There have been some recent shake-ups in Cape Girardeau dining arrangements.
As you may have heard via social media, Ruby Tuesday and O’Charley’s have both closed.
Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Mehner said the two were both at the end of a lease.
“For just several different sets of circumstances, those leases were not renewed,” said Mehner. “So they’ve announced they’re going to close.”
Mehner said the closures come as some national brands in fast food have been wavering, as some struggle and some fare well in a “changing environment.” And, delivery services such as CarGO and DoorDash could also be tipping the number of customers who are dining in-house.
“I also think there’s a lot more people ordering and having food delivered,” Mehner said.
However, according to Mehner, Cape Girardeau has had the largest restaurant receipts in their history in the past month.
“It’s certainly not a lack of spending going on,” he said, adding that Cape Girardeau has welcomed several food businesses in the past year to year-and-a-half.
Even while the salad buffet and Free Pie Wednesdays are gone, a new restaurant atop the Marquette Tower will soon be opening as both a cocktail lounge and a restaurant.
It’s believed ‘Top of the Marq’ may open in June or July, and recent hires have been announced.