Jay Santi had originally hoped to open his new Jay's Smokehouse in Jackson more than a month ago. But things haven't gone the way he'd planned.

"We've had a lot of setbacks," said Santi, a former partner in Pagoda Gardens and owner of Jay's Barbecue in Marble Hill, Mo.

What sort of setbacks?

"Everything," Santi said, laughing. "Nothing's really come together."

But things are finally coming together, and Santi hopes that Jay's Smokehouse in Jackson will be open Dec. 27 or 28. But Santi says even that may not happen on time.

"We'll have to see how it goes," he said.

The new restaurant is in the spot recently vacated by Woodard's at 1830 E. Jackson Blvd. The restaurant is going to also offer steak and seafood and will offer table service, unlike the Marble Hill restaurant, where you pick the food from a buffet-style arrangement.

Also unlike Marble Hill, the new restaurant will offer beer and wine. As I've mentioned in the past, Santi is from Thailand but he's been in the United States since 1971. He's worked in restaurants in New York City before opening up his own restaurants locally.

And he knows his stuff. When I worked for the Marble Hill Banner Press, I ate there regularly. The portions were huge and the barbecue was out of this world.

His competitors may not like to see him coming, but I'm of the opinion you can never have too many barbecue restaurants.

* Rhodes 101 building: Some of you may have noticed that the old Rhodes 101 building at 1610 N. Kingshighway is coming down. Owner Jim Maurer said the building, that was closed after the new Rhodes was completed up the road, should be down by the end of the year.

Maurer plans to do what he did with the old Rhodes on North Sprigg Street -- build a new one, tear down the old one and allow the old spot to be developed. On North Sprigg Street, it was the Dairy Queen.

Rhodes said there are no plans to announce for the North Kingshighway property, however.

"We're talking to some folks, but there are two or three things that have to come together," he said. "We hope to have an announcement ready after that."

In the meantime, the work will continue of getting the lot cleared and the fuel tanks removed, he said.

Any suggestions at what would be a good business there? What would you like to see on that site? Drop me an e-mail at smoyers@semissourian.com.

* Cape featured in pilot magazine: The City of Cape Girardeau was featured in the December 2005 issue of Aircraft Owners & Pilot's Association (AOPA) Pilot magazine. The article, titled "Leader of the Pack, This airplane will command respect," details an AOPA sweepstakes in which one lucky pilot will win a refurbished 1974 Commander 112A airplane.

The article inset details Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. (CPAC) new location of its airplane manufacturing company in Cape Girardeau. The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport was selected from more than 150 other possible sites because of the city's airport facilities, building availability and commercial air service. The company is initially establishing a sales, parts and service center to service its existing fleet, and will manufacture new aircraft.

CPAC has relocated Carl Gull, vice president of operations, to Cape Girardeau to lead the Cape Girardeau staff. Gull is a 20-year naval aviator, and holds an MBA and a bachelor's degree in engineering technology.

CPAC manufacturers a single-engine, four-seat aircraft and expects to employ 50 to 75 employees. It will be in the new hangar building formerly occupied by Renaissance Aircraft.

AOPA Pilot's circulation is more than 360,000.

* Panera opening today: The new Panera Bread Bakery/Cafe is scheduled to open today after going through a dry run over the weekend. I understand the invitation-only event was well attended and well received.

The new bakery/ cafe is at 3219 William St. in front of the Holiday Inn Express.

* Beads in Chaffee: Seventy-six-year-old Ella Dowd wants to live to be 100. And why not? Her mother's still doing well at 100.

"I'm perfectly healthy," she said last week. "There's no reason I can't make it."

Part of her secret is to stay busy. Many of you remember that she stayed busy for 24 years in Cape Girardeau as owner of Cast-A-Ways, the thrift store on Broadway. Now, Dowd has opened Ella's Bead Shoppe in Chaffee at 121 W. Clarman.

There, she makes jewelry with gemstone beads, crystals and other custom designs. She also has a work table so she can help people make their own jewelry.

"Gee, whiz," she said. "Here I am back in business."

Still, she misses the friends she made during the 24 years up here. And I'm sure they miss her.

* Green thumb: Anne Foust recently bought a business that already had her first name attached to it. Foust, who owns Green Gardens Interior Plant Service, has bought Anne's Green Thumb Plant Service and incorporated the clientele into her business.

The services will be combined on Jan. 1 under Green Gardens Interior Plant Service. Foust bought the business from Susan Brannock, who had bought it from her sister-in-law, Anne. Brannock has taken a full-time position at Dr. David Crowe's office.

Foust's business involves going around and taking care of people's plants, especially at businesses. Foust has owned her own business for 12 years and been in the plant business for 16 years. Acquiring Anne's Green Thumb adds nine weekly customers and two once-a-month customers.

* New hair studio: April Swofford has purchased the Hair Studio at 227 S. Plaza Way from Marcie Abernathy. Swofford has been in the hairstyling business for four years. Swofford said she and her two stylists perform many types of hair services.

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