Escapes! moves to South Campbell

A time-share sales company that moved to Springfield in 2004 is on the move.

Escapes! has relocated its telemarketing office and its employees from its former location on the second floor of the Protel building, 2929 N. Eastgate Ave., to the former Aldi’s grocery store at 2406 S. Campbell Ave.

The building was vacant since December 2004 when restaurateur Dennis Scott purchased it from Aldi’s.

According to a deed filed with the Greene County Recorder’s office, Scott sold the building in January of this year for $995,000 to Frank Schmidt Jr., who leases the space to Escapes!

Barbara Beyer brokered the deal to owner Frank Schmidt Jr., and Mark Kerivan of Murney Associates Realtors found the property for Escapes! and negotiated the lease.

Escapes! is a division of Cooper Communities Inc., a Rogers, Ark.-based development company that sells land and builds homes and time-share properties.

The company moved to Springfield in 2004 from Houston, Mo., where it was one of the town’s largest employers.

Escapes! General Manager Ronda Swanson said the company moved its 60 sales representatives, plus its management staff and the nine members of its client services department, because of location.

“There’s so much more visibility here,” she said. “We’re on South Campbell, right in the middle of town, and there’s also a lot more walk-in traffic.”

Escapes! is using approximately 7,000 square feet, leaving about 4,200 square feet available for lease. Beyer is the leasing agent for the remaining space, which is zoned for general retail use. Beyer said the lease rate is $12 per square foot, triple net.

Telemarketing is certainly a far cry from the previous intended uses for the building.

Former owner Scott, who also owns Dennis’ Place on West Sunshine, had originally planned to move his restaurant into the building. But he decided to sell the space in June 2005 to Robinett Business Systems Owner Mark Robinett, who intended to relocate his business.

That sale fell through in September, and the building reverted back to Scott’s ownership.

Changing Hands

1987 – Construction is finished on the Aldi’s grocery store at 2406 S. Campbell.

December 2004 – Aldi’s decides to leave the building after opening a new location on East Battlefield; restaurant owner Dennis Scott purchases the building.

June 2005 – After considering opening a bar in the building, Scott closes a deal to sell it to Mark Robinett; Robinett intends to relocate Robinett Business Systems.

September 2005 – Robinett backs out of the deal; ownership reverts to Scott.

January 2006 – The building is sold to Frank Schmidt Jr.; Schmidt leases

the space to Escapes!, which moved its telemarketing operations.[[In-content Ad]]