Opinion: T-Mobile, Bass Pro make 'the others' list

Well, this Eyes & Ears column has its own version of “The Others,” and it stars Johnny Morris, the T-Mobile family and John Twitty. I’m not suggesting those figures are ghosts; rather they’re connected to companies that made big news in 2006 – just not quite big enough.

Bass Pro Shops’ continued national expansion, T-Mobile’s $20 million call center and approval of City Utilities’ Southwest 2 power plant were just out of reach of our Top 10 stories of the year (pages 9–20). The editorial staff determined the list after carefully considering a story’s impact on business and the local economy, as well as reader interest.

It’s likely you’ll agree with some and disagree with others. I welcome a Letter to the Editor.

Here are the news stories that didn’t make the cut:

• T-Mobile makes good on $20 million promise. I caught some flack from Springfield chamber officials for not including the T-Mobile deal in my 2005 “top stories” column. My reasoning was that while the global company had big plans for Springfield, anything could fall through. Vaughn Prost sure had big plans for Heer’s.

But now, T-Mobile is a living, breathing part of our business community, hiring left and right for the call center at 2645 N. Airport Plaza. In fact, it is the top large employer in SBJ’s Best Places to Work in southwest Missouri competition published earlier this month. Congratulations, T-Mobile for fulfilling your commitment to Springfield. And thank you, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce for the legwork in attracting a tenant of this stature.

• Bass Pro Shops collects national attention. Go big or go home seems to be the motto these days at Springfield’s notorious retailer. In 2006, Johnny Morris’ company has targeted expansion plans at Mall of America, the Memphis Pyramid and Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium. While they’re making splashes with announcements, Bass Pro brass haven’t moved too quickly on them. In Buffalo, N.Y., where Bass Pro’s presence was first announced two years ago, officials said Dec. 18 that Bass Pro had 30 days to finalize a development plan. Other reports there already call it a dead deal.

On the plus side, Bass Pro opened a store at the $420 million Branson Landing, where it still intends to add a floating restaurant. The company announced on its Web site plans to open in Miami; Alabama; Olathe, Kan.; north California; North Little Rock, Ark.; Ohio and Virginia. There are currently 59 retail locations either open, announced or under construction in 23 states and Canada.

I love the aggressive nature of these plans, but I wonder if Bass Pro is growing too quickly too fast.

• Southwest 2 is under way. It took two tries, but 59 percent of voters chose in June to keep the city’s energy supply in their own hands, approving CU’s nearly $700 million coal-fired power plant. The second half of the year was spent in the initial construction phase, and major work will unfold in southwest Springfield next year. CU overcame a huge hurdle in environmental concerns and claims of falsifying and illegally distributing information.

• Municipal Court misses millions. In what is likely the largest embezzlement scheme involving public funds in Missouri history, the city of Springfield discovered that at least $1.2 million was skimmed from court coffers since January 2000. The good news is that city officials reassessed the way cash payments move through city departments.

We also were reminded of Hammons Hotels’ new developments close to home and in multiple states, the state’s DREAM Initiative that awarded Neosho and West Plains funds for downtown redevelopment, and the evolution of Decorize Inc. with Wal-Mart, Stein Mart and Broyhill Furniture deals.

Who said it?

The best part of reporting is talking with and learning from sources. Below are my Top 5 quotes from SBJ sources in 2006, with the issue date in parentheses. They were selected from the Quote of the Week published each week.

5. “Wal-Mart killed the North Town Mall.” –Jeff Evans, owner of Another Comic Shop, the last interior tenant of North Town Mall. (May 22)

4. “These things are coming in like a cancer, a cockroach. You can stomp on one, but three more will come up.” –Former payday lender employee Derek Fraley, on the growing number of payday lenders. (Oct. 9)

3. “These are the Cadillac of trail saddles.” –PFI Operations Manager Harold Moore, about Tucker saddles priced between $1,250 and $1,600. (Nov. 20)

2. “Don’t pay any attention to me, because I’m all jacked up on chocolate custard from Andy’s.” –Actor Adam Sandler, reportedly speaking at a benefit in Rogers, Ark. (July 24)

1. “Oh, is he?” –Gov. Blunt brother and lobbyist Andy Blunt, expressing surprise about cousin Greg Wilmoth’s plans to build an ethanol plant east of Rogersville. (Nov. 13)

SBJ Poll

What do you think was the most significant business news in 2006? Vote here.

Eric Olson is SBJ editor. He can be reached at eolson@sbj.net.