Panda ExpressPanda Express opened its first freestanding restaurant in Springfield on Dec. 27 at 720 N. Glenstone Ave., a former Krispy Kreme site. The fast-casual restaurant chain already operates in the Missouri State University student union, and a second location is nearing completion on East Independence Street. Manager
Junior Ortiz said the Glenstone store employs 50. Founded in 1973 by Panda Restaurant Group, Panda Express operates 1,600 restaurants across 46 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Serving American-Chinese cuisine, the menu offers firecracker chicken, Beijing beef and honey walnut shrimp bowls. Hours: 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Phone: (417) 863-8930. Web:
PandaExpress.comLoftis Jewelry & Pawnbrokers Loftis Jewelry & Pawnbrokers added a second store Dec. 19 at 1445 W. Kearney St. Managed by
Bryan Minor, the 7,500-square-foot showroom mainly offers firearms and jewelry, but it also purchases for resale such items as scooters to massage tables and refrigerators to laptops. Minor said the company searched north Springfield for two years before selecting the former Missouri Council of the Blind New Image Thrift Shop building. He said the pawnshop leases the space from James Tillman, a co-owner of Complete Electrical Solutions LLC, for undisclosed terms. Members of the National Pawnbrokers Association and participants in the Federal Firearms Licensee program, Loftis has partnered with sellers on eBay and GunBroker.com. Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily. Phone: (417) 730-9999. Web:
LoftisJewelryAndPawnBrokers.comSun Tan City After 16 years operating seven area Hawaiian Sun tanning salons,
Steve and
Stephanie Brown bought into the Sun Tan City franchise and converted their chain Nov. 19. The Browns, who founded the business in 1997, bought the Sun Tan City franchise rights for Greene and Christian counties for an undisclosed amount. Each salon remains under the same management, and Marketing Director Alison Sawyer said monthly memberships range from $10 to $60 per month. Louisville, Ky.-based Sun Tan City, which began franchising in 2007, operates more than 235 salons across 18 states. The Browns run five in Springfield and one each in Nixa and Ozark, employing about 30 in all. According to Sun Tan City’s website, the $30,000 franchise fee is waived for converted salons, and the corporation provides a $13,000 credit to help franchisees cover hard costs. Operators must show $250,000 in liquid assets and $500,000 in net worth. Hours: 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday through Sunday. Phone: (417) 881-8267. Web:
SunTanCity.comSend new business info to sbj@sbj.net.
