Heard On The Street

MOVING HOOTERS. As mentioned last week in this space, the Hooters at the James River Towne Center is moving, but not very far. Why? Hooters folks wouldn't say exactly. Maybe it's because Home Depot wants the land Hooters now occupies to put up a store there. While this is only speculation at this point, it's been reliably rumored (how's that for an oxymoron) that the site is attractive to the national retailer. And Hooters, for its part, welcomed the chance for more, um, exposure with a building more visible from the freeway.

PIZZA HOUSE II. Springfield's second Pizza House is set to open in December on South Campbell in the Shadowood Plaza. Corey Craven, owner of Heintz Lighting, has purchased the rights to the formulas and the name from Dorothy Smith, owner of the original restaurant on South Glenstone, which will continue to operate there. Craven said John Wagner will manage the Campbell location, "virtually duplicating what the original Pizza House" offers. The 800-square-foot store will offer delivery, as well as limited seating with an open-kitchen floor plan. Craven has plans to expand the name and operation of Pizza House in Springfield and surrounding areas.

HAMMONS THIRD QUARTER. John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. announced Nov. 10 its third-quarter results for the period ended Oct. 2. The company had a loss of $578,000 for the quarter, on revenues of $82.7 million. Revenues were up 4.8 percent compared to the third quarter in the previous year. The loss for the quarter was attributed to costs associated with new hotels, 10 of which have been opened since 1997. For the first nine months of the year, JQH Inc. reported a per-share loss of 30 cents for the period, compared to a 54-cent-per-share profit for the same nine months in 1997. "We are encouraged to report that our results continue to be above the industry's pace. Our new hotels (four) added in 1998 will add revenues ... as they continue to stabilize in future years," a company release said. The company announced earlier this year a halt in plans for more new hotels.

PENETRATION. If you call a Southwestern Bell customer, it's a 50-50 proposition that they'll know who you are. The company announced its Caller ID service is on about half its lines. In terms of households a different figure because of second voice lines and fax lines about 60 percent of homes have Caller ID. Southwestern Bell compared the popularity of Caller ID with other appliances in the home. The company said 54 percent of homes have a dishwasher, 50 percent a compact disc player and 41 percent a personal computer.

PUTTING OUT THE SHINGLE. Sinclair Financial Group, which earlier this year was granted a wholesale bank charter in the state of Maine, opened Oct. 12 an operation in Springfield under that charter name for residential mortgage lending. Sinclair Bank & Trust, the name of the Maine-chartered bank, will be putting up a sign at SFG's South Fremont headquarters. Allyson Baker is vice president of mortgage lending. The operation will originate and process conforming mortgage loans. Information from the the company said FHA and VA lending will be offered in the near future.

PEAR UP. The former Best Western Ambassador Inn on North Glenstone is now a Pear Tree Inn by Drury. The 102-room hotel is owned by Drury Properties and is operated by Drury Inns Inc. Craig Cremer is general manager of the Pear Tree and Tim Askew is hotel manager. Drury Inns Inc., based in St. Ann, owns more than 90 hotels in 13 states under eight brand names.

HERE COMES THE JUDGE. Jerry Venters, a Jefferson City attorney, has been named to the bench of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri. Venters, 55, will replace Judge Karen M. See, who earlier this year announced she will step down in January. Venters was chosen from 50 applicants for the $125,764 job. Among his previous job experience, we at SBJ find it heartening that Venters worked 1965-73 as a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

SLICE OF NICE. The Junior League of Springfield presents the third annual Celebrate the Season Holiday Extravaganza Nov. 19. Proceeds from the event benefit community projects sponsored by Junior League. Tickets are $5 in advance and are available at Paperworld, Organization Etc. and the Junior League office. The event will feature sample dishes prepared from Junior League cookbooks, a silent auction and holiday decorating ideas from 18 designer showcase displays. For more information, call 887-9422, ext. 16.

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