Open for Business: Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar

Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar
After 15 years of operation on Commercial Street, Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar LLC expanded Nov. 28 with a drive-thru location. Owner and CEO Lyle Foster said startup costs for the drive-thru, at 1626 N. Boonville Ave., were $50,000. It fills an 800-square-foot building, formerly a Commerce Bank branch, which closed in early 2018, according to bank officials. He declined to disclose lease terms with building owner The General Council of the Assemblies of God, which he said handled in-house construction for the project designed by architect Oke-Thomas & Associates Inc. The shop is roughly a four-minute walk from the flagship Big Momma’s at 217 E. Commercial St. The drive-thru menu mostly focuses on coffee and espresso drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos, along with a few desserts. Prices range $2-$5.35. Foster said the shop also is expected to offer lunch options, including meatloaf and catfish, by early January from Queen City Soul Kitchen, which he co-owns with Francine Pratt.
Phone: 417-868-4157
Web: BigMommasCoffee.com

Birch & Willow Spa
A mother and daughter with nearly 30 years of combined experience in massage therapy opened Birch & Willow Spa LLC on Nov. 19 at 4562 Gretna Road, Ste. 4524, in Branson. The 3,200-square-foot spa in The Shoppes at Branson Meadows is owned by Jami Kysar and her mother, Jodi Lilly. The owners originally targeted an early May launch for their venture, but Kysar said factors such as getting city approval for their design plans from Pete Long of Design One Architects LLC and supply chain shortages contributed to the delays. Startup costs were $240,000, she said, declining to disclose the three-year lease rate with Maples Properties LLC. Birch & Willow Spa’s services include massages, facials and body treatments, as well as salon options such as haircuts, manicures, pedicures and eyelash extensions. Massages are roughly $50 for a half-hour, and haircuts start at $25 for children, $30 for men and $50 for women. Memberships also are offered, ranging from $85-$140 per month.
Phone: 417-544-0247
Web: BirchAndWillowSpa.com

Crescent Cradle Birthing Co.
Shortly after moving back to her hometown of Springfield from Nashville, Tennessee, Aneva Jefferson launched Crescent Cradle Birthing Co. on Aug. 17. Jefferson is the lone employee of the home-based business for which she serves as a doula, offering emotional and educational support during pregnancy, including birth and the postpartum period. She said startup costs were $1,200, adding she recently participated in training by Postpartum Support International, which covered perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In Nashville, Jefferson worked for a year as a doula with nonprofit Homeland Heart Birth and Wellness Collective, which promotes and protects maternal, perinatal and infant health among families of color. In addition to Crescent Cradle, she works as a care coordinator with Jordan Valley Community Health Center, where she began employment in August, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Web: Facebook.com/CrescentCradle
Email: crescentcradlebirthingco@gmail.com