Academy Sports & OutdoorsOn Sept. 16, Academy Sports & Outdoors opened its first Springfield store at 610 W. El Camino Alto Drive in James River Commons. The $7.8 million, 87,000-square-foot store employs roughly 157, said
Jon Askins, store director. Academy Sports sells athletic wear and gear, hunting and outdoor equipment, and footwear, Askins said. The Springfield store is the 74-year-old chain’s second in Missouri, joining the Joplin store that is being rebuilt following the May tornado that caused significant damage. Katy, Texas-based Academy Sports, which entered the Columbia, S.C., market last month, operates more than 130 stores in 11 Southeastern states, with annual sales exceeding $2.7 billion. Hours: 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (417) 890-3800. Web:
Academy.comThe Flying TomatoThe Flying Tomato began serving patrons Sept. 9 in the former dining room space of Trolley’s Bar & Grille, 107 Park Central Square. The roughly 1,200-square-foot restaurant is a collaboration of Trolley’s owner
Ryan MacDonald, Gelato Mio co-owner
Andy Drennen and Paolo’s Pasta & Grille chef and co-owner
Paul Pentecost. Drennen said The Flying Tomato employs more than a dozen staff and provides a family atmosphere with pasta dishes as the centerpiece of the menu. Items range from $8 to $12. The food is prepared and served by Flying Tomato staff, while drinks are served by Trolley’s. Drennen declined to disclose renovation costs but said the company received a center city loan for up to $25,000 to cover payroll, minor expenses and new equipment. Hours: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Sunday hours are yet to be determined.) Phone: (417) 831-0400.
CrossFit 417Husband-and-wife
Jared and
Andrea Stevens on Sept. 19 opened CrossFit 417, a 4,000-square-foot gym at 5108 N. 22nd St. in Ozark. Jared Stevens has worked for about five years as a trainer, three years as student strength and conditioning assistant at Evangel University. He said CrossFit 417 is not a branch of CrossFit-Springfield, but it does offer a similar style of workout, combining such training as weightlifting, sprinting, gymnastics, power lifting and rowing, he said. CrossFit 417 offers group workouts, personal training, individual and team sports performance, and senior classes for ages 55 and up. Memberships cost $85 a month per person or $125 a month per couple for unlimited visits. A single membership for two sessions a week is $65 monthly. Stevens, a former Evangel football standout who played professionally overseas, is partnered with Missouri State University track and field coach Ron Boyce for the sports performance training. Hours: 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and classes are held at 9 and 10 a.m. Saturday. Phone: (417) 380-3195. Web:
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