Pizza Ranch opens at Battlefield Mall

A Pizza Ranch franchise opened this morning at Battlefield Mall, nine months after a former Ethan Allen store was demolished to make way for the new addition.

Pizza Ranch occupies half of the 12,000-square-foot exterior addition to the mall constructed by Wichita, Kansas-based The Law Co. Inc. and designed by Wichita-based LK Architecture Inc. City building permits put the estimated cost at $2 million.

The pizza and chicken buffet restaurant is operated by a 12-member franchise group that also has a Pizza Ranch in Branson. The group’s managing member, Doug Kissinger, is serving as the Springfield restaurant’s general manager, according to a news release.

“What makes this location so special is the fact this is our first major mall location,” said Mark Miller, a member of the franchise group, in the release, adding mall owner Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG) “has a stellar reputation for quality and location.”

Battlefield Mall General Manager Michael Martin recently told Springfield Business Journal that a second restaurant tenant signed on for the addition adjacent to Pizza Ranch. He declined to disclose the tenant’s name but said an announcement is coming soon.

Pizza Ranch joins Glow Golf and Indulge restaurant as new tenants to the mall, which this year made improvements to its food court. SBJ reporting indicates the mall’s occupancy rates are higher than the industry average. With a recent dip to 92.1% last year, the mall’s occupancy has been in the 94%-95% range, SBJ reports.

Martin said five tenants are in the pipeline, including a potential replacement for the vacant Charming Charlie storefront. During a recent trip to the mall, SBJ identified 10 storefronts that appeared to be vacant.