Verizon opens store in former Macaroni Grill

Verizon Wireless opened its newest Springfield store today at the former Romano’s Macaroni Grill location.

The store, 1286 E. Battlefield Road in the Fremont Shopping Center, opened for business this morning, replacing the 1155 E. Battlefield Road store at the intersection of Battlefield and National Avenue.

In a news release, Verizon spokesman Mark Farnen said the new 6,400-square-foot store would allow more room for interactive displays and live demonstrations of smart accessories and wireless devices. Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Hill declined to disclose renovation costs.

Hill said during an event at the store tomorrow, the company will present a $25,000 grant to Oxford HealthCare for telehealth initiatives.

Construction on the facility was handled by Kansas City-based general contractor WC Construction Co., with architecture work by Overland Park, Kan.-based Klover Architects.

Macaroni Grill was left vacant in mid-2012 in the wake of bankruptcy proceedings by restaurateur Bruce Swisshelm. The site was listed for sale with a $1 million price tag later that year by R.B. Murray Co., according to Springfield Business Journal archives.