Open for Business: Library Station

The Springfield-Greene County Library District held a grand opening June 28 for Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway. Library Station is the district's newest destination library and complements the Library Center on South Campbell Avenue. Polly Dross (pictured) manages the library's approximately 75 employees. Library Station features north Springfield's transit history among 36,000 square feet in the former Heilig Meyers Furniture building. It replaces the Kearney Branch Library, which is for sale for $750,000 through R.B. Murray Company. Total cost funded by the voter-approved levy increase in April 2002 was $4.4 million, including land, building and improvements. Library Station is open 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. There is a Panera Bread restaurant on the south end of the building with a separate exterior entrance.

Oasis Inn & Convention Center, 2550 N. Glenstone Ave., held a grand reopening June 5 after 18 months of renovations. Prime Inc., owner of the facility for nearly four years, invested $2.5 million to remodel the convention center the former Gateway Theater, sleeping rooms, and indoor and outdoor pool areas, said Kevin Klein, general manger. The hotel has 178 rooms, and the adjoining convention center has 18,000 square feet to accommodate up to 1,600 people. Prime also added a baseball diamond and basketball and volleyball courts. Future plans include an addition to the convention center and a restaurant, which is estimated to cost another $1 million. The Oasis is open to the public, while Prime's adjacent hotel facility, the former Bass Country Inn, is a corporate training center.

Downtown Springfield welcomed Center City Grocery June 24, as owner Donna O'Connell opened the first market in the area since the mid-1990s. The grocery store occupies 1,600 square feet at 212 W. McDaniel St. It carries household staple items such as produce, milk, eggs, canned goods and cleaning supplies. O'Connell said she is targeting the growing number of urban residents. Center City Grocery is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

Celebrated Occasions opened Jan. 31 at 4742 S. Twin Lakes Ave. The business, owned by Lori Blake, sells invitations and announcements for all occasions, specializing in weddings, births, parties, Christmas cards and other stationery, Blake said. Other items include personalized napkins, party favors and wedding accessories such as guest books, toasting glasses, cake server sets and attendants gifts. There also is a retail location in The Market on 1845 E. Sunshine St. Blake works by appointment only; evenings and weekends are available, she said. The company's Web site is www.celebratedoccasions.com.