The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Tornado: Columns

Discussion

July 23, 2011

Wally Kennedy: Many changes planned for Range Line

By Wally Kennedy news@joplinglobe.com

JOPLIN, Mo. — Goodwill Industries at 2102 S. Range Line Road will be back, but not much else can be said at this point.

Like so many other Joplin businesses affected by the May 22 tornado, Goodwill must first resolve matters with its insurance company.

Nancy Webster, spokeswoman for Goodwill in Tulsa, Okla., said: “We definitely plan to be back in operation in our current location. We have to finalize the insurance process first.’’

Goodwill has been at the site for 22 years. It is not known whether the existing building will be saved or a new one constructed.

“We would like to thank everyone who has expressed encouragement and concern to us in telephone calls and emails. We will be back,’’ she said.

Three employees rode out the storm in a restroom at the store. They were not injured.

New construction

Though it looks like it, demolition work at the southeast corner of 11th Street and South Range Line has nothing to do with May 22.

That corner will soon be home to a new Sonic Drive-In that will feature a volleyball court. The Pizza Hut, 1101 S. Range Line, and the former Palen Music, 1115 S. Range Line, are coming down. A house behind those properties already has been demolished.

Palen Music has moved into its new digs across Range Line in Crown Plaza.

Flea market to open

Generations Antique Mall and Flea Market will open Aug. 1 in a storefront in Oakland Plaza, 2617 N. Range Line.

There will be about 12 dealers to start. Kelly Hibbard, manager, said she expects that number to grow.

“We’ve got room to grow,’’ she said. “We don’t have much room for furniture, but we do have room for collectibles.’’

Hibbard has about 10 years experience in the business. She has had several booths at Connie’s Antiques and Flea Market, 3421 N. Range Line. That flea market has relocated to 5171 N. Main St., south of Trade-X Sales.

Generations will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

New shoe store

The Shoe Department Encore will be opening either late this year or early next year in a space near Macy’s in Northpark Mall. The store will occupy 13,893 square feet. It is possible the new store could result in the relocation of a few tenants.

Shoe Department Encore is a division of Shoe Show, a footwear retailer based in Kannapolis, N.C. It operates shoe stores throughout the United States under the brands Shoe Show, The Shoe Department, The Shoe Department Encore and Burlington Shoes.

The company was founded in 1960 by Robert B. Tucker. It has more than 1,100 locations. A few years ago, the company began opening Shoe Department Encore stores, which are larger than regular Shoe Department stores.

Dollar Tree relocates

The Dollar Tree store in the shopping center at 15th Street and Range Line is relocating to the 11,000-square-foot storefront that Deals Nothing Over A Dollar has occupied at 426 S. Range Line in the North Point Shopping Center.

Coming back

Lots of rumors have been circulating about whether Academy Sports and Outdoors would rebuild in Joplin. It is coming back.

If anyone knows of the whereabouts of a Mr. Kendrick who worked there, could you please have him call me? I have a message for him.



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

Text Only
Tornado: Columns