Open for Business: Where the Wild Things Play

Where the Wild Things Play
Children are the focus at Where the Wild Things Play LLC, which opened Oct. 16 in Deerfield Marketplace at 5557 N. 21st St., Ste. 4, in Ozark. Jordyn Norrick said she and husband Josh co-own Where the Wild Things Play. She describes the concept as a children’s imaginative play space, similar to Itty Bitty City LLC in Springfield. Her husband built several of the child-size structures in the 4,400-square-foot building, including a farm, playhouse, hair salon and supermarket. Norrick said startup costs were $90,000, adding the couple signed a five-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Mike Seitz of Triple S. Properties Inc. Admission is $13 on weekdays and $14 on weekends for children ages 1-12. Parents or guardians get in free. Play passes, which are good for 10 admissions, are available for $115, while monthly memberships begin at $45, according to the business’ website. Norrick said the five-employee venture’s name is based on the book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak.
Phone: 417-501-6383
Web: WildThingsOzark.com

Love 4 Life Wellness
Love 4 Life Wellness LLC, which offers nutritional holistic health coaching and wellness services, moved May 1 to a 250-square-foot office at 205 Park Central East, Ste. 412, in the Holland Building. Melesha Bailey is the lone employee for the venture she started in 2018 to contract with nurse consultants for services including one-on-one and group health coaching, meal planning, detoxification, diabetes control, stress reduction, weight management and pain relief. Love 4 Life formerly was located at 1358 E. Kingsley Ave., Ste. C. Bailey signed a one-year lease with Holland Building owners Dr. Bradley and Christine Newberry for $500 a month. Relocation and renovation costs were $2,000, she added. Bailey said she also conducts webinars and workshops, as well as provides motivational speaking on wellness-related topics. The office is open by appointment, with client services offered in person or virtually, she said.
Phone: 417-529-6584
Web: Love4LifeWellness.com

Big Al’s Crab Shack
Roughly 18 months after debuting in Ozark, seafood eatery Big Al’s Crab Shack relocated Oct. 7 to Nixa at 420 N. Main St. Owner Allen Willoughby said struggles to hire enough staff for Big Al’s Crab Shack at 502 N. Third St. in Ozark led him to move the venture into shared space with his other restaurant, Big Al’s Subs. Willoughby said for months he sent staff from Big Al’s Subs to cover shifts at the seafood restaurant before deciding it was too difficult to manage both locations. Staff size is 13 between the two eateries in Nixa, he said, noting combined indoor and outdoor seating capacity is around 80. Willoughby said he purchased a mobile kitchen trailer to do all the cooking for Big Al’s Crab Shack, and this allows the kitchens of the two restaurants to remain separate. He adds he invested $30,000 in equipment and relocation costs. The seafood shop includes a menu of shrimp, snow crabs and lobster tails. Combination platter prices range $15-$29.
Phone: 417-494-5007
Web: Facebook.com/BigAlsCrabShack