Jim Maurer recently won the Stick Your Neck Out Award at the 2015 Missouri Main Street Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Old Town Cape nominated Mr. Maurer for his work in the creation of the Cape Girardeau CID. As a business owner with a regional presence, Jim risked inviting negative reactions from the inevitable naysayers in the community who would be opposed to his advocacy of a new tax. Despite this risk, Jim believed that it was the right thing to do for downtown and for our entire community, and so he was willing to stick his neck out… repeatedly… to ensure that the job got done, and got done right.

Jim started his work with Old Town Cape in 2004 when he began his first of two, three year terms on the Board of Directors. At the end of his second term, he agreed to continue volunteering as chair of a steering committee to facilitate the formation of a downtown community improvement district (CID)-- a process that ended up being almost 5 years in the making and more than controversial at times.

Jim was not a chair in name only. He engaged in all the work of the committee, helping set the boundaries and services that outlined the petition. He helped facilitate and coordinate in kind or delayed payment of a survey for a legal description, legal work and the business side (office supplies and other needed items). He was involved in most all legal, city council and media discussions.

The steering committee originally had 13 members but eventually only about half of those were active and did the work of the committee. The group was facilitated by Old Town Cape’s Downtown Development Team which included the Director and a board member of Old Town Cape, a Chamber representative and a City representative. This group acted as a resource to the steering committee and did much of the research, facilitation of meetings and timeline.

After serving on the Old Town Cape Board, Jim knew the importance of keeping the formation of the new district and Old Town Cape separate. He took the lead position on public and council presentations, media inquiries and discussions and property owner inquiries. He continually protected Old Town Cape and the Development Team and at the same time helped people understand that this was a way to provide needed services that likely Old Town Cape could facilitate. Even though the whole process was facilitated through Old Town Cape and Development Team, Jim made sure the steering committee had its own presence through his representation.

The original boundaries outlined in the petition included almost 460 properties. (In comparison, the other CID in Cape Girardeau boasts 1 property owner.) Jim owned property with a business in the district, a gas station/quick shop. There were 2 other similar businesses owned by other individuals in the district. He took the lead on gaining their support even though the extra tax would create discrepancies in pricing/margin in relation to their stores in other parts of the town. This was by no means an easy sell and became quite controversial with one owner. But Jim persisted and finally came to an understanding with the other two business/property owners.

After the petition was finalized, Jim spent many hours coordinating and personally gathering property owner signatures, traveling as much as 90 miles for one signature. When almost enough signatures were gathered to deliver to City Council, Jim facilitated a difficult decision with the steering committee to redraw the boundaries. This decision resulted in voiding the signed petitions. A new petition had to be drafted with new boundaries and the steering committee had to start over on gathering signatures.

The reason behind the decision was that a section of the original boundaries was simply not supportive of the CID concept and had very different expectations of service than the rest of the proposed district. It was determined that should the CID pass, those property owners would likely be disappointed in the service because, no matter how presented, they had unrealistic expectations. In addition, there were a number of residents in that area who were not supportive and could have negatively influenced the vote to pass the taxes. Although it was not the easy thing to do, redrawing the boundaries was the right thing to do.

This was a difficult decision resulting in disappointment and some discouragement as the group had to start over. But Jim was not deterred. With his property and one of the other quick shops left out of the new proposed boundaries, he made sure not to include the third quick shop so they were not at a disadvantage. This was a testament to Jim’s integrity as that property would have provided a large amount in tax to the district had it been left in and likely the district and tax could have passed with it included. He had given his word that they would all do it together and when that situation needed to be changed, he made sure it was fair for everyone.

Jim went back and asked for additional survey work and rallied the tired volunteers (and Old Town Cape staff and the rest of the Development Team) to get the signatures needed to form the district. The new boundaries contained 268 properties and 180 property owners. 180 signed petitions, representing 64.35% of the properties in the district and 52.78% per capita were delivered to the City Clerk on December 5, 2013. The signed petitions were verified and the request to form the district was approved by City Council on May 5, 2014.

Now it was time to “get the vote”. The petition called for a .5 % sales tax and a small property tax to fund the services outlined. The property tax was included because a section of the district was already part of a Special Business District that was funded through the exact property included in the Petition. It was set up that the Special Business District would be dissolved when the property tax was passed for the CID. So those property owners would experience a “wash” in their property taxes while properties in the other part of the proposed district would only see a slight increase in their property tax. It was used as a selling point, noting how much had been done within the boundaries of that Special Business District and explaining that would continue in the expanded area.

