Heer's comes back to life

But it's beginning to stir.

The Heer's Building, a Springfield landmark since 1915, is being transformed into retail, restaurant and upscale condominium apartments. That transformation will become more evident in 2006.

“In '06, we'll have the interior, the core of the building, and the exterior completed, as well as doing tenant improvements for the state of Missouri and the city of Springfield,” said John Stafford, construction project manager for Prost Development Builders LLC.

Developer Vaughn X. Prost's construction crews will be finishing out the condos on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors, and the 540-space parking structure at Olive and Campbell will be about 95 percent complete by year end, Stafford added.

All of the building's 23 condo units were reserved by September, before leasing agent Michelle Cantrell, of Carol Jones, Realtors, even had a chance to advertise them.

The condos are one- and two-story units with up to three bedrooms, and they range in size from 750 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet, according to the floor plans, which can be viewed at www.heerstower.com. Amenities vary by unit, but among them are balconies, library/den space, circular staircases, open living areas and master bedroom suites.

Heer's is poised to become something amazing. But by all accounts, Heer's was something amazing in its own time.

The Heer's legacy

While the existing Heer's building rose in 1915, the store was first established in 1869 by Charles H. Heer, a German immigrant who came to Missouri by way of Indiana.

Over the years, hundreds of Springfieldians started their careers - or made their careers - as employees of Heer's.

One such employee was Bent Agee.

It was 1945, and Agee was 24 years old, just home from World War II after service in the U.S. Coast Guard. Like many other servicemen, Agee found opportunity awaiting him on his return with the help of the GI Bill. In his case, that opportunity would become a more than 40-year career in retail, culminating in his role as controller and executive vice president.

The 1950s were a golden time for Heer's and for Agee. The store had just undergone its first major renovation, under Agee's oversight, and was a bustling center of commerce and social life. Downtown itself was a thriving central business district.

“We were the center of town,” Agee said. “The square was actually the meeting place for lots and lots of people. Saturdays the square would be full, and the store would be full.”

People gathered at Heer's for fashion shows, tea in the Garden Room and fellowship at The Gravel Bar. A magnet for bridge clubs, civic clubs and the after-school crowd, Heer's was what it aspired to be: “The dominant store of the Ozark Empire.”

Bent Agee's memories of Heer's heyday and its ongoing transformation will be fully explored in the Real Estate issue of March 6. To share your experience of Heer's - as a shopper, diner or employee - please contact Clarissa French, editor at cfrench@sbj.net or (417) 831-3238.