Open for Business

Overland Park, Kan.-based HMN Architects Inc. opened a Springfield office May 1, marking the 25-year-old firm’s first expansion into a new market. The Springfield office, 1324 E. Kingsley St., has seven staff members, including three architects, according to architect Pat Litty, one of nine principals. She said the firm is looking to hire an interior designer in Springfield. HMN Architects expanded to Springfield because officials saw the area as a growth market, and they were already working on projects in southwest Missouri, such as the Taney County Justice Center, McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital in Carthage and Citizens Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar. Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (417) 882-9075.

Jones Beltone Hearing Center

Dean Jones and sons David and Jim opened Jones Beltone Hearing Center on July 16 at 1601 W. Sunshine St., Ste. F, in Elfindale Center. The store offers free hearing evaluations and sells Beltone-brand hearing aids, batteries and other accessories, according to Administrative Assistant Kathy Warner. Warner runs the store for Jefferson City-based Dean Jones Hearing Aids Inc., a 50-year-old company with seven Beltone stores, mostly in mid-Missouri. Warner said they plan to open at least three more stores in the Springfield area within five years. Hours: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (417) 864-4327.

Brooke Insurance

Trinity Anderson and Deborah Schyma opened Brooke Insurance offices on March 30 at 2623 N. Kansas Expressway and 841 S. Glenstone Ave. – former locations for A Bargain Insurance Agency Inc., also known as ABIA. The women became franchisees of Overland Park, Kan.-based Brooke Corp., which has about 700 locations nationwide, after the company bought Kansas City-based ABIA’s 40 offices, Anderson said. Anderson and Schyma worked for ABIA in Springfield for about a year. Anderson and Schyma offer auto and home insurance, and they plan to add health and life insurance in October. Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday. Phone: (417) 862-0018.

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.