It was a complicated vote. The steering committee was originally advised that the property and sales tax could be combined in one ballot. But in reality this had never been done before in the state of Missouri and when it came to working with the County Clerk, her research found that the ballots had to be divided. Two ballots. Two different time frames. Two different requirements for passage.

Again, none of this deterred Jim. He worked with the steering committee and Development Team, discussing the best way to insure success the first time. The group agreed the help of a consultant was needed. This was an expense that was not reimbursable by the CID, should it be finalized. Jim helped the team brainstorm and eventually fundraise, donating some of the investment himself to make sure the vote was successful. The consultants helped frame the vote and develop strategy. And Jim helped implement the strategy, again taking time to make some of the contacts himself and facilitating a public meeting of the residents within the district to help answer questions. Taxes are never popular and both the sales and property tax proposal had their detractors. Jim stood strong and took the lead in facing the opposition.

The September 16 mail in ballot election was certified by the County Clerk with the sales tax passing with a total of 51 votes (out of 180 voters), 31 in favor and 20 against. However, the property tax failed on a close vote with a total of 54 votes, 28 opposed and 26 in favor. The budget was rewritten and the process moved forward. Sales tax began being collected on January 1, 2015 – 5 years after the first informational meeting of the steering committee in January of 2010.

Jim helped facilitate the transition of the formation to execution and the running of the CID by named Board of Directors. He was willing to even be a Board member but became ineligible when the boundaries were redrawn. But Jim was intent on seeing it through and attended Board meetings and held discussions for the first six months after the establishment of the Board. He helped frame the request for qualifications that would lead to a contract for services providing management of the district.

For his unwavering leadership and commitment to the formation of the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District in the face of adversity and possible personal damage and insult, Jim Maurer is more than deserving of the 2015 Missouri Main Street Connection’s Stick Out Your Neck Award. Congratulations, Jim!

Pictured below: Marla Mills, Old Town Cape Executive Director, accepts the 2015 Stick Out Your Neck Award on behalf of Jim Maurer, from Dr. Steven Hoffman, Missouri Main Street Connection Board of Directors President and Old Town Cape Board Member.

The Former Federal Building recently won the award for the Best Adaptive Re-Use Project at the Missouri Main Street Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Old Town Cape nominated the Former Federal Building because this project turned a white elephant property into a viable space for new businesses. This building has become a hub for quality businesses that may have not existed if this project was unable to happen.    

 

The Formal Federal Building was designed by St. Louis architect Marcel Boucicault, who was noted for his mid-century modern designs. This building had many positives and negatives, which made its redevelopment both essential and challenging. This quality built, classically modernist building that opened their doors in 1968 was a great addition to the thriving downtown landscape.

 

The Former Federal Building was in use until 2007 when the construction of the Rush Limbaugh Federal Courthouse was completed just a few blocks away. After the move of all the federal offices and court, the building was slated for many different uses; from a homeless shelter to municipal offices. None of these routes were taken and in 2012 the Old Federal Building was sold by the Federal Government to an out of state buyer. The new buyer had no plans for development and the community believed that it would continue to deteriorate and sit vacant.

 

One of the challenges with the redevelopment of the building was the massive size of the structure. The 46,000 square foot building needed a creative solution that would make it fiscally possible for someone to undertake. Luckily a local developer, the Janus Development Group, had the vision and the resources needed to turn this white elephant property into a fabulous office center in Old Town Cape.

 

In 2014 the Janus Development Group purchased the building with the intent of putting it back into service. By providing critical upgrades to the building, yet retaining the historic look and feel of the public areas, Janus Development Group and their managing partner Athena Property Group, have indeed given this historic building a new beginning. In the short time they have been open; they have filled 13 leases and in the process brought a number of new businesses to downtown Cape Girardeau.

 

This project created a buzz in the community. The Former Federal Building houses businesses from lawyers to photographers. Their first lease was signed before they even opened the doors. Codefi is a creative co-working space that focuses on entrepreneurship, business development and helping startup businesses reach their full potential. They have been a great addition to the district by giving people a place to work and network. Codefi has been open for under a year and already has over 100 members.

 

Although the façade needed minimal work, extensive work was done to the interior structure because of the time it sat vacant. The heating and cooling of the building turned out to be a massive undertaking. During construction, the water lines to the radiator had burst, leading to the complete overhaul of the system.

