Open for Business: Palm & Paddle Grille

Palm & Paddle Grille
A sense of the Caribbean inspires the decor and menu options at Palm & Paddle Grille, a south-side Springfield restaurant that opened on June 7. The 5,000-square-foot eatery, which occupies two floors and features a balcony and outdoor dining, serves as the anchor tenant at The Creek, a mixed-use development on South Campbell Avenue. Walker Hospitality owns both The Creek and Palm & Paddle Grille, which is at 2515 S. Campbell Ave., Ste. 400. It’s next door to the La Quinta Inn South, also owned by the hospitality company. Palm & Paddle Grille marks his company’s first foray into the restaurant side of the hospitality industry, said Greg Walker, who co-owns the venture with his wife, Kristin. The couple declined to disclose startup costs for the 30-employee restaurant, which sells Caribbean-inspired American fare. Options include jerk chicken, sesame ahi tuna steak, tacos, burgers and island bowls, which include proteins mixed with rice, beans and vegetables. Prices range $7-$24.
Phone: 417-605-7500
Web: PalmAndPaddleGrille.com

Cricketts Esports
Esports players have a new option for gaming at a shop near Bass Pro Shops at the Sunshine Street and Campbell Avenue intersection. Cricketts Esports LLC is a first-time business ownership venture for Cody Ricketts, a 27-year-old recent graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College. The shop, which opened June 4, is in the Sunshine Corners shopping center at 210 W. Sunshine St., Ste. F. Ricketts said his 1,200 square-foot shop has 10 gaming PCs he built by hand, as well as two Nintendo Switch consoles for gamers’ use. While at OTC, Ricketts said he took on side work such as pressure washing homes and landscaping to help save money for the venture, noting his wife, Katelyn, helped fund $30,000 in startup costs. Ricketts is on a two-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Maples Properties. Players have over 100 games to choose from, including Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros., Counter-Strike and Street Fighter 6. Unlimited game play prices are $9 for one hour, $20 for a three-hour bundle and $28 for an all-day pass.
Phone: 850-776-7029
Web: CrickettsEsports.com

Tortuga Torta
Growing up, Luis Pantaleon always loved to cook, and he set out to recreate the torta – a Mexican sandwich. Now, after the April 20 opening of his food truck business Tortuga Torta, he serves a variety of tortas, recreating them to be portable and mess-free. Pantaleon said startup costs were about $80,000, adding that he is the sole employee but will occasionally receive help from his mom, Maria. He and his wife, Manon, initially debated between opening a food truck or a nail salon, Pantaleon said. They decided to open the mobile eatery at 3867 S. Campbell Ave. in the Parkcrest Center, occupying space formerly belonging to Swirly’s Ice Cream & Waffles. Pantaleon said he rents the space from KPAC Properties for $600 a month. He currently is on a 90-day contract but plans to extend the lease. Prices for the tortas range $10-$11, with an opportunity to add fries and a drink for $3 more.
Phone: 417-210-3889
Web: TortugaTortas417.com