JOPLIN, Mo. — The tornado leveled their offices, but it takes more than that to keep these women from coming back bigger and better.

Dr. Cindy Croy’s medical practice was at 25th Street and Jackson Avenue. After the tornado, she looked at several pieces of property on which to rebuild. In a bold move, she decided to take her practice to the northwest corner of 28th and Main streets, where several storefronts had also been damaged by the tornado.

She chose a Main Street property to make her clinic more accessible. She also wanted to be close to both hospitals.

She helped design her 10,000-square-foot building, which was erected by Farrell Construction, of Neosho. With a camera at the ready, she captured images of brick designs on the exteriors of downtown buildings. A design she liked is now reflected in the brickwork of her building. In addition, Croy instructed her architect to put awnings above her windows and to install a row of lights that illuminate the exterior of the building at night. These are nice touches.

Croy moved into her clinic, Family Health Center of Joplin, on Oct. 1. But her clinic only takes up about 25 percent of the building. The rest of the building is open and ready for development. This is a business opportunity waiting to happen.

Trish Draper, R.N., has operated Derma Tech, a corrective skin care clinic, since 1998. Nearly a decade ago, she converted a home at 2935 E. 18th St. into a clinic. When the tornado destroyed that property, she decided to rebuild. Her new building, which will open on Oct. 29, is directly west of the Joplimo Mattress store on Range Line Road.

She worked with architect Elliott Hunter, of Hunter and Millard, to design a multifloor building that is modern but practical in its use of natural lighting. It has lots of windows.

Draper quadrupled the size of her clinic. She has five treatment rooms, spaces for hair and nail treatments, a dry sauna, a steam room, a safe room, a locker room and a workout room. Her staff is growing from six to 12. This is a place where clients can spend 30 minutes or all day.

With her reopening, she is introducing the Aveda Product Line for hair and skin to the area.

Like so many in the tornado zone, she said she was underinsured. But she worked with her builder, Gardner & Marshall Construction, of Joplin, and her architect to make the most of her reconstruction budget.

“For me, it’s difficult to think that something so good has come from something so horrible,’’ she said. “I am very happy to be back.’’

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Benefit auction

The Downtown Joplin Alliance is holding its first large-scale fundraising benefit from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at JB’s Piano Bar, 112 S. Main St. in downtown Joplin.

The Piccadilly Casino Night and Quarter Auction could be a fun night on the town, with appetizers from Red Onion, a casino night, a silent auction, and a one-of-a-kind quarter auction. The benefit is being sponsored by Downstream Casino Resort, Commerce Bank and Missouri Eagle.

It’s possible to win hundreds of dollars in gifts for only a few quarters in the auction. Each guest will have an assigned paddle number. Items will be presented for a bid from the stage. If you wish to bid, you toss your quarter(s) into the bucket closest to you and hold up your paddle number. A number will be drawn bingo-style. If the person with that paddle number bid on the item, he or she is the winner. For only a few quarters, the benefit will be giving away a Downstream Casino Resort package, including two tickets to the Kentucky Headhunters/Confederate Railroad concert, dinner for two at Red Oak, golf for two and a hotel stay. Other prizes include MU football tickets, a mountain bike, and a ring from Newton’s Jewelers.

All ticket holders will receive chips to play in casino night as well as $10 free play at Downstream.

Tickets are on sale online at www.downtownjoplin.com or in person at the Joplin Avenue Coffee Co., Upstairs Boutique or the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per pair or $210 per group of 8. Tickets are limited.

Check it out

The new Ross Dress for Less store is a welcome addition to Joplin’s retail mix. The store has opened in the former Hastings storefront in the NorthPoint Shopping Center.

The store’s name suggests it’s a place to buy clothing and accessories. Ross Dress for Less offers a lot more than just clothing. You can get all kinds of home decor and kitchen items there, too.

This is a big store that’s full of stuff at prices that appear to be very competitive. Check it out.

 

If you have news about something happening on Range Line Road or Main Street, phone 417-623-3480, ext. 7250; or send an email to wkennedy@joplinglobe.com; or send a fax to Wally Kennedy at 417-623-8598.