Open For Business: PaPPo’s Pizzeria & Pub

PaPPo’s Pizzeria & Pub
Nixa is the newest location to open a PaPPo’s Pizzeria & Pub, making it the 12th shop for the pizza chain that originated in the Queen City. The 3,800-square-foot restaurant opened May 14 at 701 N. McCroskey St., Ste. 1, in Village Marketplace, said owner Chris Galloway. PaPPo’s occupies space formerly occupied by Bair’s Sports Grill. Although the eatery originally hoped to open in late 2025, Galloway said plumbing issues discovered during renovations forced all-new piping to be installed, pushing startup costs to roughly $725,000. He signed a 10-year lease with two five-year options for an undisclosed rate with Jared Commercial & Management LLC. The 60-employee staff is led by General Manager Josh Carlew, Galloway said. He said the next two PaPPo’s locations set to come online later this year are expected to be in Overland Park, Kansas, and Washington, Missouri. Galloway launched the pizza chain in 2012, which also has stores open in Alabama and Illinois, he said, adding a pair of locations are under development in Florida.
Phone: 417-494-2337
Web: PapposPizzeria.com

Gentiva Hospice
Gentiva Hospice, a longtime provider of end-of-life care, has opened an office in the Springfield area that will serve individuals living in a 60-mile radius. The Georgia-based company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on April 15 at 2424 W. Kingsley St., Stes. A-B. The company operates more than a dozen centers with the closest ones in Carthage, Joplin and Neosho. Megan Friedman, director of communications for Gentiva in Atlanta, declined to provide startup costs for the new office. She said the company has a multiyear lease for its 2,990-square-foot office with the Kingsley Building LLC but declined to provide specific terms. Candee Trujillo, executive director, said referrals and admissions are accepted 24 hours a day, any day of the year. The office has 11 employees but expects to add staff as it grows. Gentiva is part of a system of hospice, palliative and home health care providers with more than 450 locations and 15,000 employees nationally. The hospice serves patients with a serious illness or terminal diagnosis.
Phone: 417-720-2856
Web: GentivaHs.com

Modern Kutz
After launching in 2021, Modern Kutz moved Dec. 3, 2025, to Springfield from Mount Vernon. Kevin McRae, who co-owns the business with his wife, Jennifer, said he relocated his barbershop to the Queen City for a better opportunity at growth. The shop is now at 1601 W. Sunshine St., Ste. A, in the Elfindale Centre, after nearly five years in operation at 706 E. Mount Vernon Blvd. McRae said the 800-square-foot space was formerly occupied by a Merle Norman cosmetics store. Relocation and renovation costs were roughly $30,000, McRae said, adding he signed a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Davis Properties LLC. McRae said he and Calvin Foster are the barbers at the three-employee shop, which offers haircuts for men, women and children. A general haircut for adults is $30, while children’s cuts are $25. The shop’s services also include straight razor shaves and beard trims.
Phone: 417-860-9111
Web: ModernKutz.com