Coldwell Banker returns to market

Photo provided by Coldwell Banker Lewis & Associates

Michelle Lewis, center in front, owns the new Coldwell Banker affiliate.

After its exit from the market last year, Coldwell Banker is back in business in the Springfield area.

Real estate agent Michelle Lewis owns the affiliate dubbed Coldwell Banker Lewis & Associates, according to a news release. Office Manager Bailey Elder said the brokerage opened Nov. 11 at 1339 E. Republic Road, Ste. H.

"The addition of the new Coldwell Banker Lewis & Associates office will further strengthen the Coldwell Banker presence in the Springfield-area market,” said M. Ryan Gorman, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker, in the release.

Elder said Coldwell Banker Lewis & Associates has 11 real estate agents and one employee. Lewis previously operated independently under Michelle Lewis & Associates, and many of her agents transitioned with her to the Coldwell Banker-branded brokerage.

The national brand previously operated locally through Springfield-area affiliate Coldwell Banker Vanguard. The affiliate brokerage closed in mid-2019 after Art and Alisa Maxwell exited Coldwell Banker Vanguard to form AMax Real Estate, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. After AMax's launch, Coldwell Banker Vanguard dropped to roughly a half-dozen agents from 52 a year prior.