The east side of the 2300 block of South Main Street is seeing a lot of activity right now. An excavator and some big trucks have been brought in to clear out three rental properties that had fallen into disrepair.
The old Sonic Drive-In at the intersection’s southeast corner was cleared away some time back.
The Sonic property and the land that is being cleared are owned by different people, but I’m told that both properties could be purchased as a unit. If so, that corner has become a lot more attractive to potential developers.
Potential developers are looking at the property. One of them is a national restaurant chain that already has a presence in Joplin. The reluctance of this company to move forward, I’m told, is the general state of the economy. That reluctance, of course, could change six months from now.
Regardless of what happens, getting those rental houses out of there is one step forward in improving the appearance of that stretch of Main Street.

If you have not heard by now, Hunan Garden, a Chinese restaurant at 2830 S. Main St., caught fire and burned Tuesday night.
I have not heard yet whether the restaurant was an insured loss or whether the owners plan to rebuild. I sure hope so.
When I left the Globe late Tuesday night, I passed the restaurant on the way home. It was a tremendous fire that produced a cloud of acrid smoke that blanketed the southwest part of Joplin. It was nasty to breathe.
Earlier Tuesday, I took my 88-year-old mother for dinner there. We both live on the south side of town. We frequent Hunan Garden because it is close, the food is good at a reasonable price, and the people there are friendly.
Their buffet had a limited selection when compared to other Chinese buffets in town, but they had some stand-out choices. Their hot and sour soup was a contender for best in town. They also served fresh green beans that are stir-fried with slices of onions and carrots.
My memory might not be accurate, but I believe the restaurant started out as a Popeye’s Chicken. It later became a yogurt place before becoming Hunan Garden.
Neotech, a business north of the restaurant, was damaged by the fire, too.

Capt. Jason Poff, with the Joplin Salvation Army, recently returned from doing some relief work in Haiti. Now that he’s back, I can tell you what’s in store for the former J-Town nightspot at 26th and Main streets.
J-Town is going to become the new family thrift store for the Salvation Army. The existing thrift store is located at Eighth Street and Kentucky Avenue. It is in a building that is being leased by the Salvation Army. Many years ago it was the home of the McDonough Volkswagen dealership.
Poff said J-Town is much larger and will be more retail-friendly than the building the charity has been leasing.
The thrift store is extremely important to the local Salvation Army effort because it funds, in large measure, what they do.
Poff said he hopes J-Town will be operating as a thrift store by June. Some changes need to be made to the interior of the building before that can happen.
The property, located at 2502 S. Main St., was sold by Steven Hoag to the Salvation Army on Dec. 9.

J-Town, which for years was a successful IGA grocery store, has been sold. But that’s about all I can tell you.
The property, located at 2502 S. Main St., was sold by Steven Hoag on Dec. 9. It has been purchased by the Joplin Salvation Army. The deal was handled by Charles Burt Realtors.
The reason I can’t tell you how the building will be used is because the local spokesman for the Salvation Army, Capt. Jason Poff, is in Haiti doing relief work. As soon as he returns, I’ll let you know what I find out.
I don’t normally post incomplete information like this. I like to get answers to the obvious questions before I write. But, I have received e-mails and telephone calls about this transaction from people who are curious. Some might think that I am intentionally withholding information. I am not.
You will know as soon as I know, which could be later this week.
In the meantime, our thoughts should be with Capt. Poff. Having just returned from a week in Haiti, I can say without reservation that Capt. Poff should be commended for whatever help he has been able to offer.

Another restaurant in Joplin has closed its doors.
Los Tequila’s, a Mexican cantina at 231 W. Seventh St., closed on Jan. 19. A sign on the door said it closed because of new management.
Los Tequila’s opened not long ago in the former Wok & Roll restaurant. The menu offered typical, but good Mexican-style food.
It’s clear Joplin’s restaurant market is continuing to shrink as the Great Recession takes its toll on disposable income for eating out.
So far, the closings include Rio’s Margarita Grill, the Golden Flame, Chubby’s, the Quizno’s sandwich shops in Joplin, and Fuddrucker’s. Reports from people who eat out often suggest that other restaurants are teetering on the brink, but are managing to stay open because of loyal customers.
Gusano’s Pizza in University Plaza at East Seventh Street and Duquesne Road and Norma’s House of Pancakes in Oakland Plaza on North Range Line Road are among the new restaurants to open. Another restaurant, Billy Sims BBQ will open later this month in the former Taco Mayo restaurant location at 2830 E. Seventh St.
There is talk that a new Mexican restaurant could open in the former Market Place Grill restaurant location across from Cheddar’s. That restaurant site has been closed for several years.
Let’s hope Joplin has turned the corner on restaurant closings. Too many people are losing their jobs.