Some time back I reported that the building under construction at the northeast corner of 15th Street and Range Line Road would be a dentist’s office. That report apparently was missed by some readers of this column.

I say that based on the emails I’ve been getting from people who are hopeful that Burger King is coming back to town or that Freddy’s is returning. Some have been hopeful it would be a new home for Long John Silver’s Seafood Shoppe or Cici’s Pizza.

The return of Cici’s and Long John Silver’s can best be described as being in a state of limbo. They have said they plan to come back. For them, it’s a question of finding the right real estate. It’s unlikely that Burger King will return any time soon. I have heard some positive rumors about Freddy’s of late. As soon as something breaks on that, I’ll let you know.

While the “My Dentist’’ office has been getting a lot of attention because of its high-profile location, another dental office has been slowly taking shape in the former Oakland Prep School at the southeast corner of North Range Line Road and Zora Street. This is a big deal, folks.

The school, originally built in 1904 as the Range Line School, was designed by famed Joplin architect August Michaelis. Many of the premier examples of early Joplin architecture were designed by Michaelis, including the Carnegie Library at Ninth Street and Wall Avenue, the Christman Building at Fifth and Main streets and the Joplin Furniture Co. building at Seventh and Main streets.

Tragically, one of the architect’s earliest and best examples, the Rains Brothers building at 906 S. Main St., was destroyed by a fire in March.

When the tornado struck, it destroyed the dental office of Camille Hostetter, who has become one of Joplin’s leading Medicaid providers. She and her husband, Darrell Glass, acquired the school in February. What they have done inside to transform the school into a dental office with nine exam rooms is nothing short of miraculous. They started seeing their first patients there this past Tuesday.

Their plan is to eventually restore the exterior of the school so that it looks like a school again.

Finding a new purpose for an old school can be a daunting task. Before it became a dental office, the school had been a church, a day care center and a fitness center. Hostetter and Glass could have chosen to build a new structure. Instead, they chose to preserve a landmark with a questionable future. They made the right choice.



Opening                           

Marge and Stephen Lagow, with Lagow Portrait Designs, have opened a studio in the Six Eleven storefront at 611 S. Main St. They are joining Breezy’s, a floral design studio, and Dan’s Tuxedos at that location.

You can have a portrait taken there or, if you prefer a more urban look, you can step outside and choose a historic site in downtown Joplin as a backdrop. If you want to see examples of their extraordinary work, visit www.lagows.com.

Breezy’s, operated by Debbie Mitchell, had been in a building at 22nd and Main streets. She was relocating her business before the tornado struck. She specializes in floral arrangements for weddings, birthdays and memorable events. She plans to offer design classes in the shop later this year.

The shop offers an eclectic mix of home decor items, floral arrangements, jewelry and clothing.

Sustaining a storefront in downtown Joplin can be challenging if you go it alone. By teaming up with partners, the risk and cost of operation is shared. This approach seems to be working where other ventures have failed.



Pizza buffet

Caldone’s, 218 S. Main St., is a great place to escape for something to eat downtown. It’s even better now that the restaurant is offering a lunchtime pizza buffet.

The buffet includes salad, soup, pizza, pasta, cinnamon rolls, and chips and salsa. The buffet is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for $7.99.

If you work downtown and want a pizza buffet for lunch, you have to drive a long way to find one. Not anymore.  



Ribbon-cutting

Frank Fletcher Toyota, 2209 S. Range Line Road, had its official ribbon-cutting on Thursday. It was a swanky affair with a dinner for invited guests and a performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Percy Sledge and Coup Deville.

I asked somebody at the dealership whether Sledge was planning to revamp his hit 1966 single “When a Man Loves a Woman’’ into “When a Man Loves a Toyota.’’ He didn’t quite see the humor in that.

For the record and for full disclosure, I am driving my third Toyota. I think it would have been entirely appropriate for Sledge to do that.

 

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