Huey Magoo’s expands to Republic

The fourth Springfield-area location of a Florida-based chicken tenders restaurant chain has launched in Republic.

The newest eatery for Huey Magoo’s opened Oct. 31 at 2210 N. Stone Creek Drive, just off Highway 60, said local franchisee James Tillman. He and his wife, Lisa, are co-owners of all four of the Huey Magoo’s restaurants that have opened locally. The couple partnered on the Republic location with longtime friends Randy and Patricia Phelps, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. 

Huey Magoo’s Republic restaurant is the 81st location for the company, according to a news release. It’s also the second Huey Magoo’s the Tillmans have opened this year, following the April launch of the eatery’s 1382 E. Battlefield Road location. The restaurant at the intersection of Fremont Avenue and Battlefield Road joined the couple’s other two shops at 3352 E. Sunshine St. in Springfield and 5402 N. 23rd St. in Ozark, both of which opened in 2023.

The Republic restaurant had been projected to open in June, but project delays pushed back its completion, said Tillman.

“We were running a few weeks behind, but instead of stressing out and opening it before it’s ready, just wait and make sure you make it the best it can be,” he said Nov. 7 of the 2,650-square-foot eatery for which Randy Phelps, formerly with Federal Construction, handled general contracting duties. Project architect was Centerville, Massachusetts-based James D. Smith, Architects.

Tillman said real estate for the project is owned via JTRP Properties LLC, while the couples own the business through HM Republic LLC. He said the restaurant employs around 35 and is led by District Manager Austin Welch.

“It’s a big investment for land, real estate. There’s just a lot more that goes into it than throwing money at something,” he said, noting startup costs, including land purchase and construction, were roughly $2 million. “It’s a big responsibility to try to do a good job.”

Huey Magoo’s has a franchise fee of $35,000, with royalty fees of 5% and marketing fees of 2%, according to its website. 

Nixa is the fifth – and final – planned local Huey Magoo’s coming from the Tillmans, he said. Tillman said the couple owns property adjacent to OakStar Bank’s 605 W. Aven Ave. branch. Its opening will mark the wrap on his five-unit commitment with the franchise company, he said.

“We haven’t really started anything on it,” Tillman said, noting he has no scheduled groundbreaking date in Nixa beyond sometime either in 2026 or 2027. “I’m going to take a break.”