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AT THE METRO: Christina Shellhart co-owns Metro Eats under construction west of Red's Giant Hamburg on Sunshine Street.
SBJ photo by McKenzie Robinson
AT THE METRO: Christina Shellhart co-owns Metro Eats under construction west of Red's Giant Hamburg on Sunshine Street.

Metro Eats bringing farmers market, food trucks to west side

Sunshine Street development on 11 acres plans to open in April

Posted online

Metro Eats, an 11-acre Sunshine Street development on the city’s west side, is poised to make its debut next month.

The venture co-owned by Christina Shellhart and wife, Amy, includes a multiday farmers market, food trucks and outdoor event space. Christina Shellhart said the land is owned and being developed by Tony Still of Still Investment Co. LLC. It sits west of Red’s Giant Hamburg restaurant near the Sunshine and Kansas Expressway intersection.

“I wanted to do a food truck park and farmers [market] together for seven years. I just couldn’t find the right location,” Shellhart said, declining to disclose the couple’s investment or lease terms with Still.

Shellhart has roughly 30 years of restaurant industry experience, including past work with Carino’s Italian in California and Famous Dave’s in Springfield. She moved to the Queen City in 2010 and since 2013 has owned Half Crocked Chef LLC, which specializes in locally sourced honey and seasoning blends.

The farmers market has capacity for around 120 vendors, Shellhart said. She’s visited with nearly 90 potential vendors and most are on board for at least one or two days a week. First-year dues are $300, with Circle B Ranch, Springfield Brewing Co. and Reborn Co. among the planned vendor lineup, according to the Metro Eats website. The market plans to be open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

“We hope to soft open in April with the farmers market. We just can’t have a bunch of cars out there on the dirt,” she said, noting the front 5 acres of the property will accommodate parking for 200 vehicles. “So, we have to get the asphalt and concrete down.”

A roughly 10,000-square-foot building underway will serve as a food court and also can host events, Shellhart said. An acre on the northwest portion of the property also is available for event space or overflow parking. Event catering is being handled by Ozark Premier Food Co., a venture owned by restaurant industry veterans Angel Kim, Angelo Wanithantri and Chris Perkins.

Wanithantri and Perkins did not return messages seeking comment by press time.

Food trucks will be operating daily, Shellhart said, pointing to Davalon, Chubby Cactus, KeenBean Coffee Roasters and Lae’s Authentic Egg Rolls among those currently on board.

The opening of Metro Eats will mark the second food truck park in Springfield. Kirk Wheeler opened Route 66 Food Truck Park in February 2020 at 1350 St. Louis St. The Wheelhouse, Not’cho Ordinary Taco and Earth’s Harvest are featured there.

Shellhart said Metro Eats is targeting consumers in west Springfield, Republic and Willard. The food trucks also could reach businesses in the vicinity, she said, noting the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners and the Communications Solutions call center are two large employers nearby.

Shellhart’s no stranger to farmers markets. She’s been selling her honeys and seasonings at them since starting Half Crocked Chef and currently is a member of Farmers Market of the Ozarks, Ozark Farmers Market, Branson Farmers Market and Greater Springfield Farmers’ Market.

“I belong to all the farmers markets, so we didn’t want to do damage to any of the other markets,” she said. “We’re encouraging people to broaden and widen their footprint in Springfield out to the west side.”

One of the farmers market vendors she’s bonded with is Michelle Johnson, co-owner of Lamar-based Dove Creek Waygu Cattle Co. and president of nonprofit Show Me Wagyu Partners LLC.

Johnson said she met Shellhart years ago at the Branson Farmers Market and was instantly attracted to the Metro Eats concept upon learning about it last spring. Both Dove Creek and Show Me Waygu will be market vendors.

“She has connections all over the place and she’s a go-getter,” Johnson said of Shellhart. “We accepted right that minute. We’ll be selling there from the very start.”

The companies will sell waygu beef and beef jerky at the market, with proceeds going to Tango 3, a Michigan-based nonprofit that raises awareness of suicide among veterans.

Shellhart said Metro Eats also will be helping Tango 3.

"We’ll have festivals once a month and part of the proceeds will be linked to ticket sales to go to that charity,” she said, noting she’s lost a couple family members to suicide and wanted to support a cause devoted to veterans.

Entertainment also is in the works at Metro Eats. Plans call for space to accommodate a drive-in movie, amphitheater and miniature golf.

“Our goal for the outdoor entertainment areas is contingent to city permits,” Shellhart said.

She said excitement is building as the opening date for Metro Eats approaches.

“We really tried to look at what the customers needed and what vendors wanted because I’ve been both,” Shellhart said. “That was my goal to be as conducive to as many people as I could.”

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