Open for Business: Ariake Sushi and Robata

Ariake Sushi and Robata
After undertaking three years of building renovations, Ariake LLC, which does business as Ariake Sushi and Robata, opened June 22 at 1110 E. Battlefield Road, in the former space of the shuttered Logan’s Roadhouse. Husband-and-wife owners John and Young Jung wanted to bring a different taste of traditional Japanese cuisine to Springfield, according to the restaurant’s general manager Terri Martin. The Jungs purchased the roughly 8,000-square-foot building, declining to disclose its price and renovation costs, Martin said. The restaurant employs 50 and its menu features a variety of small plates meant to taste and share, along with traditional robatayaki, a Japanese culinary method similar to barbecue that involves fireside cooking. Japanese dishes include traditional nigiri sushi, kusshi oysters and A5-graded Miyazaki wagyu steak. Prices generally range $3-$24. All Ariake’s seafood is imported fresh up to three times a week from California, according to Martin. In addition to Ariake, the Jungs also operate Haruno, Kai After Dark, Koriya and Karai.
Phone: 417-501-1675
Web: Facebook.com/Arikake.Spfd

Great Southern Express Center
Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: GSBC) opened its newest branch in Springfield on Sept. 5 at 1615 W. Sunshine St. The Great Southern Express Center is a four-lane drive-up center utilizing interactive teller machine technology, officials say. An existing Great Southern branch was razed on the site to make way for the 3,800-square-foot facility, which has an undisclosed cost. At the Express branch, video remote tellers are available to assist with bank processes, and ATM service is available. Great Southern Bank President and CEO Joe Turner said the tellers work at the bank’s operations center on Glenstone Avenue, noting the new facility will serve as a pilot for possible additional locations. The Springfield-based company, which has a 13-state footprint, operates 90 branches, eight loan production offices and employs over 1,100 people.
Web: GreatSouthernBank.com/express-center

Van Every Drafting & Design
A longtime employee with City Utilities of Springfield went into business for himself with the April 1 opening of Van Every Drafting & Design LLC. Mark Van Every owns the home-based company, which provides drafting and design services for civil engineering firms, as well as custom home and remodeling plans, including blueprints and sketches. Van Every said startup costs were $4,000 for his first-time venture. During his 14 years working for CU as a natural gas and water designer, Van Every said he noted a shortage of qualified drafters and designers, adding he desired to help fill the need. After exiting CU in 2021, he worked as a home designer for M2 Drafting & Design LLC before launching his company, for which he is the lone employee.
Phone: 417-230-6029
Web: VEDrafting.com