Open for Business: Hampton Inn

Hampton Inn
Hampton Inn Springfield-Southeast opened Feb. 23 at 3370 E. Montclair St., southeast of the Battlefield Road and U.S. Highway 65 interchange. General Manager Sonja Needham said the hotel has around 30 employees and 106 rooms. The nearly 65,500-square-foot hotel was built by Springfield-based EAS Investment Enterprises Inc. for $7 million. Developer Earl Steinert couldn’t overcome zoning issues for his Hampton flag in south Springfield and settled on the east-side property. The hotel opening, originally slated for April 2014, was set back by several months of construction delays. Needham said current rates range from $124 for a standard double queen bedroom to $160 for a studio suite. Phone: (417) 882-1003. Web: HamptonInn3.Hilton.com

Waddell & Reed Inc
Waddell & Reed Inc. opened a Branson office Jan. 1 at 192 Expressway Lane, Ste. 250. Financial advisers Handley Haydon and Scott Hall perform financial planning, broker-dealer services and licensed insurance sales for the publicly traded firm (NYSE: WDR), which nationwide manages more than $130 billion in assets. Haydon said Waddell & Reed signed a three-year lease for nearly 1,000 square feet for $752 a month with Living Alternatives Pregnancy Services of Branson Inc. Hours: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Phone: (417) 334-9424. Web: Waddell.com

The Grotto
The Grotto owner Mark Coleman opened his second restaurant April 24 at 3250 E. Battlefield Road, Ste. 8, in Fox Grape Plaza. Coleman said he had planned on opening another Grotto for the past few years, and chose the location based on highway access, residential traffic and the number of businesses nearby. The West Coast-style grill features burgers, pizzas and salads, with most items priced $8-$10. Coleman signed a five-year lease for 3,300 square feet with Fox Grape Plaza LLC for undisclosed terms. Hours: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (417) 720-1612. Web: GoGrotto.com