 

A really nice addition to the Janus Development Group’s effort is their preservation of the old courtroom. The judge’s bench and witness stand remain, giving it a unique and historic feel, and as event space available for both business and public use, it will be responsible for bringing all sorts of people downtown for all sorts of reasons. Their vision is to rent out the courtroom to community members that need a unique venue for events.

 

In addition to the courtroom, many other historic features were kept in order to preserve the history of the building. The marble walls and terrazzo floors were preserved in the lobby, and the original doors throughout the building were saved. This shows the commitment to historic preservation and how adaptively reusing buildings can be a strong economic driver.  

 

Looking forward, the Former Federal Building will be retrofitted with LED lighting in order to comply with LEED standards and technology. The Former Federal building is a great example of a rehabilitation project that is able to adapt and progress while staying true to preservation standards. This once white elephant property has become a model for preservation based practices in Old Town Cape.

 

This project demonstrates everything that Old Town Cape promotes; economic development, people working together to reenergize and revitalize downtown and setting an example of good preservation practice. For these reasons and many more, the Former Federal Building is well deserving of the Best Adaptive Re-Use Project award. Congratulations!

Pictured below: Marla Mills, Old Town Cape Executive Director, accepted the 2015 Adaptive Reuse Award Award on behalf of Janus Development Group, from Gayla Roten, Missouri Main Street Connection State Director. Also, before and after photos of the Former Federal Building's revitalization.

Thomas R. Higgins Accounting, LLC recently won the 2015 Business Excellence Award at the Missouri Main Street Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Old Town Cape nominated TRH Accounting because for more than 30 years, this accounting firm has called Downtown Cape Girardeau home, and has rooted itself as a community supporter and advocate for Cape Girardeau’s historic district. From the top down, this small business exemplifies the attitudes and behaviors of an outstanding, successful entity and is more than deserving of the Business Excellence Award.

Opening its doors in a rented space along a major downtown corridor in 1977, TRH Accounting was ready and eager to serve the accounting needs of the community. Their very first client was a downtown business – a theater. They were able to work through the financial highs and lows with this business, and started witnessing firsthand the rewards that come with being a part of a downtown community.

As business picked up and their clientele base continued to grow, TRH Accounting decided it was time to make a change, a permanent change. Official downtown roots were established when a building just a few blocks down the road was purchased and became the entity’s new home. Steps from the picturesque courthouse, across the street from an established jewelry business, just up from the community clock, TRH Accounting settled into the place it would call home for more than 25 years.

While an accounting office isn’t what you might think of first when analyzing a typical downtown ‘retail landscape’, this organization has a multitude of services and talents to offer the community. From tax preparation and payroll services, to bookkeeping, financial statement preparation and more, this staff is equipped to help properly manage some of the ‘behind-the-scenes’, not-so-glamorous elements of area businesses. During busy seasons or when a big project is coming due, the lights in this downtown building will be on into the late evening hours as this team diligently defends their motto, ‘Accurate and timely service to small business has ALWAYS been our promise.’

TRH Accounting is led by Cape Girardeau resident, Thomas R. Higgins. Although not a native of our area, Tom considers Cape to be home and can think of no better place to own and operate a business. Moving from a high traffic area to a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly location, Tom loves the fact that he can walk out of his business, talk with others and get to know his neighbors, and loves the sense of community that downtown offers. He has often remarked that his business neighbors and partners are more like family than associates. His hometown values of commitment to clients, superior customer service, dedication to the community and putting client needs first, resonates throughout his 4-person staff and, in turn, throughout the community as well.

Speaking of the community, Tom is actively vested in various organizations. He serves on the finance committee for the United Way of Southeast Missouri and also contributes to the development of the organization in several different capacities. He serves on the Board of Directors of EPIC, Early Prevention Impacts Community, a substance abuse prevention program for youth in Southeast Missouri. The Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent’s Church are also organizations he invests his time and resources into to further each of their missions, as well as to contribute to their collective community impact.

Tom was active in the Downtown merchants Association for years before its merger into Old Town Cape. When Old Town Cape was formed, he served as one of the organization’s founding board members. Throughout his 15-year tenure, he served as Vice-President, President and, for 3 years, Treasurer. To keep the revitalization movement going strong, he continues to actively be involved in various committees and events. His accumulated gamut of ideas and strategic input has built a legacy of influence to Downtown Cape Girardeau’s revitalization that will be realized for years to come.

