Heard On The Street

MOON SETTING. Dennis Radford-Kapp, proprietor of Moon City Caf? in downtown, starts Nov. 23 as executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates. The exciting career move marks the passing of Moon City from what it was to É something else. Multiple possibilities loomed wherein Moon City would continue in name, sans Radford-Kapp, or transform into something new. Though Moon City's profile on the Springfield scene was by the measure of, say, Shady Inn, short, it was also, compared to the tenure of, say, Greenhouse Market, epochal. Whichever, the Moon will be missed. In addition to being the Business Journal's finest source of caffeine, the restaurant was the locus in quo of conversations that begat countless articles in these pages. And in its booths the stories behind the stories were endlessly debated. You'll forgive us if we seem a bit adrift in the coming weeks. We're just casting about for a new place to get coffee and sympathy. Anybody know of a good place for Gado Gado?

EXPRESS MOVE. When Express Personnel Services moved three doors south into its own buildings at 2045 S. Waverly Oct. 26, it did so in a novel way. Nikki Sells, owner of Express Personnel with her husband, Robert, said when the time came to move into the old Parisian Pantry, an expanse of parking lot spread between former digs and new address. What to do? A fleet of shopping carts was borrowed from Smillie's IGA and the whole kit, including caboodle, was transported via the four-wheeled wire carts. The new location comprises three buildings with a total of about 2,900 square feet, up from the 2,100 square feet of rented space in its previous office. And all the company's operations are together, bringing a satellite office onto the Waverly campus.

BREWED BASS. Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse Inc. announced earlier this month it will open a microbrewery and restaurant in the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World going up in Grapevine, Texas. The 22,500-square-foot restaurant will be owned by Buck & Bass Limited, a joint venture between Springfield's Bass Pro and Big Buck, based in Gaylord, Mich. "We look forward to working with Johnny Morris and the other fine people at Bass Pro Shops in Dallas," said William Rolinski, president of Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse. "And we are exploring the possibility of expanding this partnership to develop similar joint sites in Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Nashville and Charlotte." The Big Buck is expected to open late in the first quarter of 1999. Big Buck owns and operates microbrewery restaurants in Gaylord, Grand Rapids and Auburn Hills, Mich. The company sells its microbrewed beer off-site through wholesale distributors.

ANFWLMA. The American National Fish and Wildlife Living Museum and Aquarium (note to Johnny: let's get the name down to one breath) board of directors has announced a commitment of $375,000 from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The money is pledged as $75,000 per year for five years to benefit the museum. The RMEF will host, with Bass Pro Shops, the Rendezvous for Wildlife at Springfield's Outdoor World. The Dec. 4-6 event will have exhibits from 40 vendors, outdoor skill seminars and a fish fry. Proceeds from the Rendezvous will benefit the museum. Cambridge Seven has been tapped to design the museum, now projected to break ground in fall 1999 for a 2001 opening.

ATTENTION SHOPPERS. The city of Branson will offer Thanksgiving Traffic Solution '98 Nov. 27-29. A release from Branson folks said it's the second year of the program to ease vehicular congestion during the busiest shopping season. Message signs, extra police officers, road changes and information people throughout the city will direct motorists to the nearest shopping areas in which to deposit their currency.

SLICE OF NICE. Two local nonprofit organizations will hold fund-raisers Dec. 5. Catholic Campus Ministry will hold the 10th annual 5K Jack Frost Run/Walk at 9 a.m. The event begins at Hammons Student Center and all proceeds are used for student programming activities sponsored by Catholic Campus Ministry. The cost is $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event. Campus Catholic Ministry serves Ozarks Technical Community College, Drury College and SMSU. For more information, call Mike Chudy at 865-0802. Ozarks Literacy Council will also kick off a membership drive 9-11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3055 S. Glenstone. By becoming a member of the Ozarks Literacy Council for a fee of $25, participants will receive a 20 percent discount off all Barnes & Noble purchases for one year. All proceeds benefit the council. For more information, call Heidi Slone at 886-5499.

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