New Great Southern Bank signage was fastened yesterday to 331 South Ave., and spokeswoman Kelly Polonus said they'll move in this weekend for an April 1 opening.
The Springfield-based bank is relocating its downtown branch to familiar digs, a renovated space formerly occupied by clothing retailer Staxx. Great Southern is moving from leased space down the street at 430 South Ave.
The move represents a return home for Great Southern, which occupied the roughly 20,000-square-foot building 1955-1986.
Great Southern closed on the purchase of the building Aug. 31 from former Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson for an undisclosed amount, said Great Southern Director of Retail Services Kris Conley, who declined to disclose the cost of the renovation conducted by Morelock-Ross Builders Inc. The 2012 taxable appraised value of the property is roughly $474,000, according to Greene County assessor records.
Staxx owner Meghan Chambers was
asked to move out of the building by Carlson in preparation for the sale. She now operates her business in the French Quarter shopping center on East Republic Road, according to
Springfield Business Journal archives.
Great Southern formerly owned and occupied the entire 430 South Ave. building, but sold it in 2003 as the company made the transition to the Great Southern Operations Center near Glenstone Avenue and St. Louis Street. The company ran out its lease this month on the building now owned by G&S Holdings LLC.
According to the Missouri secretary of state filings, G&S Holdings was formed in 2001 by Richard T. Gregg, Jenny Gregg, Scott Schaefer and Karen Ann Schaefer.
Richard T. Gregg was charged in late February in a 17-count indictment, alleging he committed bank fraud and wire fraud schemes totaling more than $3.3 million, as well as money laundering and bankruptcy fraud.
Within the indictment, Gregg is charged with allegedly engaging in a stock scheme and car loan scheme that caused Great Southern to realize losses, according to
SBJ archives.
Great Southern's Conley said he isn't sure whether Gregg is still involved with G&S Holdings and declined to comment further.
Scott Schaefer could not be reached for comment by deadline.[[In-content Ad]]
