Open for Business: LoveCraft Farms

LoveCraft Farms
A husband and wife made their first foray into the food industry with the July 20 launch of LoveCraft Farms at Metro Eats, 2463 W. Sunshine St. Russ Powers said he and his wife, Shelley, own the 320-square-foot cargo container from which they sell coffee and kombucha. He declined to disclose startup costs or their two-year lease rate for space with Metro Eats owners Christine and Amy Shellhart. The Powerses are the lone employees at LoveCraft Farms, which he said is the couple’s third business venture. Powers said they previously owned a franchise of The UPS Store in Branson for nearly a decade and were part owners of retail shop Hemporium for roughly a year before selling their interest in both companies in recent years. At LoveCraft Farms, which offers a drive-thru window, the couple source their coffee from Monett-based Foxen Coffee Co. He said the shop also sells house-made syrups and house-made, small-batch kombucha with flavors including strawberry lavender and pina colada. Prices range $2.50-$8.
Phone: 417-590-8029
Web: Facebook.com/LoveCraftFarms

Snyder Equipment
Railroad industry manufacturer Snyder Equipment held a grand opening Dec. 7 after consolidating local operations into northwest Springfield at 4654 W. Junction St., near Interstate 44 and Chestnut Expressway. Snyder Equipment was acquired in 2019 from Michael and Andy Nusbaumer by New York Air Brake LLC, a subsidiary of German manufacturer Knorr-Bremse AG. Barbara L. Gould, director of North American communications for Knorr-Bremse North America, said the company’s Springfield facility consolidates operations from eight properties in Nixa and Wheatland. She said Snyder Equipment’s capital investment at the Springfield property was $4 million. The 147,000-square-foot building houses the company’s administrative, engineering, research, development, manufacturing, testing, repair and remanufacturing teams. Manufacturing products for the rail industry since 1936, Snyder Equipment employs more than 140 workers at the Springfield plant.
Phone: 417-725-4067
Web: SnyderEquip.com

Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar
Downtown’s 20-year-old Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar changed ownership Sept. 18. Mark Oldham and Ryan Neas purchased the 313 South Ave. business for an undisclosed price from Jay Hickman and Daniel Bryan. A regular at Ernie Biggs for about a decade, Oldham said he wants to expand the live music venue’s clientele to a wider variety of ages, adding the venture is owned via Biggs One LLC for the property and Biggs Two LLC for the business. Oldham said he also owns over-the-road trucking company MO Paradice Inc. The menu at the 5,800-square-foot Ernie Biggs, which employs 12, includes well drinks, cocktails and draft beer, with prices ranging $3-$12. The bar also charges a $10 cover, except for on Wednesdays when the cover is $5 for college night. Oldham said live music is played nightly, with roughly 20 musicians on rotation playing songs by customer request.
Phone: 417-865-4782
Web: ErnieBiggs.com