Commercial Street readies for busy May

The latest round of redevelopment on Commercial Street has been humming along since August 2005, following the city’s official redevelopment strategy led by live music venues.

In that spirit, one of the street’s most high-profile projects – Lindberg’s bar, 318 W. Commercial – is finally opening in May. Its owners are waiting for their liquor license, and they’ll open either on May 4 in conjunction with First Friday Art Walk, which Commercial Street is participating in for the first time, or on May 12 in conjunction with the second annual C-Street Jam musical festival.

Other high-profile businesses, including Askinosie Chocolate Co., 514 E. Commercial St., are slated to open fully in May.

Also, C-Street Market, a farmers’ market, will open for the summer on April 28.

“It feels like all of the sudden everything’s happening,” said Mary Collette, Springfield city councilwoman and Commercial Street property owner. “I really sense that the community is ready for Commercial Street to be a part of the greater downtown area.”

A step forward

Thirteen new businesses have opened on Commercial Street in the last year, according to Nicole Corwin, Commercial Street coordinator for Urban Districts Alliance. Commercial Street’s inclusion in May’s First Friday Art Walk will draw people to the area and allow businesses to showcase themselves.

Corwin estimates half of Commercial Street’s existing businesses are service-oriented and don’t have a high-profile public presence. Stuart Murr’s firm, for example, is a residential design-build firm, Smart Designs LLC, at 302 E. Commercial. He’s operated since July 2005, but he doesn’t get foot traffic due to the nature of his work.

However, he’s sprucing up his space for First Friday Art Walk. He’ll serve hors d’oeuvres, juice and display home designs and wood furniture and stained glass that he’s made.

Ozark Greenways Inc., First Friday Art Walk Inc. and Commercial Club are teaming to bring First Friday Art Walk to Commercial Street. City Utilities will give people free bus rides between downtown – First Friday Art Walk’s headquarters – and Commercial Street.

Jan Hyde, owner of Hyde Gallery, 210 E. Walnut St., and president of nonprofit First Friday Art Walk Inc., said Commercial Street could participate in First Friday Art Walk once a year if this time is a success.

The collaboration is also one way to kick-off Bike, Bus, Walk Week, May 14–18. First Friday attendees also will have the opportunity to borrow bicycles for free and ride on Boonville Avenue between the two sites.

More than 25 Commercial Street businesses are slated to participate in the Art Walk, according to Collette. At least eight are scheduled to feature live music.

Collette’s building at 201 E. Commercial St., a former firehouse, will have a digital photography exhibit about January’s ice storm. Askinosie Chocolate will offer factory tours and give samples. Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar, 217 E. Commercial St., will open, and theworkshop 308 LLC, 308 W. Commercial St., will unveil a dozen original pieces of furniture and offer refreshments.

Funding change

Private investors have pumped about $3 million into Commercial Street redevelopment in the last three years, according to UDA’s Corwin, who expects that trend to continue with another $1 million in private investments during the next year.

Jim and Carol Murrow bought 203 and 205 W. Commercial St. from Springfield Victory Mission in spring 2006, and they plan to turn that 18,000 square feet into lofts and commercial space. Dan Baker, a California investor, is redeveloping 206 E. Commercial St. into lofts and business space.

In 2005, about 35 percent of space in the 97 buildings between the rough boundaries of Lyon and Washington avenues was occupied. Now, more than half of that space is occupied, according to Corwin.

Projects have been delayed, but nothing major has been derailed.

Askinosie Chocolate owner Shawn Askinosie hoped to sell premium chocolate bars from his 4,000-square-foot factory by late 2006. However, the complexity of the chocolate-making process has moved the launch to mid-May. Since January, though, Askinosie has made 900 pounds of chocolate and worked to develop wholesale relationships, which will be the focus of his business.

Lindberg’s was slated to open last summer but was put on hold after building owner and developer Ron Walker had a falling out with former Lindberg’s owner Mark West. West is no longer involved, and in April Walker sold Lindberg’s to David Dalmas, his mother, Nancy Dalmas, Ryan Blamey and Travis Bosserman.

Now the historic bar and live music venue is ready to open.

The Lindberg’s ownership group also has expressed interest in opening a family restaurant and sports bar on Commercial Street, Corwin said.

“We see great potential for Commercial Street,” David Dalmas said. “It’s very cool to be part of this.”

Upcoming Events

First Friday Art Walk

What: Gallery and business tour with live music and refreshments

Where: Downtown Springfield, including Commercial Street for the first time

When: 6–10 p.m. May 4

Admission: Free

C-Street Jam

What: Music festival, with scheduled performers Tab Benoit, Candy Coburn, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Unmistaken and Tiffany Christopher Band

Where: Commercial Street between Jefferson and Robberson avenues

When: 4–10 p.m. May 12

Admission: Advance tickets $8 at Hoover Music, Kaleidoscope and Rathbone Ace Hardware; $10 at the event

New to the Street

Nearly 20 businesses have opened on Commercial Street in the last year.

All Seasons Chem-Dry, 315 W. Commercial, Ste. 300

Askinosie Chocolate Co., 514 E. Commercial

Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar, 217 E. Commercial

Bridgefield Galleries, 225 E. Commercial

Creative Images, 320 E. Commercial

Eclectic Antiques, 330 E. Commercial

Fusion Glass, 219 W. Commercial

Innocent Citizens, 210 W. Commercial, Ste. C

Innoviro, 311 W. Commercial

Lindberg’s, 318 W. Commercial

N-Hance, 315 W. Commercial

Red Books & Chairs, 215 W. Commercial

Smart Designs, 302 E. Commercial

Twin Town Studios, 310 W. Commercial

The Artist Studio, 426 W. Commercial

The Matter At Hand Design Studio, 428 W. Commercial

The Style, 211 E. Commercial

Theworkshop 308, 308 W. Commercial

Mike Wingo Photography, 200 E. Commercial

Source: Urban Districts Alliance[[In-content Ad]]