Aside from his leadership capacity, Tom is committed to helping his business peers be successful. He realizes the skills and talents TRH Accounting offers are extremely valuable to the success of a small business, and often offers them for free or at a reduced rate. While some business owners would take time away from their establishments to make these community investments, this entire organization is involved in such development and every employee contributes what he or she can.

Building revitalization is near and dear to Tom’s heart. He has owned and lovingly maintained one of the ‘old’ downtown buildings, keeping it an active facet of the area. Embracing the upper story development that’s classic of the Main Street Approach, Tom created an upstairs apartment (perfect for a son in college) with his business operating out of the first floor. As his family matured, so did the building, and the upstairs was transformed into more office space.

When asking his staff, his family and friends why downtown is so important to Tom and why he continues to keep his small business in this area, they will undoubtedly tell you that downtown is what keeps his pulse going. The history that’s kept alive through revitalization efforts is what’s making his journey special and unique; you can’t just walk into this environment anywhere. It’s businesses like Thomas R. Higgins Accounting, LLC and business owners like Tom that create this special culture. Congratulations, Tom!

Pictured below: William Zickfield, fellow downtown business neighbor and Old Town Cape volunteer, accepted the 2015 Business Excellence Award on behalf of TRH Accounting, LLC, from Dr. Steven Hoffman, Missouri Main Street Connection Board of Directors President and Old Town Cape Board Member.

As the Celebration of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Mississippi River Tales Mural continues to approach, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it was like getting this project off the ground and running. We chatted with local artist and original mural committee member, Don Greenwood, to learn more about that process.

"Back when the River Tales Mural planning committee was being formed, I got a call from Tim Blattner, the startup leader, asking if I would be interested in joining the group and helping bring this project to fruition. As the only artist in the mix, I was excited for the opportunity to share my insights because my input was going to be completely different than that of an engineer, a downtown stakeholder, a community member; I was looking at this as an opportunity to have a large-scale canvas that could serve as a community landmark for many years to come. As an artist, that’s exciting.

"Not long after planning started and we knew this project was going to get off the ground, I was asked to pull together an initial concept. What did I think it should look like? What was going to be meaningful for downtown and what would be representative of our community?

"The wall is so big and, at the time, almost looked like a prison wall, so I wanted to brighten it up. My initial sketch included four stone archways that served as windows to the river. What was on the other side of the wall is what would be depicted, with the addition of seasonal changes. One section would portray the river in the winter, one in the spring, one in the summer and one for fall. I took the idea to our committee and they were on board.

"Now that the initial design idea was fermenting, it was time to figure out who would be able to carry out this process. One person can’t do it alone; it takes a team. Our initial call for artists reaped in about 25 submissions. As a committee, we were able to initially par the list down to 17 seemingly qualified candidates. Years of research into each of these artists/companies styles, previous works and really figuring out if they would be a fit for this project, allowed us to narrow the selection field to three. These final groups were brought to Cape, each for three days, to experience our community, see the flood wall and the area they could be working in, and provide a final concept and estimate for the project.

"One company flew in two executives from New York; they brought their power team. However, neither of those individuals was an artist. So when we had questions specific to the design and how it could be carried out, they were unable to provide any answers. At that point, a red flag was raised. We weren’t comfortable going with a company whose artists we didn’t know and didn’t know if they were a good fit for our community. Group #2 came armed with an incredibly detailed, intricate design plan complete with etched marble, scroll work and fancy frills. While it seemed they produced fantastic work, it didn’t fit with our Southeast Missouri, heartland feel.

"The last artist to visit was Tom Melvin, from Chicago, Il. It was almost like something out of the movies when two characters meet and they just know they’ve found the one – we had that experience with Tom. His personality, style and vision for the mural were exactly what we were looking for. He understood where we’ve come from and what all it’s taken to get to where we were at that time.

"A few of us traveled to Chicago to learn more about him and his team. I stayed at Tom’s home while the other guys stayed with some of his friends; we almost felt like family. As we walked with him in their busy streets, locals would shout ‘Hey, Tom!’ and give him handshakes. There, in the windy city where we blended in with the rest of the hustle and bustle, Tom was well-known. He was experiencing in Chicago what we felt when we walked the streets of Cape Girardeau, where we knew our neighbors and ran into familiar faces quite frequently. Another link that he isn’t that different from us, he was relatable and personable.

