Wieser acquires Suzuki franchise from Minor's Harley Davidson

Cape Girardeau automobile dealer Jerry Wieser has acquired the Suzuki ATV and motorcycle franchise from Danny and Michele Tumbleson, who own Minor's Harley Davidson at 2100 E. Outer Road in Scott City. In addition to the Tumbleson's inventory of Suzuki parts and accessories, Wieser will add Vespa and Piaggio motor scooters. The Harley Davidson part of the dealership was not sold to Wieser.

Wieser Powersports, located at 2215 Broadway, will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It is scheduled for an early January 2009 opening; the phone number is (573) 334-1050.

Cape Girardeau Branding Iron closes

The Branding Iron has closed its Cape Girardeau location. Its final day of business at 1015 N. Kingshighway was Nov. 23. Co-owner Jack Hunt said low sales contributed to the decision to keep only the Jackson and Farmington, Mo., Branding Iron restaurants open. Hunt said sales at the Jackson and Farmington locations remain strong.

Hunts Dairy Bar closes

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Hunts Dairy Bar has closed after 52 years of service to the Farmington area. It was opened by Pete Hunt in May of 1956. It is now owned by Pete's son and daughter-in-law, John and Nancy Hunt. They also started the Park Hills Hunts in 1979 and sold it to John's brother Dave in 1981.

Hunts has made the top ten lists of Southern Living and Midwest Living, and was rumored to have made KSHE's best top ten hamburgers.

Comfort Keepers of Southeast Missouri moves to new location

Comfot Keepers of Southeast Missouri has moved its Cape Girardeau location to 225 S. Sheridan Drive.

Comfort Keepers opened in Cape Girardeau eight years ago and offers in-home care services for aging adults, new mothers and others needing assistance with daily activities enabling them to stay in their own homes. The owners are Paul and Sherry James.

The move to a larger office will allow for a larger staff of trained caregivers that provide care to seniors in their homes, or even in assisted living or other senior living facilities. The facility has a larger reception area, meeting room and separate training room for ongoing training of all caregivers.

Cape Girardeau salon relocates

Studio Designs has moved from 229 S. Broadview St. to 2532 William St. in Cape Girardeau. The business is owned by Sarah Puls. The salon's stylists are Amy Buchheit, Jeanne Pruitt, Donna Smith, Debbie Bickings, Pam Glastetter, Retta Bilodeau and Patti Cook.

Howard's Athletics moves

Howard's Athletics Goods is planning a January move. Terry Slattery of Howard's said he plans to move from the current location at 900 Broadway in Cape Girardeau to 835 Broadway. Howard's occupying the front part of the building while Garden Gallery will be in the back of the building.

Gourmet dog food business expands

Miss Autumn's Barkery, 1105 Saddlebrooke Ridge in Jackson, recently announced that the company's line of organic pet food and treats will be available through RFG Distributing Inc., a national pet products distributor. RFG operates a warehouse facility in Crystal, Minn., and Des Moines, Iowa. The arrangement will grant RFG Distributing the ability to distribute Miss Autumn's Barkery's line of products nationwide.

Miss Autumn's Barkery offers all-natural and organic treats for both large and small dogs.

Cape Girardeau Saturn dealership closes

A St. Louis company closed its Saturn dealership in Cape Girardeau at the end of December 2008. Dealer Jackie Dunne cited a slowing economy as a primary reason for the decision.

"It's sad," Dunne said. "Based on the hardships in the economy and the uncertain future of the Saturn brand's connection with General Motors, we had to make this decision."

Seven employees were affected by the company's decision. Dunne said the move will allow the company to concentrate all its efforts in St. Louis, where it has four dealerships. Those who own a Saturn from the Cape Girardeau dealership will be able to have work done on their vehicles at any Saturn location, with the closest in St. Louis and Carbondale, Ill.

Dunne said she is grateful for the five years the dealership was there. "We've appreciated all our customers," Dunne said. "This has been a good community and a friendly customer base all these years."

Piramal offers work to laid-off employees

PARK HILLS, Mo. — Piramal Glass plans to bring back 40 of its 160 laid-off workers to help with the demolition and construction of the plant's furnaces. Human Resource Manager Scott Winder said the work will carry the workers through Jan. 30, 2009.

"We are going to run two 10-hour shifts each day, six days a week," Winder said. He added that even though the local glass factory doesn't have the business lined up to warrant the operation of both furnaces, it is proceeding with the rebuild because it wants to be ready when the market rebounds.

Piramal, which manufactures cosmetic, pharmaceutical and specialty glass, laid off 40 percent of its workforce on Nov. 9.

Global Cafe expands menu

Global Cafe temporarily closed for the holidays from Dec. 24 through early January, and re-opened with an expanded menu. The restaurant, located at 1315 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, previously served Thai, Indian and Filipino dishes and has added Korean foods to the menu. The restaurant serves a buffet 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday and dinner from 5-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

El Torero moving locations

Within the next few months, the El Torero Mexican restaurant in Jackson will move from its current location at 711 E. Jackson Blvd. to a building across the street from Branding Iron and Jackson Tire Center on the same route.

Elfrink stops trucking operations in Cape

According to employees, Elfrink Transportation ceased its trucking operations in Cape Girardeau on Dec. 17. The number of employees affected is not known at this time.

The regional truckload carrier started in 1994, with its headquarters at 1326 Southern Expressway in Cape Girardeau. By 2002 the company had expanded to 60 workers. Four years later the business had grown beyond its one terminal and established hubs throughout the Midwest, including St. Louis, Chicago, Fredericktown, Mo., and Memphis, Tenn.

Robert Lewis, of Columbia, S.C.-based Gulfstream Express, recently acquired majority ownership of Elfrink Transportation. At that time company officials said no major changes were planned for the Cape Girardeau location.

Two Mexican restaurants planning relocations

By February 2009, the El Durango Mexican restaurant will move to West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau.

El Torero, located in Jackson, will reloate across the street from Jackson Tire Center and Branding Iron this April. With this move comes additional parking and a bar. El Torero is currently located at 711 E. Jackson Blvd.

Bonne Terre clinic closes

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — The Mineral Area Regional Medical Center clinic has closed its doors in Bonne Terre, Mo. When it first opened, it was staffed by two doctors and a nurse practitioner. It closed after one doctor went into private practice and the rest of the staff was brought to the hospital's main campus in Farmington. According to a statement from MARMC administration, "Mineral Area Regional Medical Center is returning to a laser focus on what we do best — providing exceptional care to hospital patients." The statement says the hospital will focus on investing in growing and enhancing hospital services and facility and move away from business activities that aren't core to running a hospital.

Anderson Green adds insurance carrier

SIKESTON, Mo. — Anderson Green Insurance Agency in Sikeston has added a new insurance carrier. Hauler's Insurance Company, an "A rated carrier" has been added to the list of carriers the agency has a contract with. The company has inexpensive personal auto insurance rates, as well as commercial auto, auto dealers and garage coverage. The agency also has contracts with regional and national carriers that cover commercial and personal insurance needs, including Safeco, CNA, Hartford, Columbia Mutual and Zurich.

Anderson Green is located at 526 S. Main in Sikeston. The phone number is (573) 471-9757.