Major-league baseball player has ties to Rogersville retail center

Rogersville developer Steve Mangan doesn't like to name-drop.

After all, Johnny Damon is first and foremost his son-in-law and business partner. The fact that he's also an outfielder for the New York Yankees is secondary.

The duo is behind Queen City Investment & Development LLC, and they're partnering to build Jamestown Plaza in the mixed-use Jamestown Center west of Rogersville off of U.S. Highway 60. Construction of the 27,340-square-foot shopping center is under way, and Mangan is eyeing a spring opening for the first phase, which will have 11 units. The second phase will add eight units. (Click here for Damon's filing with Missouri Secretary of State.)

Damon is married to Steve Mangan's daughter, Michelle. The couple met at a benefit when she was a modeling recruiter, according to Mangan, who says he couldn't ask for a better son-in-law.

"He's a great guy, easy to get along with and super nice," he said of Damon's down-to-earth persona. "Every day I'm around him, I realize it more and more."

Damon, who was vacationing out of the country and could not be reached for comment, is versed in real estate investment and buys and sells properties across the globe, according to Mangan. Damon resides in Orlando, Fla., with Michelle and their 11-month-old daughter.

When the Jamestown Center opportunity came up, it was attractive to both Mangan and Damon.

"You don't want to invest and do something away from where (you live) and you don't have any control, so I'm his point man, and I can control everything here," Mangan said. "He does investing to enhance his retirement, like I do. He's not going to be a baseball player all his life."

The partners are evenly splitting the financial investment for the approximately $3 million project.

Mangan, who is also an electrician for Kraft in Springfield, sees potential for future undertakings with Damon at his side.

"We'll just see how this project goes, and if it goes well, which we think it will, we're going to keep doing other projects in this area," he said.

But are there challenges in doing business with such a high-profile guy?

"You have to be careful," Mangan said. "A lot of times, when (people) know my son-in-law's involved, they know he makes good money and they try to take advantage of him."

Project specs

The shopping center will have mostly retail tenants, but Mangan predicts some small restaurants and businesses will jump on board as well. Units are being pre-leased through Realty Executives. Lease rates have not been determined.

Each of the 18 units will be about 1,500 square feet.

Ross Williams Architects is the architect for the project, which is designed in an "upscale, colonial" style, using a lot of brick, Mangan said.

Pinnacle Structures Inc. is the structural engineer.

The development will meet a shopping need in Rogersville, said Mangan.

"With gas prices this high, they won't have to drive all the way to Springfield for shopping," he said. "And there's so much traffic on (Highway) 60, I think it's a great location."

Jamestown Plaza is part of the 100-acre Jamestown Center development near Rogersville that comprises both residential and commercial projects, according to architect Ross Williams.[[In-content Ad]]