Open for Business: Pet Wants

Pet Wants
The Springfield franchisee of Cincinnati-based Pet Wants began a brick-and-mortar store Nov. 18 in the Fremont Center after running a delivery service the past three years. Husband and wife owners Dennis and Holly Ensor are part of the five-person staff at 1342 E. Battlefield Road. In addition to dry and canned food for dogs and cats, the store sells treats, CBD products, toys, leashes, collars, shampoos and pet beds, Holly Ensor said. Services include free delivery in Springfield, Nixa and Ozark on weekdays, pet nutrition consultations and curbside pickup. She said Pet Wants’ food is sold fresh with natural ingredients, using no animal byproducts, soy, wheat, sugar, dyes or corn. The Ensors lease 1,600 square feet for undisclosed terms with Ataractic Investment Co. LLC. They declined to disclose startup costs. According to PetWantsFranchise.com, the franchise fee is $48,500 with 7% royalties on sales.
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (417) 210-8574
Web: PetWantsSpringfieldMO.com 

SpringHill Suites by Marriott-Springfield North
Five years after construction began, SpringHill Suites by Marriott-Springfield North opened Oct. 7 at 2025 E. Kerr St. Located off of Glenstone Avenue and adjacent to Interstate 44, the 92-room, 60,000-square-foot hotel is managed by Dallas-based Hospitality Management Corp. Sandi Byars, the management company’s corporate director of marketing, said the project by Joplin-based developer A R Enterprises Inc. cost $12 million. Changes in partnership and expired permits delayed development of the hotel as A R Enterprises originally was working with Colorado-based H&H Management Group. By 2017, that company was not involved, and Illinois-based Shrinay Corp. took over as general contractor. Byars said General Manager Gail Narber leads the 25-employee staff, and features include an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, dry cleaning service, laundry facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi and breakfast. Meeting and event spaces totaling over 1,400 square feet have capacity for 200 people.
Hours: 24/7
Phone: (417) 351-6981
Web: Marriott.com/sgfno 

Robert Merritt Agency Inc.
Longtime Farmers Insurance agent Robert “Dewayne” Merritt opened a Springfield agency Oct. 15 in Chesterfield Village. Located at 2136 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Ste. D202, Robert Merritt Agency Inc. fills 2,000 square feet in the four-employee office. Merritt recently relocated to the Queen City after four years as an area sales manager for Farmers Insurance in Arkansas. He has 20 years of experience with Farmers Insurance and now serves as a district manager, with his focus on developing and facilitating business relationships with entrepreneurs in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. Merritt declined to disclose startup costs or lease terms for the space formerly occupied by Sunshine Tax Service.
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: (417) 244-4588