Blog

Our blog is a wealth of local commercial real estate information, covering everything from local market statistics and recent transactions to new business developments and press releases.

July 1, 2026

After Nearly 5 Years Searching SEMO I-55 Corridors, Developer Secures Truck Stop Site

✔️ CASE STUDY: After Nearly 5 Years Searching SEMO I-55 Corridors, Developer Secures Truck Stop Site

🚛 Client: Experienced truck stop/travel center developer

🗓 Search Duration: Nearly 5 years actively looking along I-55

⚠️ The Challenge: Finding a high-visibility, high-traffic I-55 location with enough acreage to support a full-service truck stop (fuel islands/canopies, ample truck parking, convenience store, and future amenities). Despite years of searching Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas along I-55, nothing was checking all of the boxes.

❌ The Property: 5-acre commercial parcel at the northwest corner of southbound I-55 at Mile Marker 52. Excellent visibility with strong traffic counts and direct access for both northbound and southbound vehicles. Perfect positioning for a truck stop, fuel station, or travel center development.

🌐 The Solution: After nearly 5 years of searching, thousands of miles driven, dozens of property owners contacted, and numerous site visits, a property came up which perfectly matched the buyer’s criteria. Chris Cole connected the motivated developer with the ideal site that offered the highway frontage, access, and development potential they had been seeking. The seller had also planned to develop a c-store, but plans changed.

💯 The Result: Sale successfully closed after thorough due diligence, survey, and a few title hurdles. The buyer/developer plans to bring much-needed services to travelers along I-55 while supporting the local New Madrid/Kewanee communities with jobs and economic activity after the closure of a nearby convenience store and restaurant.

🗝 Key Takeaway: Sometimes the right property takes patience and a lengthy, persistent search. When vision meets location, great deals happen.

👀 Looking for your next commercial or development site?
We specialize in matching serious buyers with high-potential commercial/development properties. DM or comment below if you’re actively searching!

June 17, 2026

Cole Earns ALC Designation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chris Cole Awarded ALC Designation at National Land Conference in San Antonio, TX

The ALC designation is the only land-specific designation backed by the National Association of REALTORS.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Chris Cole, JD, CCIM, ALC, Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel for Edge Realty ERA Powered and Designated Broker of Lorimont Commercial Real Estate in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, recently attained the prestigious Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation from the REALTORS® Land Institute (RLI), an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®.  Cole was awarded his new credential during this year's National Land Conference in San Antonio, Texas, from March 15-18.

Cole is among just four land professionals nationwide who earned the designation this February, one of 773 to currently hold the ALC designation, and one of just 48 worldwide who have achieved both the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) and ALC pins.  According to RLI, the designation is reserved for the most accomplished, most experienced, and highest performing land real estate experts across the country.  It requires an extensive transaction portfolio of land sales volume, rigorous land-specific coursework, and passing the ALC comprehensive examination.  

 

 

"As I got further into land brokerage over the years, I realized that land transactions represent a specialized and often misunderstood segment of the real estate industry," Cole said.  "I was aware of nuances in areas such as agricultural valuation, timberland economics, water rights, conservation easements, transitional land development, soil science, and rural/urban market regulatory differences, but I had much to learn."

"Pursuing the ALC designation through the REALTORS® Land Institute was the natural next step in my professional journey.  The curriculum allowed me to deepen my knowledge of land brokerage, complementing my CCIM foundation with the most prestigious, land-specific credential recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®.  This elite designation along with continued learning will equip me to better serve my clients, who often entrust me with their most significant and legacy-defining assets.  I am excited to join an exclusive network of top-performing land experts, to further elevate the confidence my clients place in me, and to position myself as a true authority in both the commercial investment and land real estate markets.  Ultimately, earning the ALC designation reflects my dedication to lifelong learning, excellence, and providing unmatched value in every transaction I am fortunate enough to handle for my clients."

