YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Queen City Soda & Sweets
The former owner of a vape shop changed directions with the Dec. 1 opening of Queen City Soda & Sweets. In late October, Robert Sands closed his 7-year-old SunRay Vapors store at 212 S. Campbell Ave. after business had declined substantially, he said. Sands, a self-described “candy fanatic,” co-owns his new venture at 301 Park Central West with his brother, Donny, who lives in Los Angeles. The three-employee shop carries over 200 varieties of craft soda, such as black cherry and cream soda, in glass bottles for around $3 apiece. Bulk candy, including fudge, are sold out of apothecary-style glass jars for $13 a pound. Other specialty items are Crispycakes and Zagnut bars. Sands is on a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Bob McCrosksey Real Estate Inc. for the roughly 1,600-square-foot store, the original home of Hurts Donut Co. Startup costs, which included installation of an old-fashioned soda fountain bar, were around $60,000, Sands said.
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Phone: (417) 868-0041
Bombay Bazaar
Indian grocery store Bombay Bazaar opened Nov. 30 in the Plaza Towers Center. At 1915 S. Glenstone Ave., the shop fills the space previously occupied by Leslie’s Mexican Cafe. Nirav Patel, who co-owns the business with his wife Monali, said it operates via Shree Umiya Mataji LLC. The 4,300-square-foot store carries dozens of Indian items, including flours, breads, spices, masalas, chutneys, noodles and over 20 types of lentils. Meats, including goat, ram and chicken, will soon be added to the store inventory, he said. Patel said startup costs were in the low six figures. The couple signed an annual lease with Plaza Towers Center LLC for an undisclosed rate. Patel came to Springfield in January 2018 upon taking part ownership of Comfort Inn & Suites on North Glenstone Avenue. He will remain involved with the hotel as operations manager, while his wife takes a more active role in the day-to-day grocery business.
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Phone: (417) 889-2398
Web: BombayBazaarSpringfield.com
Battlefield Pharmacy LLC
Three businessmen with a combined 50 years of pharmaceutical experience teamed up to start Battlefield Pharmacy LLC. The 1,750-square-foot shop owned by Matt McNitt, Justin Humphreys and Steve McClanahan opened June 10 at 4062 W. Republic Road in Battlefield. McNitt said they all were co-workers at Hines Street Pharmacy LLC in Republic before venturing out on their own. McClanahan also remains a Hines Street Pharmacy co-owner, McNitt said. Lease terms with A&M Pizza Real Estate LLC were undisclosed. He said startup costs were around $150,000. The four-employee pharmacy provides free delivery to homes and workplaces in the Springfield area, he said, along with health screenings, immunizations, medication therapy management, medication adherence services and some pet medicines.
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday
Phone: (417) 730-1456
Web: BfdRX.com
Guest columnist Donnie Brawner says many entrepreneurs stray from their original business ventures, which is often a recipe for success.