"A collection of photographs lined the walls in one of his bathrooms. After closely examining them, I realized they were all images of Tom’s work; some were of him actually creating pieces. One really stuck out to me. Tom was hanging onto the edge of some scaffolding with one paintbrush in his mouth and another in his hand, working precariously to finish up a large piece. It was fantastic! After traveling around the city checking out Tom’s work and really getting to know him, our decision became more and more concrete that this was the right guy for the job.

"Upon settling on a contract, Tom took my initial concept and ran with it. He did a fantastic job of meticulously depicting our history and captured the essences of each time period so beautifully. The months he and his team spent creating in downtown were a true joy to experience.

"I love how great this mural turned out. It was a pleasure helping bring this to our community and I look forward to the many more years of joy it brings to Cape Girardeau."

To learn more about this project and to meet some of the original artists and planners, plan to attend the Mural Celebration sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape, on Thursday, July 30, at 2pm in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Themis Streets. Help us celebrate this beautiful downtown landmark!

This post was co-written by Don Greenwood, guest blogger, and Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape Project Manager.

I guess now that I've made it a year, it's time for you to learn a little more about the lady behind the keyboard. Hey - I'm Christa Zickfield, your friendly Old Town Cape Project Manager. Our organizations marketing, social media, events and various other odd jobs are my responsibility. I love downtown and I love Cape Girardeau, so this job seemed like a good fit. Boy was I wrong...

Cape Girardeau is my stomping ground; I've lived here my whole life (actually 28 years, but to those of you gracious individuals who swear it's only been 25 - thank you!). A Cape Public Schools alumni, I'm proud to call myself a Central Tiger. After high school, I thought I wanted to go off to college and do the 'big-city thing' at the University of Kentucky. I moved into my dorm room one Friday evening around 5pm, moved out and was gone by 8am the next morning, and was enrolled in Southeast Missouri State the following Monday. After 3.5 years of projects, papers and exams, I received a little sheet of paper granting me a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in Integrated Marketing Communications - wow. All that hard work for a piece of paper!

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I met the handsome guy that I would one day get the honor of calling my husband, William. We thoroughly enjoy making memories together and can't wait to see what our future holds. Yes, the Zickfield in my last name is relation to the downtown jewelry store. If you stop by, he'll be the good looking salesman ready to chat about cut, color and clarity with you. He is my everything and I am truly blessed to have him as the co-pilot on this crazy journey we call life.

My family ranks right up there at the top as well. I can't even put into words how much I love them. My dad, mom and sister, and the dog - anyone who knows us knows how head-over-heels we are for Harley! This also includes my extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, my cousins children and second-cousins that we consider first-cousins, their extended families - if you can't tell, we're really close, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

At the very top of my food chain is my relationship with Christ. Someone that I never met loved me so much that he sacrificed his life to save me from my sins - how cool is that?! I can't even begin to fathom where I would be today with this guiding force. As much as I love life and try to be as positive an influence as possible, it isn't always easy; there have been water leaks. However, I know what my future holds because of Jeremiah 29:11 - 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.' I'm excited to see how the rest of my story will play out.

What are my hobbies? Favorite things? First off, I'm terrible at sports, anything that requires the coordinated use of an object, really. That summer I played softball - phew! I do, however, love attending sporting events with my loved ones and friends. St. Louis Cardinal and Blues games rank up there at the top of the list. It's a dream of mine to attend the Australian Open, preferably before Rodger Federer retires from the game (he's pretty dreamy). I love food, however am terrible at preparing it. Coming from a long line of family cooks, sometimes I'm convinced I look like the mailman. Evening walks with the dog and traveling are additional pastimes I thoroughly enjoy. Also, it's really hard to beat warm towels out of the dryer - seriously, it doesn't take much!

Idiosyncrasies? Well, if you ask my peers I'm sure they have plenty to tell you. I only eat pickles the day after Thanksgiving. Toenails kind of give me the creeps. I'm thoroughly convinced that every time I hear a creak at home, there's some ninja-assasin hiding under the bed waiting for me to hang my foot off and, you know the rest... Typically the inside of my vehicle is impeccably clean, yet I can't seem to get my desk organized.

