Republic Road blossoms

|tab|

Business is booming near Republic Road as companies develop new locations or fill existing ones.|ret||ret||tab|

Just this year about 150,000 square feet of commercial property has been developed in a one-mile radius from Republic Road and Fremont Avenue, said Ken Schwab, commercial real estate agent for Wilhoit properties.|ret||ret||tab|

Neil Stenger, leasing agent for CJR Commercial Group, said since 1990 nearly all of the property on the north side of Republic Road between National and Glenstone has been developed.|ret||ret||tab|

According to Springfield's Public Works Department, traffic volumes on Fremont Avenue between Sunset Street and Republic Road have grown from 10,000 to more than 15,000 vehicles in the last 11 years. |ret||ret||tab|

Congestion on the roadway has been a problem, but recent improvements to the intersection of Republic Road and Fremont allowed for some relief. The 2001 quarter-cent capital improvements sales tax funded $1.6 million in intersection improvements, providing additional turn lanes, new signals, sidewalks and stormwater system enhancements.|ret||ret||tab|

"New space and easy access through the James River Freeway plus the medical mile" and the growing residential population makes the area perfect for development, Stenger said.|ret||ret||tab|

Schwab added, "The demand for businesses (that) want to stay in that area is strong because of the neighboring properties." |ret||ret||tab|

New locations|ret||ret||tab|

After hearing about available space near Republic Road, Veronica Straus and her husband Rick decided to invest nearly $200,000 in building a new Subway location. |ret||ret||tab|

"That area is building so quickly, there is a need (for another Subway)," said Straus, who also will manage the location.|ret||ret||tab|

The 1,820-square-foot building located at 4118 S. National will seat 68 people and Straus said she hopes it will be filled by workers in the area.|ret||ret||tab|

Subway will open in mid-August and will be the first Subway store in Springfield to offer a drive-through window. |ret||ret||tab|

McCann Court office complex located behind Subway is another new complex in the area that is being filled quickly. The $1.045 million, 13,600-square-foot building developed for Bradford Park South LP was completed in March. Stenger, the leasing agent for the property, said four of the eight available tenant spaces are filled. Two business that are now operating in McCann Court are The Turnover-Straus Group Inc., a food marketing group, and Titan Claims Management.|ret||ret||tab|

Demand for new office space and land is keeping Realtors in the area busy. Schwab said the recently completed Kingsley Park office, on Kingsley Avenue between National and Fremont, is now under contract. |ret||ret||tab|

The 13,000-square-foot building was originally developed for multitenant office space, but instead it drew the interest of a buyer. Schwab wouldn't name the potential buyer, but he said the deal is expected to close in 30 days.|ret||ret||tab|

While many businesses may be looking to build near Republic Road, space is becoming harder to find.|ret||ret||tab|

"As far as properly zoned available parcels, I would say there is a decent amount of office and retail space that's been built and that's currently being absorbed into the market. But once that's gone, there isn't really any large chunks of ground out there that can still handle additional development, " Schwab said.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Trading spaces|ret||ret||tab|

While new construction may be limited, leasable retail space is still available and many businesses are trading up to larger quarters. |ret||ret||tab|

"In the market there is a surplus of retail space and there's surplus of office space. So what you've got is existing tenants trading to different spots. The new, more higher-profile places stay full and the older places are showing the vacancies," Stenger said.|ret||ret||tab|

Paula Carter, owner of Candy Creations, has been happy with the Republic Road area, so she has moved to a larger location just down the street.|ret||ret||tab|

Candy Creations' new location in the Secret Garden complex at 1281 E. Republic Road, a block from its former site at 1366 E. Republic Road, adds about 700 square feet of space.|ret||ret||tab|

Two more business will join Candy Creations in its new location. Sara's Country Keepsakes and Debbie's Design and Floral will share the location creating what Carter refers to as a "one stop shop."|ret||ret||tab|

Sara's Country Keepsakes, owned by Margie Phipps, will move from 621 S. Pickwick Ave. to Republic Road in September, and Debbie's Design and Floral will move from 1332 E. Republic Road. |ret||ret||tab|

Current owners of Debbie's Design, Debbie and Dick Williamson, sold their five-year old business July 25. Debbie Williamson said the new owners are expected to take over Aug. 29. Williamson said she had already signed the agreement to move in with Candy Creations before the sale. She said even though she will not be a part of the joint venture, it is a good move.|ret||ret||tab|

"I think being with Candy Creations, it's kind of like a natural mix. A lot of people don't understand that because they think we are in competition with each other, but we're really not. I think we will be a nice complement to each other."|ret||ret||tab|

Of the Republic Road area, Carter said, "It's is an excellent place for us to be. I've always believed in this area, and its grown and we've grown with it." |ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

New ownership|ret||ret||tab|

New ownership is allowing The Treasure Box to remain on Republic Road. The store, located at 1332 E. Republic Road, was going out of business until Kathryn Kirksey approached owner Lisa Antle about purchasing the 5-year-old business.|ret||ret||tab|

Kirskey purchased The Treasure Box from Drew's Dandy Duds Inc., the parent company for The Treasure Box, on June 16 and reopened July 14. |ret||ret||tab|

The purchase included remaining inventory, the store's name and its lease agreement.|ret||ret||tab|

Since opening in 1998, the store has doubled in size.|ret||ret||tab|

Kirksey said she found out about the business closing from her mother, who worked weekends at the store, and decided it was the right time to invest in a good location. Treasure Box comprises 3,400 square feet of space in the River Plaza.|ret||ret||tab|

"I love the location. One of the advantages is that there is so much going on Republic Road," Kirksey said.|ret||ret||tab|

The Treasure Box sells specialty toys, including baby gifts, dolls and some educational toys. Kirksey said many of the products are unique to the Springfield market.|ret||ret||tab|

Kirksey has spent about $35,000 restocking the store and plans to spend more as the Christmas season approaches, she said.|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]