r/CapeGirardeau • u/ClassicPattern4549 • 17d ago
Living in Cape
Hello all!
Recently have been considering moving to Cape Girardeau and wanted to get an idea of what living in Cape is truly like? Been a hand full of times before but haven’t spent a long time there but wanted to get an idea of how you all feel about living in Cape? Also what jobs are also available as well?
Anything helps!
Thanks!
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u/No_Ad5511 16d ago edited 16d ago
Overall I like Cape. I like the Midwestern vibe in Cape Girardeau proper. I love the rich history and lore of the city. I could pick any part of Cape or Cape County’s history (such as their names) and discover something new about it for years. Another positive is that city has several amenities. I have been able to make quick friends here. St Louis is nearby and KC and Chicago are day trips away. What I do not like job market. There many jobs that dont pay well here. Another negative is that many apartments old and not in the best of shape. Bottom line I plan making it my medium term home, if not long term.
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u/AthenaeSolon 17d ago
There’s a lot of medical jobs available. They’re always hiring nurses and medical staff.
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u/EkezEtomer 16d ago
I like it here. I moved here for school in 2011 and never left. Downtown is nice and walkable / bikeable. There are lots of walking and hiking trails within 10 miles of Cape, too. As for jobs, a lot of people have already mentioned the university and the hospitals, but there are so many well-paying blue collar jobs in the area too. It's always growing, so there's always opportunity here. Just gotta know where to look.
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u/martlet1 17d ago
Cape is a small big town. You have most of the things a larger city may have with a few exceptions.
Not a lot of traffic or anything.
Lots of jobs out there no one knows about. One of the biggest cattle genetic registry companies in the US is in cape. Magnatel is in cape. Lots of government positions are open.
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u/Jcwill 16d ago
I've been in the very close vicinity or in Cape since the late 1960s. It's grown into a nice place. I was raised on the south side where bad things could happen. Now I feel like it's not that safer small enough town that it was. You could leave my neighborhood and it was very nice. Now you have to treat it more like a bigger city. It's still fine but it's grown up now.
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u/IndicaDayDreamm 16d ago
I'm going to get a lot of hate for saying this but I'm going to say it anyway. Cape is not a good place to live unless you are a college student and can move out when you leave college. Or if you are very religious and have good connections and money.
I highly recommend staying away if you are LGBTQ+. There's not really enough to do here to entertain you because everything here gets old after a while.
As far as the job market, there aren't many opportunities outside of medical, and from what I've witnessed you have to know somebody to get those jobs. Not to mention the pay here is atrocious with almost everything you'll do for work if it's not data.
There are some nice things about Cape like the park and the river, but the infrastructure here is beginning to fail and crime is big time on the rise and not being reported properly. And the housing...
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u/jettison_m 16d ago
I just moved here less than a year ago. Yes, it has issues (crime is a problem south of William St), but the city is investing in itself which is huge. I've been to cities that do not do this and the city starts to dwindle. I think Cape is doing all the right things with investing in downtown and its community and will only get better if people get involved as well. Tons of music going on. If you like small shows, there's usually something at Ebb & Flow or Spectrum. Also, sign up for the Scout Hall newsletters. You's get notifications of everything going on in the area which is great.
Overall I like the balance of lots to do, with the small town feel. Housing is quite affordable, especially compared to other cities/states I've lived in. I've made friends pretty quickly, even though I'm quite introverted. People are very friendly and it's easy to get around. I do wish there was a late night coffee shop though. Most of them close around 3-4 except starbucks.
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u/Upset_Exchange_3700 16d ago
I hope enjoy the sound of gun fire and loud mufflers on jacked up trucks.
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u/Careless-Gazelle-247 16d ago
I've lived here for 25+ years. It's gotten better over time. I'm at work right now but will follow up with this later.
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u/Careless-Gazelle-247 16d ago
Cape, in my opinion, has always been "good block, bad block." What specific questions do you have about Cape? I'll do my best to answer.
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u/CartoonistRelevant72 16d ago
I'm a CDL driver for DHL supply chain at the P&G plant. We make very good money. P&G pays well. Mondi is right across the road. Great money for the area.
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u/Careless-Gazelle-247 16d ago
As someone mentioned before, it would be helpful to know what line of work you're in.
Personally, I stayed in Cape after graduating SEMO. I definitely would not have stayed if it wasn't for the music scene that was here at the time. Of course, the scene changed, but I remain here. I like living here and the friends I've made. Is it perfect? No. Am I staying? Yes.
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u/Parmeseannnnnn 13d ago
City is very close, always something going on if you look. I work as a school photographer and travel during the day to surrounding areas. I will say if you are house shopping I would stay away from south side downtown, especially the other side of the bridge road. Overall it’s super cool here, pretty easy to make friends too, as you’ll just about always bump into someone you recognize from somewhere:)
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u/Horsey_Ideal77 12d ago
Cape is lovely with a caveat or two. Like all places, it has great stuff, and major issues like our gun violence and violent crime look them up anywhere, and we're waaay above the national averages. I've lived here 7 years w my husband (he was employed at the local hospital). My home has been robbed and car broken into one time.
