Open for Business

Forever Florals opened April 11 at 305 E. Walnut St., Ste. 209, in downtown’s Vandivort Center. Owner Carlene Weyant is the bookkeeper and her daughter, Andrea Lisek, left, a fine arts student at Southwest Missouri State University, is the floral designer and consultant. The business leases and sells silk floral arrangements and plants for weddings, parties, receptions, banquets and business seminars. “Forever Florals is plunging into a fairly new market by making the option for rent available,” Lisek said. The 1,400-square-foot space is leased from Virginia Shirato for $250 per month. Hours are 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and by appointment.

Carmen Tyler June 27 purchased Springfield Speed Dating. The two-year-old business brought speed dating, popular on both coasts, to the Ozarks, with socials held at Cartoons and Springfield Brewing Co. About 40 single people attend each event, which consists of eight-minute rounds where participants meet each other one-on-one, and then move on to the next participant, Tyler said.

Tyler, who moved to Springfield in 2004, worked for Wal-Mart’s corporate offices in Bentonville, Ark., acquiring and allocating fuel for Sam’s Club gas stations. She is the only employee of Springfield Speed Dating, and may be reached via her Web site, www.springfieldspeeddating.com. Hours are by appointment.

Craig and Lisa Sherertz are the second franchisees to open an Instant Imprints store in Springfield. The Sherertz’ 2,000-square-foot storefront opened May 25 at 2445 N. Kansas Expressway, Ste. C. The store’s services include embroidery, screen printing, banners, signs, heat transfers, team apparel and promotional items. Craig Sherertz mans the store full time, with Lisa Sherertz and two additional staff working part time. Store hours are 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday by appointment.

The Piatchek Law Firm LLC opened June 9 at 1355 E. Bradford Pkwy, Ste. F, in Bradford Woods. Springfield native Joseph J. Piatchek returned to the area following his 2004 graduation from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He is the sole employee of the practice, focusing on estate planning, elder law, business law and mediation. Hours are by appointment.