Open for Business: Bambinos Cafe

Bambinos Cafe
Bambinos Cafe opened a second restaurant March 7. The Faucett family converted The Buzz coffee shop, at 2810 E. Battlefield, Ste. D, in the Half a Hill shopping center, to complement the original Bambinos on Delmar Street near Missouri State University. Owner Andy Faucett said he purchased The Buzz in mid-2014 for $42,000 and continued to operate it during the week, while handling catering on the weekend. Including the acquisition, Faucett estimated startup costs for the second Bambinos were around $100,000. The menus are identical, he said, with traditional pasta, panini, pizza, salads, soups and homemade bread and desserts. The new cafe employs roughly 25. Faucett also owns and operates B2, Bambino’s Coffee and Smoothie and Cafe, across Battlefield Road. Hours: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon–9 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (417) 881-4442. Web: BambinosCafe.com

Graham Automotive
Graham Automotive moved Nov. 1 to 706 S. Glenstone Ave. from a Chestnut Expressway building. Owned by Kevin Haik, the five-employee repair shop handles oil changes, mechanical services, diagnostics, exhaust work and alignments. Haik said relocation costs were between $10,000 and $15,000. He leases the 3,638-square-foot building from Kenneth Boyer, according to Greene County assessor records. Hours: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (417) 866-1155.

Novo Asian Bistro
After closing nearly four-year-old Blu Sesame downtown on Valentine’s Day, Angel Kim opened Novo Asian Bistro on April 1 at 2025 W. Sunshine St., Ste. 148. “Blu Sesame was doing great. It was just hard for me to go and make sure everything was good at the downtown location,” Kim said, noting the new space is close to his home. “Our lease was up downtown, and I just wanted to try something different.” Kim, who also owns ReRico Brazilian Grill and Argentina Steakhouse, leases 2,000 square feet in One Park Centre from Eoff and Associates. Novo’s menu includes sushi, Asian burgers, tuna nachos and bento boxes. The estimated startup cost was nearly $150,000, said General Manager Matthew Kellough. Hours: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4:30–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone: (417) 719-4141. Web: NovoAsianBistro.com

Send new business info to sbj@sbj.net.