Go Burrito
North Carolina-based Go Burrito, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchise, opened in Springfield, its first location in the state, on March 23. The local franchise of Go Burrito, which launched a decade ago in Salisbury, North Carolina, is owned by Lucas Forschler. Organized as 417 Burrito LLC, according to Missouri secretary of state records, he operates the eatery at 2100 W. Republic Road, Ste. 124, in Magers Crossing. Forschler has worked 13 years for Apple Inc., where he currently is a cloud engineer, according to his LinkedIn profile. He said startup costs were $750,000, which includes a $30,000 franchise fee, adding he signed a five-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Magers Management Co. General Manager Kobe Stewart leads a staff of 16 at the 3,200-square-foot shop, Forschler said. The eatery’s menu features burritos, quesadillas, tacos, nachos and salads. Prices range $3-$11. The Springfield store is the company’s fourth, with other locations in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Phone: 417-771-5468
Web: GoBurrito.com/Springfield
Collegiate Awards
Family-owned Collegiate Awards roughly doubled its space with a Jan. 1 move to 2452 N. Mayfair Ave. Erin Boster, who co-owns Collegiate Awards with brothers Brad and Craig Stout, said the company wanted a larger facility to accommodate production needs and expand its workforce. She declined to disclose relocation costs or lease terms for the 12,000-square-foot building with Diversity Commercial Investments LLC, which she said also served as landlord of its former home at 1801 E. Trafficway St. Founded in 2005, Collegiate Awards produces awards, trophies, plaques, signage, printing, gifts and engraving. Boster said the business employs 18 in Springfield and five in a St. Louis facility after it purchased All-Star Trophy in 2020 from owner Skip Berkmeyer for undisclosed financial terms. She said the company has hired seven part-time employees and one full-time worker at its Springfield shop since the move with plans to add more.
Phone: 417-873-9280
Web: CollegiateAwards.com
Throughline Architecture
With a dozen years of industry experience under his belt, architect Layne Hunton launched Throughline Architecture LLC on March 1. Hunton, who served as chief operations officer of Vecino Design LLC, a division of Springfield-based The Vecino Group LLC, exited the real estate development company after four years to start his home-based firm. He said startup costs were $15,000. While currently the venture’s sole employee, Hunton said he plans to add staff later this year. The full-service architectural firm’s scope of work includes residential and commercial projects, he said, noting an emphasis to partner with developers on multifamily and affordable housing work through the federal government’s low-income housing tax credit program. Before The Vecino Group, Hunton, a 2012 graduate of Drury University with a bachelor’s in architecture, was employed at BRP Architects and Torgerson Design Partners LLC.
Phone: 417-224-4701
Email: layne@throughlinearch.com