Hey Steve! Did you see that Seminole Street has been extended west across West Bypass? There's a lot of land that's going to be developed in the next phase of Springfield Plaza, behind the Walmart Supercenter. What's new? — Jack McGee, Springfield
The question is from colleague Jack McGee, who someday, I predict, will be a columnist.
He has come to the conclusion that his future column will be called “You've Got to Be Kidding McGee.” I'd call it, instead, “The Young Curmudgeon.”
Jack is 24. Daily I learn of something new that riles him up with disapproval. It started with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, two bands with the initials O.M.D. This week, McGee explained how much he dislikes how many towns refer to their squares as “historic.”
But I digress.
I most recently wrote about this commercial development Sept. 7, 2022. It's at the southwest corner of West Bypass and Sunshine Street. (I also wrote about in 2016 when I was with the Springfield News-Leader.)
Oddly enough, I wrote the story a year ago when a different newsroom colleague, Jackie Rehwald, who often shops there, asked me about it.
The development is where a Walmart Supercenter went in back in 2001.
Roads and street lights in, nothing under contract yet
Tom Rankin, who owns Rankin Development LLC, was not involved with the Walmart Supercenter, but his company did buy about 100 adjoining acres of land.
Since a year ago, the roads and streetlights are in for the 65-acre next phase, which is Phase 4.
Since we last spoke, a McDonald's has been built along Sunshine and Michaels, the arts and crafts store, has opened.
To the south will be more commercial development, similar to what’s already there, Rankin says.
“I wish I had some news for you,” he tells me.
No company has committed to the purchase of any of the 11 commercial lots.
“Nothing is under contract in the new phase,” he says.
He thinks a sit-down restaurant or two would do well in the next phase.
Right now, there's a Whataburger, a McDonald's and a Taco Bell.
Other stores include: Plaza Tire, Ulta Beauty, Five Below, Burlington, Petco, Shoe Dept./Encore, Ross/Dress for Less, Verizon, Sport Clips, Good Day Farm Dispensary, Central Bank, Big Daddy's Fireworks, Discount Tire, Dollar Tree, Cricket, Royal Nails, Game Stop, Check into Cash, jr/misses CATO plus, Murphy USA gas station and Jiffy Lube.
This is Answer Man column No. 58.
