Open for Business: Keeping Good Company

Keeping Good Company opened a 4,000-square-foot franchise Nov. 4 in the French Quarter Plaza at 1602 E. Republic Road, Ste. A. The store is owned by Angie Carr. In-store product includes general home dcor pieces, such as furniture, lamps, pictures and sundry accessory items, said manager Katie Weaver (pictured). The shop employs six, including interior designer Laurie Tomassini. Prices range from items under $5 to more than $9,000 for large-scale Eddy West furniture. The genesis behind Keeping Good Company began about 13 years ago with Roxie Kelley's first shop in Osage Beach. There are three locations in Missouri, including a store in Columbia. The shop has a five-year lease, Weaver said. Store hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Noble Art opened Nov. 1 at 438 W. McDaniel. Owner Brad Noble operates a 1,000-square-foot gallery and working studio where he displays about 20 works-in-progress. Describing his style as surrealist, symbolist and contemporary figurative, he creates life-size figures, mixed-media images and oil-on-canvas paintings. Noble considers the shop a "staging ground" to display his work for sale and develop commission opportunities. Admitting "it's a hard business to classify the value" of art, Noble's prices are based on what a similar piece has sold for previously, as well as what similar pieces by other artists sell for. Noble has a three-year lease and rents for $800 a month. Hours are 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Citizens Memorial Health Senior Health Center opened Jan. 19 at 1840 W. Broadway in Bolivar. The 5,040-square-foot, $425,000 facility offers water aerobic classes, a health information library with computers and Internet availability and an exercise room with treadmill, steppers, stationary bikes and weights, said Julie Righter, director of community development. There also are free educational programs on topics ranging from diabetes and breast cancer to arthritis and Alzheimer's disease. General contractor was Shelenhammer Construction of Bolivar with architectural work done by Kurtz Home Design in Bolivar. One employee and 20 volunteers handle operations. Hours are 8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Liberty Bank Mortgage opened a Nixa satellite office Jan. 2 at 301 E. Highway CC, Ste. 3. The office handles mortgage requests, refinancing, government, conventional, new purchase and construction loans, said D. J. Robertson, mortgage division president. There are no checking or savings account services there. The company has a three-year renewable lease, she said. Two employees work the location. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.