The Esquire Theater in Old Town Cape gets a new makeover allowing new businesses to boom in Cape

CAPE GIRARDEAU Mo. (KBSI) – Once near ruins, a historic popular theater in Downtown Cape gets a facelift and a new life. 

A historic treasure standing for decades in need of a makeover. 

The Esquire Theater may not be showing any films but it’s opening up opportunities for future businesses in Old Town Cape. 

These black and white pictures show the signature theater once the hit spot in Cape the Esquire Theatre.

A staple in the community left alone for about three decades. It was about to become a parking lot until Benjamin Traxel stepped in.

Benjamin Traxel is the Architect Owner and Real Estate Developer. He is not from Cape Girardeau originally, but he knows what it’s like to restore old buildings into something new with also keeping the sole remaining pieces. 

“History with people going to the movies to ride people every day they come and tell me that they remember coming here so we wanted that back,” said Traxel. 

If it wasn’t for Traxel the building wouldn’t be standing today. 

“Starting to fall apart and this was about the last option it had before became a parking lot so we were glad to get it,” said Traxel. 

Traxel’s main goal is to keep the building in its original character. However, replacing the sunken plaster on the roof, adding windows, side doors, and more but still keeping the essence of the classic building that started it all. 

“We wanted to put the marquee back now a lot was riding off some of the metal panels that were gone, but we wanted to go back and make it look like it was a theater,” said Traxel. 

Traxel says to make this happen they received tax increment financing from the city which was crucial since this project is so big. He also couldn’t have started these renovations with out Liz Haynes the Executive Director for Old Town Cape. 

Liz Haynes does what she can to make sure the town of Cape Girardeau stays authentic. 

“Part of what we do at Old Town Cape is connect with developers, business owners, basically anybody who is passionate about our downtown and helping move forward our revitalization efforts,” said Haynes. 

Haynes grew up in Cape Girardeau so restoring old pieces to life like the Esquire means a lot to her and the community. 

“So excited to be discussing the esquire theater and the rehab of this building. This project has been instrumental to the revitalization efforts of our downtown community,” said Haynes. 

For Traxel it’s about spicing up Broadway with hints of the Old Cape and creating new opportunities for the city of Cape Girardeau. 

“It will be a marquee that looks like the way it did about 40-50 years ago, which is kind of neat for Broadway right here,” said Traxel. 

The Esquire Theater now has six rooms for renovations and leaving four open spaces for new tenants. 

There is more work ahead and they’re looking forward to adding on new life to Old Town Cape.