Mister Furniture auctions inventory

Thomas is moving after downtown developer Scott Tillman in July agreed to buy Thomas’ four-floor, 31,000-square-foot building at 134 Park Central Square and its adjacent 88-space parking lot.

Broker Sam Freeman of Center City Development Co. said the property sale would be final in late January. He declined to disclose the sale price.

Tillman’s plans for the building and parking lot are unknown. Tillman did not return calls requesting an interview.

“Based on my observation of Scott Tillman as a developer down here over the years, he doesn’t buy property and just sit on it,” Thomas said. “I’m sure he’s got something in mind and he will, I’m sure, start in on it real soon after he gets possession of it.”

Tillman is heading the $17 million College Station retail and entertainment project at the corner of College and Campbell just west of the downtown square. The development has netted its first-run movie theater anchor, Hollywood Stadium 14 Cinemas, and now is after retailers and restaurants for the development’s remaining 40,000 square feet.

Tillman, who serves as board chairman of the Downtown Community Improvement District, has developed other downtown properties such as the Universal Paint building for Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, the Mansfield Opera House, now home to Tradewinds Furniture, and Patton Alley Pub and Agrario for restaurateur Eric Zackrison. Tillman and Zackrison also are working to open Hickok’s Steakhouse and Brewery across from Agrario at the back of the Opera House. Tillman also is seeking a tenant for an East Olive Street building, half of which he rehabbed for A Valeria Boss Salon.

Mister Furniture’s Thomas previously told Springfield Business Journal that he decided to sell his downtown building, which he bought in 1986 for about $116,000, after its value and taxes ballooned. Recent Greene County appraisals pegged the building at $509,600 and the parking lot, which Thomas paid a little more than $100,000 for 10 years ago, at $94,300.

Thomas didn’t disclose the location of his new store on Glenstone, but he said during a Nov. 29 interview that he hopes to sign a lease within days.

Thomas said the new store will be in a high-traffic area and will only have 2,300 square feet of retail space, so he plans to slash his inventory and target three furniture styles: retro, modern and contemporary. Thomas describes his current wares as a “mix” that leans toward traditional styles.