Cardinals announcer Shannon previews Heer’s restaurant

Shannon, now an announcer for the Cardinals radio network, said he just returned from Jupiter, Fla., where the team showcased its young lineup in spring-training games. In 11 seasons of attending spring training, Shannon said he had never seen more young talent for the Cards, the parent team of the Springfield Cardinals. The teams will play each other tonight at Hammons Field and again tomorrow afternoon.

“We’re very excited about our season this year,” Shannon said. “There’s been a lot of speculation about where we are in Cardinal history right now, but if you’re coming to the ballpark tonight, you’re going to see a very fine, young, talented ball club.”

Shannon also said he was excited about opening a Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood Restaurant on the ground floor of the Heer’s building in early summer 2009. It will be the restaurant’s second location; the first is near Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

“Basically, this is the same as St. Louis,” Shannon said after walking through Heer’s. “If you’ve seen my restaurant in St. Louis, you’ll see … the park’s right across the street from the restaurant … in downtown St. Louis.”

Shannon’s daughter, Pat, manages the Mike Shannon’s in St. Louis. She said St. Louis Cards fans from the Ozarks have long implored her family to open one of its restaurants in Springfield. Her brother-in-law, St. Louis developer Kevin McGowan, announced last year that the restaurant would be the anchor tenant for his $26 million Heer’s renovation project. McGowan’s company, Blue Urban, will convert the former department store into two restaurants, condos and office space.

“It has been an amazing reception by Springfield, and we can’t thank you enough,” Pat Shannon said.

Pat Shannon said the restaurant offers aged steaks and fresh seafood in a “sophisticated sports atmosphere.” She said the restaurant’s interior layout has not yet been determined, but it could incorporate part of the building’s mezzanine level.