To earn the ALC designation, land professionals must complete more than 100 hours of case study-driven education covering topics such land fundamentals, investment analysis, site selection, transitional land principles, tax-deferred 1031 exchanges, mapping technology, and land-specific valuation strategies.  Candidates must also compile a portfolio demonstrating the depth of their land transactional experience, pass a comprehensive final examination, and attend the annual National Land Conference.

Learn more about REALTORS Land Institute’s education and designation program at www.rliland.com/Accreditation.

 

About Lorimont Commercial Real Estate

Lorimont was established in 1993 as one of the first exclusive commercial real estate brokerages in the Southeast Missouri region.  Seasoned broker Tom Kelsey, with over 35 years of real estate experience, built the company from the start.  In 2018, Chris Cole and Bill Cole acquired the company.  Chris, a licensed attorney and broker and CCIM, and Bill, a CPA and broker, bring a wealth of real estate experience to Lorimont, while Kelsey remains a very active broker with the firm along with Matt Huber.  Today, this Cape Girardeau based company is the leading commercial real estate brokerage in the region, specializing in all asset types and transactions -- office, retail, industrial, specialty and development land sales and leases.

 

About REALTORS Land Institute (RLI)

REALTORS Land Institute, the "Voice of Land," works to elevate the level of professionalism in the land industry by offering all land professionals the credibility, confidence, and connections that are the foundation for becoming the best in the business.  Land is a unique, complex, and changing field.  RLI members share a nuanced understanding of the land real estate industry and specialize in brokerage related to all types of land, including farms and ranches, recreational land, timberland, vineyards, orchards, transitional and development land, subdivision and lot wholesaling, site selection and assemblage, appraisals and land valuation, auctions, and farm and land management.

 

Posted in ALC, Awards, Land
April 28, 2026

Lorimont Adds Illinois License

Lorimont, L.C., Southeast Missouri's top commercial real estate brokerage firm, is proud to announce its expansion across the Mississippi River into the State of Illinois! 

As part of the company's growth, this expansion enhances Lorimont's ability to offer comprehensive commercial real estate solutions in nearby markets such as Anna-Jonesboro, Carbondale, Marion, and Murphysboro, Illinois. 

Known for expertise in providing nationwide and regional outreach to local markets, Lorimont continues to meet the evolving needs of the commercial real estate and land brokerage market.  This expansion strengthens the firm's commitment to delivering customized commercial real estate and land brokerage solutions in the region, ensuring every engagement is treated with the utmost expertise -- now in Southern Illinois! 

At this time, Lorimont, L.C. (IDFPR #481.014640) and broker Chris Cole, JD, CCIM, ALC (IDFPR #471023055) are licensed in Illinois.  

 

 

Dec. 31, 2025

2025 Recap: Lorimont Finishes Number One in MARIS MLS

Lorimont's 2025 Transaction Recap is here!  In 2025, Lorimont Commercial Real Estate, with just three agents/brokers, was the #1 brokerage in all of MARIS MLS for reported commercial real estate sale and lease volume out of 2,398 member real estate offices and over 14,000 agents.  The #2 brokerage in 2025 for commercial sales and lease volume has over 400 agents.

Not all commercial transactions hit the MLS, and the MARIS figures represent only a portion of Lorimont's 2025 sales and leasing stats.  This past year, Tom Kelsey, Matt Huber, and Chris Cole handled a company-record 94 commercial sides, totaling 423,910 square feet and 272.3 acres of property

Of particular note, Lorimont secured over $3.8 million dollars of contract lease revenue for its clients.

Thank you to our clients for trusting us to assist you with your commercial real estate needs!

Posted in Awards, Market Updates
Dec. 27, 2025

Lorimont Represents Buyer for Restaurant Building

Delmonico's Building Sold, Buyer Represented By Lorimont Commercial Real Estate

A notable restaurant building in Jackson, Missouri near I-55 at 2951 Old Orchard Rd. has been sold.  The 8,970 square foot brick building, built in 2010, has been home to Delmonico's Restaurant, a popular staple in the Jackson dining scene for several decades at two different locations.  

