On the Edges

Knight expanding on Tracker Road

Dan Knight, of Knight Heating and Air Conditioning, will move his business around Dec. 15 to a new building at 468 Tracker Road. Knight will use 8,000 square feet of the 24,000-square-foot building. Space for eight other businesses is available at the new building, which is being completed by Construction Processing Company. Gregg Stancer at CJR Commercial is the leasing agent. Knight Heating and Air Conditioning is currently located in 5,000 square feet at 208 Village Center Road in Nixa. The company will be able to add seven trucks and 15 employees with the move, Knight said. The company provides heating and air conditioning equipment for homes and businesses. The business makes service calls in the Nixa, Springfield, Branson and Ozark areas. "We have 18 trucks and will try to push to 25 trucks," Knight said.

Carol Jones, Realtors hosts event

The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce and Carol Jones, Realtors will sponsor Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at 556 W. Mt. Vernon (Highway 14) in Nixa. Home-cooked Halloween treats and drinks will be provided, according to Sabina Frank, manager.

Ducks add to management staff

The Texas-Louisiana League brought in Todd Rahr of the company More Than Just a Game as its director of business development for the Ozark Mountain Ducks. Rahr is a minor-league baseball veteran who has marketing and management experience with teams in Savannah, Ga., Eugene, Ore., and San Bernadino, Calif. He expects to work with the Ozark team for the next three years and will focus on getting the business community involved with the Ducks.

"We're going to become chamber of commerce participants not just members and develop the grassroots level of support in the business community," he said. "Having a club in a community like this is a tremendous thing and without the business support, in terms of sponsorships and buying tickets for the season or big group nights, you can't make a go of it. The business community realizes what an important part we play in the community," Rahr said. "They can utilize us to expand their business. We try to sell sponsorships in a nontraditional venue and add to the life of the community."

Rahr said while visiting the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Business & Technology Expo Oct. 14, he was pleasantly surprised at the support the Ducks already receive.

Commercial construction to rev up

Al Gonzales, building code inspector for Ozark, reported on several retail construction projects in the works. An approximately 3,000-square-foot Lightning Lube will be built next to the MFA store on Highway 14. Dennis Hanks Chevrolet Olds has a permit to build a new dealership on five acres on the east outer road off Highway 65, north of Days Inn.

Three restaurants are coming to Ozark in the near future, according to Gonzales. They include a Dairy Queen at North 16th and Diane, just north of Highway 14, near KFC and Burger King.

Fried Green Tomatoes has started construction and is on schedule to finish in February, according to Gonzales. The 14,160-square-foot restaurant will be located off CC behind Rapid Roberts. Gonzales said the chain is based in Louisiana and Smith Construction Co. of Joplin is the contractor.

A Cruisin' U.S.A. Frozen Custard shop will be built on CC near Lambert's Cafe. In addition, Southwest Community Bank will add a branch at 1444 State Hwy. J, in the same area.

Gonzales said a 71-acre commercial and retail plat and a shopping mall may be discussed at the November Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.