RYAN'S STEAK HOUSE, NEW OFFICES GOING UP HERE

A fast-growing national chain of steak restaurants is expanding to Cape Girardeau, and a new office building is also under construction nearby.

Ryan's Steak House, a chain based in Greer, S.C., is building a 10,000-square-foot restaurant immediately south of the Drury Lodge, at I-55 and Route K, said Drury Southwest Inc. spokesman Larry Westrich.

"Ryan's is building a facility that will seat between 375 and 400 people," said Westrich. "They are a popularly priced steak restaurant that is expanding rapidly in the West and Midwest."

Westrich said Ryan's officials plan to have the restaurant open in November. The nearest Ryan's are in Marion, Ill.. and Paducah, Ky.

Drury Southwest, a Cape Girardeau real-estate and motel developer and outdoor advertising company, is constructing the office building to the east of the Drury Lodge and just west of the Drury offices. The new building will house Drury Southwest corporate offices and will consist of approximately 9,500 square feet on each of two floors. Completion is scheduled for early November, Westrich said.