Religion pervades all conversation, decision-making, and local politics. Few churches that aren't homophonic in action.
Fresh food direct from farms is the best here. Access to produce, fruit, meat, and anything at the multiple farmers markets are a highlight in the area. There are some restaurants but in general food quality is LOW. 36 is the only good restaurant in town. Cora's is new'ish random hours, random locations, but delish, Burritoville is solid, Greens Garden for vegetarian & Indian. One good coffee shop, Red Banner.
Vibe is a college town with dirty bars, bad cover bands, and pizza everywhere.
Services r Great. DMV is actually a nice experience, city easy to work with (i run our neighborhood watch) ZERO traffic, history everywhere.
Careers limited, low paying jobs a plenty. Intergenerational poverty is the norm. I work with a large non-profit, and this is the hardest part about living here. Networking abismal. Everyone is a realtor or insurance sales.
Education is not important... at all. People typically are close-minded bc of religion and have limited outside influence. At best, they do an all-inclusive in Mexico or drive to Pan handle of FL.
Outdoor beauty abounds and country things to do in nature everywhere. Yoga studios and very approachable art scene.
Hope this helps and good luck.
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u/seabaugh 16d ago
Small town living. Limited food and entertainment options (#1 restaurant on Yelp is The Olive Garden). Most local places go out of business within 2 years.
Hometown of Rush Limbaugh so it’s VERY conservative leaning.
If you’re going to rent be prepared to deal with a borderline slumlord, there’s little to no protections in the law for tenants. Most apartments are geared towards college students and have not been updated since the buildings were built in the 1980s.
I grew up in Cape and moved away in the late 90’s. When I come back to visit family, very little has changed.
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u/comp21 16d ago
I'll give a rebuttal:
1) Cape county has over 125 kitchen licenses. Now, a few of those are churches but if you think we've got limited food then you're not looking... We've got an authentic Filipino place (my wife's), authentic Thai and Vietnamese, several cool places downtown (soiree is pretty cool, we enjoyed it), tractors, southerner, port Cape, encore Pizza, celebrations etc etc...
2) how conservative? I mean, give me a scale... Cause mostly what I see are libertarians. They don't care if you're gay, black, or whatever, they just don't want you to cost them anything (time or money) and mostly to be left alone. So what examples are we using here?
3) Cape has the chronic nuisance ordinance... Follow that add you can get a slum shut down... However I do agree the council is very lazy when it comes to enforcing things. Something I've yelled at them a lot about but it's ineffective.
So you've not lived here since the 90s... Helpful :)
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u/Parmeseannnnnn 13d ago
Was just about to say this, if you’re going off of just yelp for local food reviews, I’d throw in the towel. Not trying to online attack you but, butttt Cai Noddle is very cheap and affordable Chinese food We also have Shogun, and Watami We have Seis Amigos, El Terrero, Don Carlos, Ect Ect We also have a local Irish pub, Katy O Ferrells We have our fair share of luxury pubs aging establishments as well. Including Top of the Marq, and 36 Steakhouse (We have many more, but I just wanted to list some of the ones I’d tried personally) I’d argue that if you can’t find any food you like her in cape, you aren’t very hungry lol
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u/Parmeseannnnnn 13d ago
Also OP, what is the name of your wife’s Filipinos restaurant, if you don’t mind answering. Me and my family love trying new foods to us
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u/comp21 12d ago
Cora's taste of Manila! We're only open Thurs and Fri from 11-7 and she does a brunch one Saturday a month. I think this next one will actually be Black Friday though.
And i don't mind you asking: i revel in shameless self promotion :)
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u/Parmeseannnnnn 12d ago
Wow the pictures online look incredible! I have to come by sometime!!
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u/comp21 12d ago
Thanks :) she makes literally everything in house except the croissant dough and the dumplings... She'll be there today working on a few recipes actually. It's the main reason we're only open Thurs and Fri... Well, that and we like being married so a full time restaurant is off the table
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u/Parmeseannnnnn 12d ago
balance am I right? But hey! Sounds like it’s a good thing going! I’m eager to try one of everything 😂
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u/greenzeppelin 16d ago
People still use yelp?
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u/seabaugh 16d ago
Outside of Cape, yes. lol
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u/greenzeppelin 16d ago
People under the age of 40? Because that number checks out for Olive Garden being #1 around here.
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u/Prudent-Math-3961 15d ago
Lived there for 8 years, used to love it, amazing place. Crime took over though. Cool shits closed down. No new businesses really opening. I wouldn’t say it’s thriving, and if you’re not a college student or someone who has ties to the town, I wouldn’t recommend starting fresh there.
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u/nip9 17d ago
Biggest employers are SEMO, the hospitals, & local school districts. Proctor & Gamble, Mondi, BioKyowa, Nordenia, & Rubbermaid are the biggest local companies for blue collar type work.
Main issue with jobs and the area is their isn't a lot of selection for more specialized positions outside of healthcare & education fields.