Reliable Rubber Stamp leaves downtown

|tab|

Downtown Springfield is losing another longtime retail tenant. Reliable Rubber Stamp Service Inc. a fixture at 416 South Ave. for 54 years is pulling up stakes and heading for South Glenstone Avenue, following the lead of A&B Cycle owner Rich Howell who is moving his store to south Springfield this summer.|ret||ret||tab|

David Ellis, owner of Reliable Rubber Stamp, said he found greater parking and visibility at 1445 S. Glenstone Ave., Ste. B, in the Country Club Center. He opened there May 19.|ret||ret||tab|

"I've enjoyed being a business owner and building owner in the downtown area and watching it develop, but it is time for us to step aside and let downtown become the entertainment and restaurant district that our city leaders have envisioned," said Ellis.|ret||ret||tab|

That's just the idea Bruno Gargiulo, the building's new owner, has in mind.|ret||ret||tab|

Gargiulo, born in Italy, plans an authentic Italian restaurant with a dining area for about 75 downstairs and a wine bar, serving Italian imports, upstairs. He purchased the two-story building for $160,000 and plans to invest at least $400,000 in a historic remodel. However, he has not yet committed to a time frame.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Bittersweet move |ret||ret||tab|

Because of the deep history downtown, the move is bittersweet for Ellis.|ret||ret||tab|

"We're going to miss eating at Maria's, South Avenue Pizza and Harpo's," he said. "But I'm happy to see downtown develop like this."|ret||ret||tab|

David and Pam Ellis purchased the business in 1981 from Paul and Mary Henry, who founded it in 1949. Ellis worked for the Henrys for eight years before taking over the business.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've moved 54 years of things," Ellis said.|ret||ret||tab|

Reliable Rubber Stamp sells stamp and marking products, signs, seals, banners, neon signs, embossers and plaques. The move will allow the company to expand the store's retail selection, Ellis said, with additional greeting cards, stationery and personalized gift items available.|ret||ret||tab|

However, the biggest advantage of Ellis' new space 4,800 square feet that he purchased for $207,000 is the three rows of front-door parking, he said. In his time downtown, many customers complained of parking troubles. |ret||ret||tab|

"People don't mind walking a block or two for a sit-down restaurant," Ellis said, but not to run an errand in a retail shop.|ret||ret||tab|

Another benefit is a showroom four times the size of his old one, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Bruno's Restaurant|ret||ret||tab|

Gargiulo has about 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, having owned establishments in Sweden, London and, most recently, Italy. The Springfield spot will most likely be called Bruno's Restaurant, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The menu will be strictly authentic Italian featuring pizza, pasta, meats and fish, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Gargiulo knows a restaurant hot spot when he sees one and downtown Springfield is just that, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

"I was looking for something ... where the action is," he said. "That was really the only thing available (for purchase downtown)."|ret||ret||tab|

Sam Freeman of Center City Development Corp. brokered the deal. |ret||ret||tab|

Ellis might be Gargiulo's first customer.|ret||ret||tab|

"I'm looking forward to coming back here for lunch," Ellis said.|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]