esquire Theater at 824 Broadway. I contacted owner Phil Brinson, who said he is having some work done to the building, including a new facade. Look for work to take place soon at the Broadway Theater. Brinson has some ideas for both of those buildings, but he's being tight-lipped for now.

Scott Moyers is the business editor of the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to "Biz Buzz," 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, or e-mail them to smoyers@semissourian.com or call (573) 335-6611, extension 137.