Open for Business: International House of Pancakes

International House of Pancakes franchise owner Chris Kennon added a north side location at 2647 N. Kansas Expwy. Dec. 9. Kennon and his brother Murray Kennon (pictured) have partnered in the new IHOP; Murray Kennon serves as its general manager. "I think we are filling a niche," Chris Kennon said. "There is a major void out here for full-service restaurants." The restaurant is open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. It will be open 24 hours a day in two months.

Paul Seale, former KY3.com Web master, started the multimedia firm Alien Media Inc. Oct. 1. Alien Media provides Web development, hosting and consulting, as well as CD-ROM creation. Seale said the Nixa-based company is targeting businesses that have information technology needs, but can't perform them in house. His current contracts include KY3 and Even Balance Inc., makers of the online gaming anti-cheat program Punkbuster.

Online business Weddings by Dezign opened a retail store Dec. 2 at 1913 S. Glenstone Ave. in the Plaza Towers Center. Owners Mike and Kathy Schwin operated Weddings by Dezign on the Internet for three years before opening the retail shop, which offers designer wedding accessories including guest books, pens, unity candles, decorations, favors and invitations. But the Schwins are not veering away from the Internet side: the store also has an online viewing area for customers to peruse the more than 2,500-item Web site, she said. The storefront arrived after Weddings by Dezign sold more than $700,000 of merchandise online last year. "Once we saw that it was going to be successful, opening a physical location was the next thing to do," Schwin said. Hours are 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.