From the Ground Up: Ruby Tuesday

General contractor: Bales Construction Co. Inc.

Architect: Watermark Design Group LLC (Mobile, Ala.)

Engineers: Watermark Design Group, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural; Mark E. Rickett, civil (Little Rock, Ark.)

Size: 5,800 square feet

Estimated cost: $1 million

Lender: Irwin Franchise Capital Corp. (Montvale, N.J.)

Estimated completion date: April 30

Project description: John Bruton of RT Western Missouri Franchise LLC has already built 18 Ruby Tuesday restaurants since becoming a franchisee in 2001. Bruton’s most-recent local opening was in Nixa in 2005, and he owns three Springfield locations. The Republic restaurant will seat 244, according to J.B. Shoemate, superintendent for Bales Construction Co. Tennessee-based Ruby Tuesday has 46 franchisees in the United States and 26 other countries.

Reporter Cory Smith brings you new projects each week. He may be reached by e-mail, by fax at (417) 799-0603 or by phone at (417) 831-3238.