MAKING THE BAR SCENE

There are a few bars in town where patrons will greet you by name in unison, sort of similar to the patrons of television's "Cheers" greeting Norm whenever he walks through the door of the lower-level Boston pub.

But everyone doesn't know your name everywhere you go, and unlike Norm you'll probably have to pay your tab regardless of the establishment.

Central Inn, 1 S. Frederick; Congo Club, 435 Good Hope; Brother's II Lounge, 2023 Independence and Ed's Bar, 521 Good Hope are a few of Cape Girardeau's bars that cater to regular customers. And patrons are more apt to call you by name when the darken the door.

"They're all regulars here," said the Central Inn's bartender, Janet Keesee. "It's just a family-type bar. We're all friends here.

Keesee said the Central Inn is an establishment where "friends come to meet friends." The bar offers pool and darts for patrons, but most folks sit down at the bar to "see who can tell the biggest lie."

She said Central Inn is the oldest operating bar in Cape Girardeau, established in 1910.

Most other bars in Cape Girardeau don't have the longevity that Central Inn has experienced, but they're popular nonetheless.

Rivers Edge, 701 N. Main; Big Al's Video Dance Club, 610 S. Kingshighway; Independence Place, 5 S. Henderson; and Papa Bear's Daiquiris & Grill, 2 N. Main, are establishments where much of the activity takes place away from the actual bar.

They offer dancing, pool, electronic darts, live bands, karaoke or other entertainment to attract new customers in addition to catering to regulars.

The businesses make money from the sale of alcohol, but drinks aren't necessarily sold while the patron is seated at a bar.

Rodney Pobst, owner of River's Edge, said bars have to offer dart or pool leagues and live bands in order to compete with the neighborhood bars. He said he has watched the bar business drop off 30 percent in recent years.

"People have just stopped going like they used to," he said.

Pobst said he doesn't think patrons stay away from bars because of a lack of money. But he didn't know what has caused the decline.

He said competition and trends make running a bar in Cape Girardeau difficult.

Many establishments in Cape Girardeau also offer food service as a mainstay in addition to bar service, all in a trendy atmosphere.

Places such as Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 202 S. Broadview; Garfield's Restaurant, 3029 William; New Orleans Restaurant, 300 Broadway; Mollies Cafe & Bar, 11 S. Spanish and Port Cape Girardeau, 19 N. Water, offer table dining as well as a bar to "belly up to" for patrons.

These businesses concentrate on the restaurant-end of service, but the bars attract customers who want to sit down and have a cold one at the end of a long day.

Having a cold one at the end of a long day is what all the bars of Cape Girardeau have in common.