April 28, 2008 04:59 pm
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The reviews on beeradvocate.com say it all.
Writes one reviewer: “A very nice place to be had here. From the outside it looks like one big C-store or something along those lines, but when you walk in you quickly realize this place has quite a liquor section. Simply put, there’s something for just about everyone, regardless of style preferences.”
Another reviewer, Mr. Beergeek, writes: “This place is by far the best beer store for selection in Southwest Missouri/Northwest Arkansas. There are at least 50 beer brands here that are not available only 40 miles to the south. Just as an example, there are at least 12 Belgians here. That’s certainly not all. There are probably 20 American-craft breweries represented that I can find nowhere else in the region.
“And, their wine selection is really, really topnotch, which gets Mrs. Beergeek into the store and entertained while you engage in the selection process. I love this store — it’s someplace to go when I want to reward myself for a job well done.”
Figured out yet what they are writing about?
First hint: It’s along U.S. Highway 71 on the Missouri side of the state line with Arkansas. Second hint: It sounds like cock-a-doodle-doo.
Yeah, you guessed it. They’re writing about Macadoodles, a purveyor of beer, fine wine and spirits. So what’s that got to do with Range Line Road?
Macadoodles is planning to build a new store in the 1717 Marketplace shopping center at 17th Street and Range Line Road. The $15 million shopping center, Joplin’s second tax increment financing district, opened in 2006. The anchor store is Academy Sports & Outdoors. It occupied the largest part of the former Kmart building, which closed in November 2000.
Since then, the shopping center has attracted a Westco furniture store and an Aldi’s grocery store. But a large part of the property, east of Academy Sports, has remained undeveloped. It is not yet clear where the Macadoodles will be constructed, but it will surely add to the retail mix in that shopping center.
The store will be in competition with the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 15th Street and Range Line Road, which also is part of the TIF district. But the Macadoodles store at the state line also is up against a Wal-Mart Supercenter there. Macadoodles competes successfully against the world’s largest retailer by offering a broad selection of products at prices that are better than can be found at Wal-Mart.
A recent analysis of traffic in Joplin shows that the area at 15th Street and Range Line is the fifth most visited site in Joplin. The addition of a Macadoodles will certainly make that area more of a draw than it is now, especially when one considers Joplin’s fondness for frothy beverages.
Construction of the new store should begin after June 1, according to a spokesman for 1717 Marketplace who recently appeared before the Joplin City Council.
In addition to that, it appears that the Wal-Mart store is planning to expand its parking lot in the shopping center. The store’s already spacious lot will be expanded by 62,000 square feet.
Hmmm. Could Wal-Mart be expecting even more business? That would be hard to fathom.
If you have news about something happening on Range Line Road, dial (417) 623-3480, ext. 7250; or send an e-mail to wkennedy@joplinglobe.com; or send a fax to Wally Kennedy at (417) 623-8598.
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Photos
Wally Kennedy