MINI-BREWERY PLANNED; DOWNTOWN BUCKNER-RAGSDALE BUILDING SOLD

A building synonymous with downtown Cape Girardeau will get new life.

The Buckner-Ragsdale building, constructed in 1916 and home of Buckner-Ragsdale Co., a Cape Girardeau family clothier since 1907, has been purchased by Cape Girardeau Brewing Co.

The two-story building on the southeast corner of Broadway and Main has housed a number of businesses since 1982, when Buckner-Ragsdale closed. The structure was built following a fire at the former Buckner-Ragsdale building.

Since 1982 the building has been home to restaurants and lounges and at one time a large, full-service banquet and convention center. The building has been vacant the past six years.

A micro-brewery will be put in the building, which was purchased this week by a recently formed brewing company headed by Mark Sprigg and Phil Brinson, both of Cape Girardeau.

Sprigg, who works at St. Francis Medical Center, has long been interested in brewing beer. "I've been a home brewer for more than 20 years," he said.

Brinson is owner of Rufus Mudsuckers, a restaurant and lounge that opened this year at Main and Independence, and Jeremiah's at Sikeston.

"We don't have a timetable yet," Sprigg said of the brewery. "Food and a variety of beer will be available."

Micro-brewery restaurants and clubs have spread across the nation.

"We've toured a few of the brew pubs," said Sprigg. "We think it will be great for the Cape Girardeau area."

Buckner-Ragsdale first opened at the spot in 1907. Its first building survived a 1908 fire but was destroyed by a 1916 blaze that damaged or destroyed a half-dozen downtown businesses. The existing building was built and opened that same year.

Earlier in this decade the building figured into plans for a riverboat gambling casino complex proposed by Boyd Gaming Corp. Boyd abandoned the plans.

Downtown has been going through a renaissance, with new businesses opening and others expanding during the past year. No less than a half-dozen businesses have opened or expanded during the past six months.

New downtown locations include Carol-Cyn's Fashions and Carol's Closet & Consignment at 19 N. Main; Rufus Mudsuckers restaurant and lounge, Main and Independence; and The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri Art Gallery, Spanish and Independence.

Expansions and remodelings include The Wine Cellar, which sells wine, cheese, breads and gourmet food, and the remodeling of Millie's Cafe & Bar, 11 S. Spanish.

Capaha Bank has moved some of its offices to a renovated building at 1 S. Main, and A Step Back in Time, an antique store, soda shop and pizza parlor, is scheduled to open soon.