Another year is gone, and with it, an interesting 12 months in business news has passed. But the implications of the most viewed SBJ.net stories will continue through 2013 and beyond.
Without further ado, I give you the top viewed news stories on SBJ.net in 2012.
1. “Restaurateur Swisshelm files for Ch. 7 bankruptcy”In March, Springfield businessman and restaurateur Bruce Swisshelm filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, setting off a domino effect of closures and purchases. Swisshelm, who had served as CEO of the Swisshelm Group, owned and operated businesses including the San Francisco Oven franchise on Sunshine Street and area Macaroni Grill and Ebbets Field restaurants. In the bankruptcy’s fallout, San Francisco Oven was taken over by Springfield businessman Gordon Elliott; the south-side Ebbets closed while the center city location sold to a group of investors; and Macaroni Grill shuttered its doors.
2. “Branson Landing, convention center damaged by tornado”During the early hours of Feb. 29, an EF-2 tornado hit Branson, tracing the Highway 76 strip east into the city’s downtown area and Lake Taneycomo. The Leap Day tornado put the Branson Convention Center and attached Hilton Hotel out of commission for several months, dipping into the city’s prime tourism season.
The Branson Convention Center reopened in May and the attached hotel opened nearly seven months later.
3. “Springfield developer to build $3.9M Arkansas river resort”Early last year, Springfield developer Steve Stinnett announced intentions to build a $3.9 million fly fishing resort along the White River in Cotter, Ark. The developer, who owns SL Stinnett Co. and formed Seasons on the White LLC for the resort, planned 30 suites, a restaurant, seven private riverfront cabins, a pool, a boat dock and a professional fly shop.
Stinnett has since told SBJ the project was put on hold in August when it ran into financing issues. He said he is still planning to develop the lodge, and he will be revisiting the project in the next few months.
4. “Businesses to continue in wake of owners’ deaths”In September, Environmental Works Inc. founder, owner and President Robin Melton, 46; Missouri Insulation & Supply Inc. President John Lambert, 44; and Lambert’s three children died as an aircraft John Lambert was piloting crashed while approaching Springfield-Branson National Airport. Both Lambert and Melton had established ownership trusts, which continued after their deaths. A board of directors also was established at EWI after Melton’s death.
5. “BKD CEO to resign”Former BKD LLP CEO Neal Spencer announced last February he would retire from the Springfield accounting firm’s top position, effective June 1. Spencer, who took on the role in mid-2007, was succeeded by Ted Dickman, who had served four years as regional managing partner coordinating operations in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
6. “Movie Review: Locally filmed ‘Winter’s Bone’ offers chills, redemption”Though the review for the Ozarks-shot “Winter’s Bone” was written and published in 2010, the piece finds its way into the top 10 because of high placement in Google search results. The review also was linked when its author, longtime SBJ movie reviewer and musician Jim Wunderle, died in October at age 59.
7. “OSS shuts down after Mercy purchases”Orthopaedic Specialists of Springfield closed in August after Mercy purchased the OSS building at 1151 E. Montclair St. and the assets of the company.
The move eliminated roughly 70 jobs, and the group’s nine physician partners took positions at Mercy, CoxHealth and Ozarks Community Hospital.
8. “Southwest Airlines to fly at Branson Airport”In early 2012, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines confirmed it would convert AirTran Airways operations at Branson Airport to its own red-bellied planes. Now, officials wait to see if the “Southwest effect” will pull BKG out of debt when the Texas company’s planes begin flying out of the airport this year.
9. “JQH Hotels names new senior VP, general counsel”John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts announced in April Springfield attorney Greggory Groves of Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law LLC would join the company as its senior vice president and general counsel. Groves succeeded Justin Harris, who stayed on in a consulting role.
10. “Day in the Life with Doug Pitt”The popularity of this 2011 story can be attributed to Google search results placement, as well as an ad campaign featuring the Springfield businessman and philanthropist. Pitt has been featured in a number of ad spots for Virgin Mobile Australia, showcasing the co-owner of ServiceWorld Computer Center as the down-to-earth younger brother of Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.
Springfield Business Journal Web Editor Geoff Pickle can be reached at gpickle@sbj.net.
