Open for Business: Metropolitan Farmer

Metropolitan Farmer
Metropolitan Farmer opened Nov. 29 at 2144 E. Republic Road, Ste. B-101, in Farmers Park. The $22 million development’s first tenant, the contemporary American farm-to-table diner emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and currently works with a dozen farms, including Circle B Ranch, Quickley Produce Farm and Rain Crow Ranch, executive chef Wes Johnson said. Metropolitan Farmer is a sister restaurant to Pat Duran’s Metropolitan Grill and Springfield Taco Co. With entrees ranging between $15 and $27, menu items include molasses glazed duck, strip steak and fresh trout, Johnson said. It seats 95 in the 4,000-square-foot main dining room and has two private rooms, as well as the Barley, Wheat and Rye Social House upstairs with rooftop access. Johnson said Metropolitan Farmer is in a five-year lease with another five-year option for an undisclosed rate. The restaurant employs 26 under General Manager Reid Roberts, who moved over from Metropolitan Grill. Hours: 4–10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4–11 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Phone: (417) 720-1665. Web: MetropolitanFarmer.com

Palm Beach Vapors
Robert and Kelly Sands purchased the rights to a Palm Beach Vapors franchise and opened a storefront Dec. 2 at 212 S. Campbell Ave. Selling electronic smoking devices, juices and accessories, Palm Beach Vapors launched earlier this year in Owasso, Okla., and it operates a handful of stores. Robert Sands said he invested $65,000 for the startup, including the $20,000 franchise fee, fixtures and inventory, and pays 6.7 percent royalties. He said the store carries about 85 flavors, including cappuccino, Cuban cigar, vanilla cupcake and gummy bear, and a flavor station offers custom mixes and samples. A starter kit retails around $100 and e-juice cartridges cost $7.95, said Sands, a 20-year insurance agent now with Spracklen Insurance Services. He and his wife, a former registered nurse at CoxHealth, run the store with one employee. The franchisees lease 1,900 square feet, formerly Kiss My Gas Scooters, from Bob McCroskey for $1,000 per month for three years. Hours: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon–5 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (417) 864-8273. Web: PalmBeachVapors.com

Brawner and Associates
Donnie and Karen Brawner of production consulting firm Brawner and Associates acquired audio and video supplier Sounds Great/SG Integration on Oct. 1. The merger brings together two companies that have worked together on projects the last eight years. Sounds Great has supplied staging equipment to Brawner and Associates subsidiary Paragon 360, for theatrical design and live event production services. Sounds Great, 1335 E. Republic Road, next to Paragon 360, operates a 2,600-square-foot showroom, contracting division and online store now as a division of Paragon 360. In the deal, terms of which were not disclosed, Sounds Great owner Mark Morton has stayed on as chief operating officer. The combined companies represent 170 equipment manufacturers, and representative projects and clients include Hammons Field, JQH Arena, Sight and Sound Theatre and Herschend Family Entertainment. Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (417) 883-4543. Web: SoundsGreat.com

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