My love for downtown started blossoming at a young age. My Grandma Kinsey was the long-time seamstress for Hecht's clothing store. Chances are she's altered something for either you or someone you know. My dad has worked downtown at Cape Paint & Glass since, I'm pretty sure, the beginning of time. My uncle used to own a bakery on Main St, My Daddy's Cheesecake, that my cousins and I often frequented, especially on cake decorating days because we were almost always guaranteed a bite of the extra icing or cake scraps! The Christmas Parade of Lights has always been a family tradition that is something I hope to continue with my kids one day. Walks on the railroad tracks, yes on the tracks, and heading to the riverfront to check out the riverboats were typical occurrences. Up until a few months ago, my grandparents owned a farm just on the other side of the river, so trips to and from would often times warrant a detour downtown. Downtown has been a part of my life since before I can remember, and I'm better person because of it.

Each of these roads led me to this juncture in life. So when I mentioned at the beginning that it seemed I had found the right job, but boy was I wrong - I didn't find the right job, I found the perfect opportunity. I get to work downtown amongst some of our area's richest history almost everyday. I get to work for and with some of the coolest entrepreneurs and business-people in the community. I get to represent one of the greatest downtowns in the nation.

I am truly blessed!

April showers bring May flowers - and flooding. Our Mighty Mississippi River is full right now. Flood stage here in downtown is 32 feet. The projected crest, which is the highest level the river is projected to reach, is 43 feet. Unfortunately, for heartland residents this is nothing new.

1937
The flood of 1937 caused $20 million in damage, the equivalent of more than $300 million in today's dollars. Thousands of people were left homeless and displaced for months, some forever. Tent cities, areas of high ground where people congregated to seek shelter, popped up across the area. For the first time since its construction in the early 1930's, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided it was necessary to open the Birds Point Levee and help alleviate flooding pressure along the river. Cleanup throughout the Southeast Missouri area lasted for years and historians refer to this event as one of the greatest natural disasters in the country's history.

 1943
Like the major flood six years prior, the flood of 1943 was huge. The Mississippi crested at 42.4 feet in May of that year; 10.4 feet above flood stage. Just like before, thousands were displaced from their homes, WWII efforts were disrupted and livelihoods were ruined. In response to the widespread devastation, Congress passed the Flood Control Act in 1944 authorizing numerous flood control and water development projects to aid in the management of these efforts down the road.

1993
Crazy events culminated in the Flood of '93 because our area really didn't receive that much rain. Snow melt combined with an excessive amount of rain to the north caused our waters to rise excessively. The river first crept above above flood stage on March 7 and remained above this level for 126 consecutive days. Sandbaggers and pumps worked tirelessly for weeks trying to keep water out of our area. The entire affected area included the states of: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. Approximately fifty flood deaths occurred and damages approached the $15 billion mark.

Our immediate forecast is iffy on the chance of rain. We'll just have to wait and see what Mother Nature decides to pass our way.
Photos courtesy of Chris Shivelbine, Southeast Missourian and UMSL

In the small business world, lots of ‘jobs’ make up everyday life for business owners. Not only are these individuals the face of the organization, they also have to clean the floors, balance the check book, keep up with inventory, provide an excellent level of customer service, answer the phones, change the tape in the cash register, do some marketing… We could keep going. While these ‘jobs’ are necessary to keep a business going, some owners take things a step further.

According to Merriam-Webster, a duty is ‘something you must do because it is morally right’. Charlie Bertrand embodies this.

If you head to the Spanish Street area around 8:30-9am, chances are you’ll catch Charlie on the sidewalks and in the street donning his green apron with a broom in hand. As the owner and manager of two downtown businesses for the past 11 years, Spanish Street Mercantile/Cape’s Cream of the Crust and Broadway Market & Loft, as well as being a downtown resident, he understands how important it is to keep the outside of his properties looking as good as the insides.

It takes about 45 minutes to an hour for him to cover his territory, which is more than just in front of his store. He walks up to Broadway, checks out the Broadway and Spanish Street intersection, then heads down the block to make sure Minglewood Brewery’s sidewalk is looking nice. From there he heads back down Spanish St all the way to Independence, takes a short detour up Independence then makes his way back to his establishment.

Why do this? Why spend this much time cleaning up other people’s trash in such a big area? ‘It is my duty as a downtown business owner to do my part in helping make the entire area inviting for visitors,’ commented Charlie. ‘If I do it every morning, it’s not such a big task.’

‘We, as a collective group of downtown business owners, have to pull together on a daily basis to keep our area looking nice.’

Sweeping up empty soda cups and cigarette litter does seem like a ‘dirty job’, but Charlie commented that he actually enjoys this time. ‘I get to talk to everyone, experience the ‘downtown way of life’ and, for the most part, the weather is beautiful.’