Lorimont's Tom Kelsey represented the buyer in the transaction, which closed on December 26, 2025.  The building had been listed on the market for several years with multiple different brokerages, including Lorimont.  Lorimont brokers had procured numerous prospective buyers for the property over the years through its large network of local, regional, and national clientele.  

Formal plans for the future of the building are being finalized by the new ownership group. 

 

 

In 2025, Lorimont, with just three agents/brokers, was the #1 brokerage in all of MARIS MLS for reported commercial real estate sale and lease volume out of 2,398 member real estate offices and over 14,000 agents.  The #2 brokerage has over 400 agents.

 

May 2, 2025

Matt Huber Joins Lorimont CRE Full-Time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matt Huber Joins Lorimont Commercial Real Estate Full-Time

Huber brings economic development and utility background to the regional brokerage.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI, May 2, 2025 - Matt N. Huber, MBA, with Team Huber, has joined Lorimont Commercial Real Estate in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, full-time.  Matt has been active in economic and business development, sales, customer service, and residential and commercial real estate investing for over 10 years.  Huber began his commercial real estate career part-time with Lorimont CRE in 2023 and has already completed numerous sale and lease transactions.  

In 2008, Matt graduated with a Master of Business Administration focused on Entrepreneurship from Southeast Missouri State University's Harrison College of Business.  Matt's wife, Amanda, has been an area real estate broker for 12 years, and together they have invested in and redeveloped several residential and commercial projects in the area.

Matt has extensive work experience in the utility field, where he has been a territory manager and business and economic development specialist.  His graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (EDI) in 2019, and in his business and economic development career, Matt has been a part of brining many new corporate accounts into his territory, working hand-in-hand with local and regional governmental, chamber of commerce, and private investor stakeholders in recruiting new businesses to the area.

It is this well-rounded skillset that Matt brings to the Lorimont team. Matt focuses on assisting investors, businesses, and developers in site selection, excess property sales, and tenant and landlord representation.

About Lorimont Commercial Real Estate

Lorimont was established in 1993 as one of the first exclusive commercial real estate brokerages in the Southeast Missouri region.  Today, this Cape Girardeau-based company is the leading commercial real estate brokerage in the region, specializing in all asset types and transactions -- office, retail, industrial, specialty and development land sales and leases.

Posted in Business Growth
Feb. 13, 2025

Lorimont Facilitates Sale to Bring Amazon to SEMO Industrial Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scott City, SEMO REDI Announce Amazon Expanding to SEMO Industrial Park

World's second largest retailer to bring 70+ jobs, economic growth to region

SCOTT CITY, MISSOURI, February 13, 2025 - The City of Scott City, Missouri and SEMO REDI have announced that Amazon will open a new last mile delivery station in the city in 2025.  The 61,000 square foot facility, to be located at 250 SEMO Industrial Drive, will be the first development in the city's new 380-acre SEMO Industrial Park being developed by Gregg Erb and Carrie Roider.  Construction on the facility is set to begin soon, with plans for opening still in the early stages.  Lorimont Commercial Real Estate's Tom Kelsey and Matt Huber brokered the land sale transaction, which closed in January of this year.

The new delivery station will create at least 70 jobs in Scott City, strengthening the local workforce and further boosting the region's industrial sector.  The facility will play a key role in Amazon's fulfillment process, enabling fast, everyday delivery to customers' doorsteps.  Packages from Amazon's fulfillment and sortation centers will be processed and prepared for last mile delivery, improving delivery times for customers in rural communities.  Amazon employees working in customer fulfillment and transportation will earn at least $17 per hour.  

"Amazon looks forward to opening this facility that will provide efficient delivery for customers and new job opportunities for the community as a good employer," said Jason Vangalis, Amazon economic development manager.  "Opening our first site in this region of Southeast Missouri and serving customers in Cape Girardeau, Scott, and surrounding counties is a testament to the great partnership with our city colleagues and the strong, dedicated workforce in the region."

Research shows that the areas in which Amazon has added facilities have seen a 1.7% rise in their employment-to-population ratio, meaning that for every ten jobs Amazon directly creates, approximately nine more jobs are generated by other businesses, reflecting an economic base multiplier of 1.9.

