There's something about local coffee shop and café, Cup 'n Cork, that keeps Cape Girardeau residents coming back. Its brick walls and quaint bistro tables mixed with the clamor of cars and passersby in the heart of Main Street exude river town charm.

Cup 'n Cork is uprooting from Main Street at the end of the month but that charm isn't going anywhere.

"We don't want to lose the warmth and the welcoming nature of the place," said owner, Patrick Abbott. "I think we do a really good job with that. That's not going to change."

The open space across the street from The Library bar, on the corner of Independence and Spanish streets, came up in a conversation with friend and building manager, Annie Criddle. Abbott said the whole process came together pretty quickly.

When it boils down to it, Abbott ultimately sees the move as an upgrade.

"We can't do anymore here than we're already doing," Abbott said. "We can't expand seating. We don't have a real kitchen. There's just not a lot to be done."

Abbott said they're currently only working off two panini grills, a steamer and "some high-tech hot plates."

"They're digital, but a hot plate's a hot plate," Abbott said.

The new space comes with the possibility of a full kitchen. Abbott wants to incorporate grilling meats rather than strictly roasting and cut down on pre-preparation and reheating.

"Until you've had a Philly cheesesteak fresh off the grill, you just haven't had a Philly," Abbott said.

There will be other additions and refinements to the menu as well. He'll bring back the chicken Philly, a popular choice from his old restaurant in Sikeston, and offer more soup of the day options.

Abbott described the area in halves. The dining room will be about the same size, but, what has been dubbed "the venue side," allows opportunities for meetings, receptions, weddings and other private hostings. The upstairs is even supplied with a boardroom style table.

Local artwork will still adorn the walls; the color scheme stays the same, however. Abbott also talked about the implementation of what he likes to call "soft seating."

"In other words, couches and coffee tables in one section," Abbott said. "Somebody told me that it's not really a coffee house until you have a sofa. So we'll have that covered."

There will be outdoor seating in an open courtyard too, which according to Abbott, is triple the size and is as big, or bigger, than the café space. In good weather, Cup 'n Cork will use it to host their weekly open mic nights, and, if called for, they can now amplify a full band.

Jacob Seyer and Deavyn West, Southeast Missouri State University graduates and frequent performers at open mic night, look forward to seeing what Abbott has in store for the new location.

"I mean, we love coming here for the coffee and the music and just the atmosphere here is great," Seyer said. "I know they're going to transfer that over there really well."

The appearance will have its tweaks, but Cup 'n Cork's "family vibe" won't be lost. Barely a one block difference and two blocks closer to the River Campus, Abbott hopes he'll still see Southeast students in and out.

"We're just not equipped to offer as much right now to our guests," Abbott said. "That's really what we want to do -- is offer as much as we can to our guests every day."

Cup 'n Cork's new address is located on 11 S. Spanish St. The business is set to move over Labor Day weekend and reopen by Tuesday.