With opening, Andy's pays homage to art shop

Today is opening day for Andy's Frozen Custard's newest restaurant, which pays homage to the art shop that once stood at the site.

CEO Andy Kuntz said the 509 S. National Ave. frozen custard shop opened at 11 a.m.

The store has a feature that's unique to an Andy's shop: five squares showcasing each of the letters in its name. National Art Shop had similar signage, and the "N" was kept and used with the new building.

"There's certainly a lot of history there," Kuntz said. "This is just the next chapter."

Prior to housing the art shop, the building that was demolished to make way for Andy's also was the home of the Brigance Food Lane market, a Kroger grocery store, grocer Model Market No. 6 and J.P. Cantrell Oil Co.’s Skelly filling station, according to past reporting. The Brigance grocery store had the same signage comprised of individual squares with letters. Additions were made over the years, and National Art Shop opened at the site in 1986.

That history was unearthed during the construction process, Kuntz said, as old basements from houses and evidence of the former gas station were taken out.

"There's been a lot on that corner," he said.

Located near Missouri State University, the more than 2,000-square-foot Andy's store was built by general contractor Ross Construction Group LLC and designed by Kansas City-based Hufft, according to past reporting.

The store is the 119th location for Andy's, Kuntz said.