SEMO Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SEMO REDI) played a pivotal role in making this project possible, helping to secure a $2.5 million matching grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development for critical infrastructure improvements to the industrial park.  These funds support road construction and essential utility infrastructure, including sewer, water, gas, and electricity, laying the groundwork for business expansion in the area.   

About Scott City and SEMO Industrial Park

Scott City, Missouri, located in Southeast Missouri, is a community of approximately 4,100 residents.  SEMO Industrial Park, located just east of Interstate 55 on the northern edge of the city, spans 380 acres and offers convenient access to regional and national markets.  With infrastructure set to be completed by August 2025, the park will feature over 30 shovel-ready parcels ranging from five to more than 20 acres, designed for various uses, including manufacturing, logistics, and e-commerce.  It offers an attractive location for businesses looking to expand or relocate close to the SEMO Port, Interstates 55 and 57, and the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.  

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.  Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work.  Customer reviews, 1-click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, Amazon Web Services, Kindle Direct Publishing, Career Choice, Fire Tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon.  For more information, visit please amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews. 

About SEMO REDI

SEMO REDI is a dynamic economic development organization in Cape Girardeau, Missouri dedicated to fostering economic growth in the region.  By collaborating with businesses, local governments, and community stakeholders, SEMO REDI aims to enhance job creation, attract investment, and promote entrepreneurship.  SEMO REDI focuses on strategic initiatives that leverage the region's unique resources and strengths, while also addressing challenges such as workforce development and infrastructure improvements.  For more information, please visit semoredi.com/about-semo-redi.

About Lorimont Commercial Real Estate

Lorimont was established in 1993 as one of the first exclusive commercial real estate brokerages in the Southeast Missouri region.  Seasoned broker Tom Kelsey, with over 38 years of real estate experience, built the company from the start.  In 2018, Chris Cole, a licensed attorney and real estate broker, and Bill Cole, a former CPA and real estate broker, acquired the company.  In 2024, Matt Huber, MBA joined Lorimont, bringing a utility and economic development background to the firm.  Today, this Cape Girardeau-based company is the leading commercial real estate brokerage in the region, specializing in all asset types and transactions.  For more information, please visit lorimont.com/about.

Jan. 7, 2025

2024 Transactions Recap

Lorimont's 2024 transaction recap is here!  This past year, our commercial and industrial professionals closed 59 transaction sides, totaling 449,088 square feet and 714.49 acres of property.  Thank you to our current and past clients for trusting us to assist you with your commercial real estate solutions!

Oct. 25, 2024

River & Rails Building Fully Leased

The River & Rails Building, located at the intersection of Main St. and William St. in downtown Cape, as secured its final tenant.  Soiree by Annie Laurie's, a restaurant and lounge featuring a unique tapas-style experience, has leased 111 William St., the final suite available in the River & Rails development according to Chris Cole, who handled the lease transaction.

Soiree will feature a thoughtfully curated menu, complimented by diverse cocktails/mocktails and an extensive selection of beers and wines in an intimate lounge space decorated with carefully selected vintage furniture and eccentric decor. 

 

Sept. 1, 2024

The Riverhouse Gets New Owners

The Riverhouse - A Wine Place, in Scott City, MO has been sold to a pair of local couples who reside in the Cape Girardeau area, according to Chris Cole of Lorimont Commercial Real Estate, who handled the transaction on behalf of the seller, Thebes Gap Enterprises, LLC.  The river view restaurant across from the historic Thebes, IL Courthouse was constructed and has been open since 2016. 

According to Cole, the restaurant, outdoor patio, and pavilion total approximately 4,400 SF, sitting on 3.69 acres just steps from the Mississippi River.  The property has a beautiful view of the courthouse and the Thebes Bridge, where dozens of trains cross the river daily.   The restaurant will remain "The Riverhouse" with slight menu and decor changes.  The buyer group was represented by Jake Fish of Edge Realty.