Open for Business: El Aguacate

El Aguacate
Mexican restaurant El Aguacate LLC, which began operations three years ago in Seymour, relocated Jan. 23 to the Battlefield Mall, 2825 S. Glenstone Ave. Kayla Mendez, who co-owns the eatery with husband Santos, said El Aguacate’s new location in the mall is by Bath and Body Works and fills space formerly occupied by Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which shuttered. She said relocation and renovation costs were roughly $60,000, declining to disclose terms of the lease they signed with mall owner Simon Property Group. The Mendezes employ eight at the 2,400-square-foot restaurant, she said, adding the Ava couple opened Mexicana La Catrachita in Mansfield in 2022 before launching El Aguacate later that same year. The menu for El Aguacate, which translates to the avocado, includes burritos, fajitas, quesadillas and tacos. Lunch specials range $9-$12 while other menu options generally cost $12-$20. While no location is currently targeted, Mendez said they likely will open an additional Springfield eatery in the next few years.
Phone: 417-241-1333
Web: ElAguacateMo.com

Whataburger
After debuting and expanding in the Springfield area in recent years, restaurant chain Whataburger opened its first location in Branson on March 3. San Antonio, Texas-based Whataburger held a ribbon-cutting ceremony that same day for its corporate-owned eatery at 600 W. Main St. Whataburger officials declined to disclose startup costs for the 65-employee shop, which is led by Operating Partner Shekara Little. Glenwood, Iowa-based Pinnacle Construction Inc. served as the project’s general contractor. Located across from a Chick-fil-A eatery, the site had been vacant prior to construction of the Whataburger restaurant. The site previously had been targeted for Taco Habitat, but those plans fell through amid a Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme prosecuted against owner Michael Felts by the federal government. The Branson Whataburger, which is open 24/7, joins three other locations in Springfield and one each in Ozark and Republic, according to its website. The chain has nearly 1,100 restaurants in 16 states.
Phone: 417-213-5358
Web: Whataburger.com

JustBid
Sacramento, California-based online auction company JustBid expanded to Springfield on Jan. 15. JustBid, which rebranded in October from Prime Auctions, opened its 63,900-square-foot Queen City facility at 2965 E. Jean St., said a company spokesperson, who did not disclose their name. The spokesperson said the first pickup day took place on Jan. 26 and declined to disclose lease terms for the Jean Street facility. The building owner is NC 2 LLC, according to the Greene County assessor. Through the company’s JustBid.com website and an app, customers bid on a variety of items in categories like baby products, electronics and toys. Customers pick up new and preowned items won through auctions at the Springfield facility, as well as at two locations in Sacramento. JustBid has hired 13 employees to date for the Springfield operation, the spokesperson said, pointing to plans to bring on 40 additional workers “in the near future.” Founded in 2017, JustBid is owned by Tony Kasyudik, Stephen Mukhin and Max Yurtsan, according to the spokesperson.
Phone: 916-237-6546
Web: JustBid.com