Open for Business: Gusano's Chicago-Style Pizzeria

Gusano’s Chicago-Style Pizzeria
Rogers, Ark.-based Gusano’s Chicago-Style Pizzeria opened the franchise’s eighth restaurant April 1 in Battlefield Market Place, 900 E. Battlefield Road, Ste. 176. Gusano’s founder and President Ben Biesenthal, along with business partners Grub Christie and Whole Hog Cafe co-owner Dave Warren, co-own the Springfield store through Catfish Pies Inc. The roughly 5,500-square-foot spot, which formerly housed Bandana’s Bar-B-Q and The Filling Station, is leased from Battlefield Market Place LLC for undisclosed terms. Estimating startup costs at $350,000, Biesenthal said the pizzeria and sports bar offers Chicago-style and traditional crust pizzas, sandwiches, wraps and salads, ranging from $10 to $20. With four Arkansas stores, the chain also operates in Joplin, Pittsburg, Kan., and Texarkana, Texas. Hours: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m.–midnight. Thursday through Saturday. Phone: (417) 719-4988. Web: GusanosPizza.com

Maso Kitchen Bar
After purchasing the former Parlor 88 in the Eastgate Plaza shopping center in April 2014, restaurateurs Nicola and Monica Gilardi opened Maso Kitchen Bar on Dec. 4. At 3653 E. Sunshine St., Maso Kitchen Bar’s menu is centered on comfort foods and the atmosphere is more casual than the Gilardis’ Nicola’s Ristorante on the west side of Eastgate Plaza. Nicola Gilardi said the menu was designed small to start, but it is expanding. Dishes range from $8 to $16. Named after Nicola’s son, Tomaso, the roughly 3,500-square-foot restaurant employs around 15, he said. Hours: 4 p.m.–close. Phone: (417) 720-1047. Web: Facebook.com/MasoKB

Monumental Travel LLC
Courtney and Anthony Hancock opened Monumental Travel LLC on Feb. 1. Operating from their Springfield home, the Hancocks are independent contractors through Nexion. Courtney Hancock said the 20-year-old Nexion has relationships with airline, hotel and cruise suppliers, such as Delta, Sandals and Royal Caribbean. Monumental Travel primarily sells vacation packages starting at $1,500 a person to the Caribbean and Mexico, but it also has options for cruises and short excursions. Startup costs for Monumental Travel were around $2,500, Hancock said. Hours: 24/7. Phone: (417) 350-1128. Web: MonumentalTravel.NexionAffiliate.com

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