When disaster strikes, they're only a call away

A week has passed since Hurricane Gustav barrelled through Louisiana and other areas of the Gulf Coast, passing through Southeast Missouri by the weekend. Memories of destruction and high gas prices caused by Hurricane Katrina have prompted many people to anticipate $5-per-gallon gas.

Thankfully, Gustav's bark was worse than its bite. AmerenUE, which sent workers to Louisiana after Katrina, this year only had contracted crews on standby to perform clean up. Meanwhile, the Southeast Missouri chapter of the American Red Cross, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and other disaster relief crews were doing their part to clean up debris in affected areas.

Last week I learned of a newly-formed business in Cape Girardeau specializing in disaster restoration operations that could see action soon.

A few years in the making, Restore America, 3105 Vail Drive, aims to assist businesses, industry, municipalities and private citizens to rebuild damaged properties after a disaster. This business combines safety, restoration and environmental services in one package.

"Having been in emergency management, I've seen how disasters affect lives," said Jeff Daniel, president and senior safety professional. "The healing process can't start until people see bricks and mortar being put back. If we can make the process easier in an effective manner, then we've done our job."

As a business in its infancy, Restore America has a staff of four people. After emergency management officials move in and out, Daniel said that's when Restore America and its contractors go to work.

Though the business has yet to respond to their first disaster, a busy hurricane season will more than likely provide Restore America with its first job.

"We're small right now, but if we do what we say we'll do, we won't be small for long," said chief executive officer and disaster manager Ed Thompson.

Restore America can be reached by calling 335-1446.

* Jackson muffin shop opens: I like to grab a pastry before work or on a lazy Saturday morning. My options in Jackson just expanded with the opening of Little Miss Muffin/Le Bistro, 3812 E. Jackson Blvd. Connected to Style Stop Lifestyles salon, the bistro offers gourmet coffee and tea, plus a full breakfast and lunch menu, with daily specials such as oven-roasted chicken, kettle beef and chicken and dumplings.

"The owner of the salon that we're [now] connected to had asked us for a while to open [a] location next to them," said co-owner Palmi Henry, whose sister Laura Barrette also owns the business. "Finally we decided to do it and it's been a nice fit since."

This is the second location for Little Miss Muffin, with its first at 113 W. Main St. in Jackson. Patrons can visit the bistro from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

* Downtown Jackson adds another business: Crystal Elfrink's dream began as an online store in her home office in February and becomes reality with today's opening of the Elf Shoppe. At 131 W. Main St. in Jackson, the Elf Shoppe offers such collections as birdhouses, sports home decor, jewelry, candles, baby and bridal gifts. The store will also be the exclusive retailer for Light My Way Candles in Jackson. Elf Shoppe will provide custom gift wrap, local gift delivery, custom orders on handcrafted items and shipping nationwide.

The Elf Shoppe is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

* Main Street success: Missouri's towns using the Main Street Approach to revitalization (a methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts in the United States) have reported economic growth through the first six months of the year in terms of rehabilitated buildings, new businesses and jobs. Data collected by Missouri Main Street Connection from January to June shows $4.5 million in private investments for facade improvements and building rehabilitation projects, $79,231 invested in public infrastructure improvements and net gains of 34 new businesses and 97 new jobs in 13 of the state's communities, including Cape Girardeau and Sikeston.

Old Town Cape executive director Marla Mills, whose organization is an accredited national Main Street program, welcomed the news.

"The Main Street program is a proven, effective method of revitalizing historic commercial districts, not just in Cape Girardeau but across the state and nation," Mills told me. "It is very beneficial to Old Town Cape and our local efforts to have an effective statewide organization.

* Electric Motor Sales acquires former school bus building: Mid-America Electric Motor Sales in Cape Girardeau has purchased the 4,000-square-foot industrial building at 444 Commercial St., according to Lorimont Place Ltd. president and broker Tom Kelsey, who handled the deal.

Kelsey told me the company hopes to move its entire operation to this newly acquired property by the end of the year. Mid-America Electric Motor Sales sells and repairs of all types of electric motors and related accessories.

"I've been wanting to own my own place for a long time, so this is a dream come true," said co-owner Phil Hager. "Down the road after we move into our own building by hopefully Christmas, we may grow to the point where we'll need to expand."

* Wunderlich Realty changes names: In an earlier column I mentioned Dave Soto had taken over ownership of Wunderlich Realty, 1200 N. Kingshighway. Soto sent me an e-mail Sept. 3 with news that the name has been changed to SOTO Property Management, effective Sept. 2. New signage is now in place, along with a new phone number, 332-SOTO, and new website, www.sotopropertymanagement.com.

* Cape Importers moving operations to Hawaii: Mike Crowden e-mailed me last week with news that Cape Importers is moving its operations to Puunene, Maui, Hawaii, within 30 business days. The final day of business at its 16 N. Spanish St. location in Cape Girardeau was Sept. 5. Cape Importers opened in November 2006, offering furniture, sculptures, paintings, home decor and pottery. Among the most unusual pieces were a 2,500-pound onyx lion, an antique Maduran wedding bed dating to the 1800s and reclaimed furniture.

Crowden said that all parties involved see Maui as "a better and more conducive market for the type of merchandise we have." Co-owner Joe Elayer lives on Maui and owns/operates Maui Industrial Metal Fabricators.

Business reporter Brian Blackwell can be reached at 335-6611, extension 137, or bblackwell@semissourian.com.