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Smoothie King, long a tradition in the south, opened Dec. 1 at 3305-E S. Campbell Ave. as a nutritional lifestyle center. Smoothies are nutritious, custom-made drinks formulated in a variety of flavors using real fruit and natural ingredients, said owners Brad and Lee Clark. They opened the franchise here with Brad Clark's parents, Frank and Wanda Clark. There are more than 300 Smoothie King stores in 30 states. The local operation has nine employees, Brad Clark said. The goal of the store, which stands east of Wal-Mart in the South Oaks Center, is to be a nonstop nutrition center, complete with supplements, herbs and vitamins. The drinks are made fresh at the time of order, and Smoothie King offers a large menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner or between-meal snacks. Hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. |ret||ret||tab|

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Extreme Imports, at 2237 S. Campbell Ave., opened Dec. 3 as a retail outlet for car enthusiasts. Owner Karen Bettinger said the new automotive parts store will specialize in the compact sports car market, and customers will be able to make direct purchases of items that have previously been available through mail order and the Internet only. Bettinger, her husband, Gerard, and their son, Tyler, also operate Best Discount Mufflers and Brakes at 2040 S. Campbell Ave. The idea for the Extreme Imports store came about when the customers of Best Discount asked where they could buy vehicle and performance accessories, Bettinger said. She added that although the Ozarks has a reputation for being an SUV and four-wheel-drive area, there is "a growing trend in the 18- to 30-year-old market for import and domestic performance compact cars." Store hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.[[In-content Ad]]