2008 Economic Impact Awards Finalist, Entrepreneur of the Year: Paul Sundy

At 29, Sundy already co-owns Icon Nightclub, Big Whiskeys American Bar & Grill and Fedora Social House in downtown Springfield and Parlor 88 on the south side, but that doesn’t mean his ideas are on hold. And if one pops into his head at night before he falls asleep, that idea will be thought out before Sundy gets any shut-eye.

His entrepreneurial spirit showed itself early. In fifth grade, Sundy began moving lawns.

By eighth grade, he had a partner, and the duo had two riding lawnmowers, two push mowers, two weed trimmers and diligently allotted money for maintenance and gas.

“I started my own business, then he started his own business, and I was like, ‘Why don’t we just team up?’” Sundy says.

He’s still teaming up. Each of his ventures has different co-owners. Mike Heslin is Sundy’s partner in Icon and Big Whiskeys; Matt Miller and Trevor Crist co-own Fedora; and Jay Hickman is the partner in Parlor 88.

“I basically just take opportunity. I think that’s why I have so many partners,” Sundy says.

His foray into restaurant ownership wasn’t planned.

Sundy’s recently retired mother was a teacher, and the two moved several times as she took different positions before settling in Marionville, where Sundy attended high school.

Sundy moved to Colorado after graduation to become a ski instructor while attending classes.

But being a ski instructor is a lifestyle – and not one that works well with school.

Sundy returned to Springfield and earned his associate of arts degree from Ozark Technical Community College, where he met his future wife, Crystal.

Wanderlust struck again, and Sundy moved to California to pursue acting. He thought his hard-working Missouri background would stand out.

He lasted eight months. Working nearly seven days a week to pay rent in a less-than-desirable part of town soon lost its appeal while friends back home were creating lives with wives, jobs and homes. Sundy wanted those things, too, and didn’t want to be in the same struggling spot in 10 years.

Sundy had food service experience from working at Cheddar’s in Springfield and Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant in California. After his second return to the Ozarks, he took classes at Evangel University and managed The Inferno nightclub, where he learned what he did and didn’t want to do when he opened Icon on Park Central East.

The success of that venture was the beginning of the beginning.

“He’s a very successful entrepreneur,” says partner Hickman, who also owns South Avenue’s Ernie Biggs piano bar. “I think that’s why he’s been so successful. He rolls the dice a lot.”

Sundy and Hickman were each looking for other opportunities when they met and decided to collaborate on Parlor 88. The partners plan to open other locations.

Sundy has additional plans for Big Whiskey’s, too, because, for him, it’s all about the ideas and which ones will create explosive success.

He talks about getting into developing strip malls with Parlor 88 and Big Whiskey’s as anchors. He wants Springfield to be a destination spot for all of southwest Missouri.

And he’s got huge plans for the Cadence Drum Show – the act he created that performs in Icon – that include taking it on the road. In fact, keep an eye out for Cadence to soon garner national attention, Sundy says.

Paul Sundy

Co-owner of Icon Nightclub, Big Whiskeys American Bar & Grill and Fedora Social House on Park Central East in downtown Springfield and Parlor 88 on East Republic Road. Sundy wants Springfield to be a destination spot, and he’s thinking about getting into strip-mall development.

Information accurate at the time of the honor.[[In-content Ad]]