Southwest Missouri News--Joplin

by Carol Harris, Branson area, and Marti Attoun, Joplin area

Florsheim Shoe Factory Outlet is the first retail store to open in the new Silver Creek Galleria Outlet Mall, a 165-acre commercial site being developed at the intersection of Interstate 44 and U.S. 71 in south Joplin.

Florsheim opened Jan. 4. A ground breaking was set the same day for Fazoli's Restaurant, but was delayed by bad weather. The 3,600-square-foot restaurant, a national chain that specializes in Italian food, will have seating for 100 and a drive-through.

"It's been slow starting out, but this is one heck of a location at this intersection and we know it'll work," said Dr. Richard Joseph Sr., co-owner and developer. "We have a lot of prospects. In the last 30 days, we've had all kinds of calls from national tenants looking to locate here. We have room for more hotels and theaters and restaurants."

Florsheim is occupying part of 32,000 square feet of recently completed retail space. Long-term plans call for 200,000 square feet of retail space.

Mary Stout, Florsheim manager, said she's excited about being the first retail tenant at the mall.

"There's a lot of traffic here. When this whole development is finished, it's going to be beneficial to this whole area."

Joseph said that Joplin is enjoying some of the "overflow" from the Branson boom.

"We have 500,000 people now within a 50-mile radius of Joplin who shop here. Joplin is exploding. A lot of the retailers in Springfield could duplicate here."