While walking along his route, we turned the corner at Broadway and Spanish Streets and it was then that I realized why he does what he does. The sun was painting a gorgeous picture on the water of the Mississippi and our downtown was gleaming with excitement and beauty. Charlie turned to me and said, ‘Do you see that? Old Town Cape is one of the prettiest spots along the entire river and I get to be a part of this.’

Thank you, Charlie, and all the downtown business owners who do their part in helping make our area a beautiful destination for people to live, work and play. We truly are one of the greatest downtowns in the nation!

Thursday evening, February 19, friends, volunteers, board and committee members of Old Town Cape gathered in the Event Center at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau for an evening of fun and to make some well-deserved recognitions. This annual spectacle helps raise awareness of what this organization is all about, highlights some of the downtown happenings of the year prior and looks forward to the excitement of the coming year. At this year’s Annual Dinner, we did just that!

Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, one of our main event sponsors, always helps pull together a fantastic event. Dinner started with a lovely beet and mandarin orange salad, which, I learned, is a work of art in itself. Each salad was adorned with cucumber slices in a specific arrangement. When the salads were set, the cucumbers had to be at particular positions in the place setting. Little details like this really make the event over-the-top! After salad came a mouth-watering entrée of beef marsala with crimini mushrooms and crispy sesame chicken with asian pesto. Perfectly manicured carrots adorned each plate and made for a stunning presentation. Last, but certainly not least, individual Chinese takeout boxes were brought out that housed two chocolate covered strawberries, glistening with shimmery gold dust. If you weren’t able to make it, you definitely missed a spectacular dinner!

The Isle does have a beautiful Event Center, but the help of volunteers Teresa Maurer and Sally Suchman, owner of Muriel’s Garden, the space was transformed into an elegant venue. Towering centerpieces of painted branches nestled in eifel tower vases gave each table dramatic personality. The black and silver color scheme kept the palette very clean and professional.  A lighted ice sculpture, generously donated by Mark Dirnberger, owner of Bella Italia, helped give prominence to the stage and awards area. Low lighting and soft dinner music added to the warm ambiance. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting to honor the achievements of some of our most dedicated volunteers.

Speaking of honors, we presented four recognitions during the main program. While our organization is overflowing with talent, dedication and love from some of the best volunteers around, a handful of them stood out for their accomplishments in 2014.

Did you know Old Town Cape sponsors two scholarships? Well, now you know. The primary funding source for both allotments sprouts from the tender loving care that Bill Dunn pours into Old Town Cape’s Scholarship Garden. It seems only fitting to honor the one who helps sustain this offering by renaming the Old Town Cape Scholarship to the Old Town Cape William Dunn Scholarship. Volunteer for us and you never know what kind of recognition you may receive!

If you were as skeptical as we were about the future of the ‘Old Federal Building’ at 339 Broadway, things didn’t look good. They didn’t look good until Janus Development Group swooped in and transformed what was once a white elephant property into a booming hub of commerce and creativity. Since they purchased the building in May 2014, critical structural and cosmetic upgrades have transformed this historic structure into a vibrant opportunity for 13 businesses. Have you heard of Codefi, Cape Girardeau’s first co-working community? They call this building home, along with a group of attorney’s, several photographers, and other specialized retail and professional entities. The excitement these changes have brought to the building are now spilling over and spurring development around the building as well. We couldn’t think of a better fit for the Adaptive Use recognition than Janus Development Group.

When you think of an excellent downtown business, probably an established retail outlet or one of our awesome restaurants comes to mind. While we do have some exceptional businesses that fall under these categories, this year’s Business Excellence Award went to a slightly different recipient. Thomas R. Higgins Accounting, LLC has thrived in downtown for more than 30 years. Tom Higgins, owner, has immersed himself and his business in all things downtown by being involved in several of our organizational committees, staying active in downtown development, his ownership and revitalization of one of downtown’s ‘old buildings’, by offering his business services to a host of area groups and entities, by being one of the first board members of our organization and serving his post for fifteen years. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything Tom and TRH Accounting has contributed to downtown, Old Town Cape and our community. Job well done, sir!

