Open for Business

Patrick Gottsch opened RFD-TV The Theatre with a sold-out show March 28 featuring Ralph Emory and Willie Nelson. The 2,000-seat theater, 4080 W. Highway 76 in Branson, will have daily shows featuring Sons of Tennessee, Leroy Troy and Penny Gilley, along with guest acts throughout the summer, including Loretta Lynn, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers and The Beach Boys. Shows, which have ticket prices between $25 and $60, are filmed for national broadcast on RFD-TV, a seven-year-old, 24-hour television network. RFD-TV targets rural viewers and is available to 30 million U.S. households through DirecTV, Dish Network and 625 cable systems, including Mediacom. Gottsch, president and founder of the Omaha, Neb.-based network, spent $1 million remodeling the former Ray Stevens Theatre, which included installing television production equipment. RFD-TV currently has its production studios in Nashville, Tenn., but Gottsch plans to relocate both the company’s headquarters and production studios to Branson within the next two years. To accommodate the move, Gottsch plans to eventually purchase land and build new buildings in Branson. He also plans to launch a Branson-based satellite radio channel in September. Gottsch, who first visited Branson in August, said the town feels like home. Box office hours: 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Phone: (417) 332-2344.

Starbucks

Price Cutter opened Republic’s first Starbucks inside its newly remodeled store at 1013 East U.S. Highway 60. RPCS Inc., parent company of Price Cutter, is the licensee. The location offers a full array of Starbucks coffee drinks and food items and has seating for 20. It also offers wireless Internet access for free. The 60,000-square-foot Price Cutter store was renamed Price Cutter Plus following recent store reconfigurations that included more high-end food offerings. Starbucks hours: 6 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Phone: (417) 732-2828.

Reporter Cory Smith brings you new businesses each week. He may be reached by e-mail at csmith@sbj.net