Open for Business

Karl Davis and Ballary Branstetter opened barbecue restaurant Grandaddy’s Que & More II on Jan. 31 at 431 S. Jefferson Ave. in Wilhoit Plaza. Majority owner Davis owned and operated Grandaddy’s BBQ in Strafford 1997–2006. The 121-seat restaurant in downtown Springfield has the same menu as its Strafford predecessor, except it adds New Orleans-style Creole dishes and smoked pulled chicken breast, said Davis, who was raised in New Orleans. House specialties are deep-fried turkey, pork spare ribs and beef brisket, and the average lunch price is $6.95, Davis said. Grandaddy’s Que & More II also offers take-out and catering. Davis and Branstetter plan to return Grandaddy’s to Strafford by summer, opening inside drag-racing museum Bushmaster’s Rockin’ Race Place, 2963 Evergreen Road. Hours: 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone: (417) 865-6520.

Dippin’ Dots/Work Apparel Store

Charles and Anne Nelson on Sept. 17 bought a pair of unrelated businesses – Dippin’ Dots and Work Apparel Store. The couple bought the Dippin’ Dots ice cream franchise, which functions from a kiosk inside Battlefield Mall, for an undisclosed price from Kent Pedersen. They bought Work Apparel Store, 313 E. Battlefield Road, Ste. F, in Battlefield Plaza, for an undisclosed price from Steven Slack. Work Apparel Store sells new medical uniforms, school uniforms and chef clothing. The Nelsons closed on the acquisitions on the same day, using business brokers for both – First National Business Corp. for Work Apparel Store and Kingsley Group for Dippin’ Dots. The Nelsons were formerly business owners in Springfield but spent the last six years in Paducah, Ky., where Charles Nelson worked as director of franchising for Dippin’ Dots. Between 1993 and 2001, the Nelsons owned Dippin’ Dots and Auntie Anne’s pretzel shop locations in Springfield. They sold those businesses in 2001 to Pedersen. Work Apparel Store hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday. Work Apparel Store phone: (417) 889-9675. Dippin’ Dots hours: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon–6 p.m. Sunday. Dippin’ Dots phone calls should be directed to Work Apparel Store, Charles Nelson said.

Reporter Cory Smith brings you new businesses each week. He may be reached by e-mail at csmith@sbj.net, by fax at (417) 799-0603 or by phone at (417) 616-5854.