What does it mean to be a visionary? Someone who is dedicated, committed, a leader, someone who helps develop opportunities – what it takes to earn the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award. This individual is someone who is immersed in what they’re passionate about, often leaving a lasting impact on the groups and entities they support – the basis of our Volunteer of the Year Award. For only the second time ever, we have combined these to honor the efforts of one special volunteer, James D. (Jim) Maurer. Jim has been involved with the Discovery Playhouse from the very beginning. He and his wife Teresa are major supporters and organizers of Christmas in Old Town Cape. Jim has served on our Board of Directors and numerous committees for six years. After that, he became Chairman of the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District steering committee and worked tirelessly for four years establishing the district, services and funding. Jim has embraced what it means to love and nurture our downtown, and we are truly blessed to have him as an advocate and ambassador for our organization.

We welcomed two new board members:
                            
Trae Bertrand – Bertrand Law Firm            Emilie Stephens – Annie-Em’s at Home

The evening was perfect! A great dinner, a great venue, a fantastic group of attendees and some well-deserved recognitions. We are incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic team of supporters and volunteers. 2015 is sure to be fantastic with such dedication and support!

Thank you to our wonderful event sponsors:

     

Do you love downtown?
Are you looking to be involved in a worthwhile organization?
Do you want to know more about some of the changes and updates that happened in 2014?
Are you curious about what’s in store for the 131 blocks of our downtown district for 2015?
Have you asked yourself - what does Old Town Cape really do?
This pretty much includes everyone, right? Make plans to attend our Annual Dinner on Thursday, February 19, at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Social hour kicks off the evening at 6pm in Isle Casino Cape Girardeau’s Event Center, located at 777 N Main, with dinner and the program to follow at 7pm. If you haven’t had the opportunity to dine at the Isle, you’re really missing out. We guarantee Chef Ray and his team will have a delicious dinner ready to tantalize your taste buds while learning more about downtown.

Learning more about downtown - what more is there to know? Main Street, Broadway, Spanish Street, we have a court house, fantastic businesses and there are some good restaurants… Our downtown is so much more! Did you know that in 2014 alone there were 85 net new jobs added just in our 131 downtown blocks? Our organization was instrumental in helping pull together 54 events. Over $6,000,000 was invested by our downtown businesses and investors in building and area improvements. That’s just a portion of the puzzle - RSVP for the dinner today to learn more.

This event also gives our organization the opportunity to honor significant downtown achievements and improvements, as well as those businesses and volunteers that have made a major impact on our area and the organization. This year’s recognitions include: Adaptive Use - highlights the creative utilization of a downtown building, Business in Excellence - spotlights an organization that has gone above and beyond to further the collective efforts of downtown revitalization, Volunteer of the Year - pretty much speaks for itself, and the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award - shines a light on one volunteer, one of the many, who has made a substantial impact on downtown.

Tickets are $30 each or tables of 8 are available for $240. If you have special dietary needs, please let us know when reserving your spot. Reservations can be made by calling Old Town Cape at (573) 334-8085.

Special 'Thank you's' go out to our Annual Dinner sponsors - First State Community Bank and Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. Without their support, and the support of all of our sponsors, events like these and downtown revitalization wouldn't be possible. 

Old town is your town - come find out about the excitement!

The Corvettes are coming! Clear your calendars and plan to bring your family downtown Tuesday, August 26, for an evening filled with colorful corvettes, festivities and fun!

The Corvette Caravan is a national event bringing Corvette owners from all 50 states, and even a few foreign countries, together to journey to Bowling Green, Ky, to the National Corvette Museum's 20th anniversary celebration. Cape Girardeau was chosen to be the last overnight stop on their journey, and we're extremely excited to host these travelers!

A parade of local corvettes kicks-off the event. Find a spot on Broadway to watch hundreds of local vette owners journey from Capaha Park to Main St at 5:30pm. National caravaners are alated to arrive downtown around 6:30pm. Both groups will showcase their vehicles on Main St and Water St throughout the evening. Music will be provided by Hot Rod Nights, the Cape Girardeau Police Department will have a Fatal Vision Goggles display, as will the Highway Patrol with their Seat Belt Convincer and a Nascar Simulator from Auto Tire & Parts. You don't want to miss this opportunity to see hundreds of corvettes and participate in the festivities in our own backyard. Check out this video to learn more.

If you're a local Corvette owner and wish to participate in the parade, plan to meet at Capaha Park at 5pm on the 26th to receive further instructions.

Close spectator parking may be an issue. Free parking is available at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau from 4 to 9pm. From there, a shuttle will be running to a pick-up/drop-off location at the intersection of Main St and Broadway.

For more information, head over to the Convention & Visitors Bureau's website. We hope you're as excited about the event as we are and look forward to seeing you on the 26th!