The Cheddar Block to close

Gourmet food retailer The Cheddar Block in south Springfield will close after the holidays, according to owner Jana Daugherty.

Daugherty opened the store with husband Chris at 1440 W. Republic Road in April 2007. Business took a hit when the economy slowed and consumer spending began to decline, Daugherty said.

"You just get to a point as a business owner that you have make a decision on if it makes more sense to stay open or close, and it makes more sense to close," she said.

A specific closing date has not been set, but Daugherty said she expects to shut down at the end of December. All inventory is marked 25 percent off, and everything - including store fixtures - is for sale, she said.

While Daugherty hasn't ruled out the possibility of owning another business down the road, she plans to focus on her other full-time job as director of marketing for Branson Tourism Center, which manages www.branson.com and www.bransontourismcenter.com.