Wally's Watching
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Copyright 2012, Wally's Watchingwebadmin@joplinglobe.com (Wally's Watching)en-USSPHPBLOG 0.4.5Optical Outlet reopens
http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/index.php?entry=entry111104-153209
When you drive along East 20th Street, you can’t help but notice that one store has reopened. It’s just standing there by itself.
George and Pamela Lockwood, the owners of the Optical Outlet store, 2002 E. 20th St., did not waste any time after the May 22 tornado getting their lot cleared and a contractor on board to start the rebuilding process.
“All I could do was cry,’’ said Pamela Lockwood. “But George here had us a contractor, Gary Rose, an hour and a half after the storm.’’
The new store, which has been at the site for 14 years, was rebuilt from the ground up. It sports a totally new decor and is more open on the inside than the previous store.
The store features close-out and discontinued lines of frames at prices that are up to 50 percent off original retail. All you do is bring in your prescription and they fill it.
They also carry brand-name lines that are not close-outs. Among them are Versace, Tura, Europa, Timberland, Izod and Kenneth Cole.
Glasses are available for all age groups from children to seniors. They also carry safety glasses and sunglasses.
It’s possible that George Lockwood is right when he says Optical Outlet is among the first 10 stores to rebuild. It’s certainly one of the first stores to rebuild on East 20th Street.
]]>http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/?entry=entry111104-153209webadmin@joplinglobe.comFri, 04 Nov 2011 21:32:09 GMTEl Cinco De Mayo opens
http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/index.php?entry=entry111026-095230
El Cinco De Mayo, a Mexican restaurant, has opened in the former Thai Lotus restaurant at 2526 E. Seventh St.
The restaurant, which has been redecorated with a Mexican theme, has been open for a few days. I recently dropped by for lunch, which is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, to check it out.
I ordered a “Speedy Gonzales’’ for $4.59. It consisted of a cheese enchilada, beef taco and rice. The enchilada was cheesy and the sauce was tasty. The taco was what you would expect. The rice was better than most in that it was not overcooked. It was all served on a warm plate. There’s nothing worse than cold Mexican food.
It was preceded by tortilla chips and salsa. The salsa was fresh and spicy, but not too hot.
The most impressive thing about this lunch was the speed in which it was served. It was about three minutes max.
The menu features a full line of Mexican dishes, ranging from soups and salads to seafood and vegetarian dishes. Of course, you can order a la carte, if you wish. Also, the restaurant features a selection of margaritas, wines, and imported and domestic beer.
Of note, I did overhear some people in a booth near me say their food was almost too hot to eat. No one should be surprised by that at a Mexican restaurant, but it might be wise to ask the server in advance about the heat level of the dish you are ordering.
All in all, this restaurant should do well because it offers the usual choices at a reasonable price.]]>http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/?entry=entry111026-095230webadmin@joplinglobe.comWed, 26 Oct 2011 14:52:30 GMTNew Better Living Store outlet opens
http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/index.php?entry=entry111020-114831
The Better Living Store Outlet has found a new home in the former Midway Hardware and Lumber building at 1602 E. 32nd St.
Owner Bruce Jones said, “We have three times the space. What we do there is focus on our contractor sales. That encompasses ceiling fans, door knob, closet shelving and basic hardware. We cater to builders and remodelers.’’
The beauty of the old Midway building is that a customer can pull up to the front door and walk right in. It’s so convenient.
The main Better Living Store is at 2401 E. 32nd St. It’s in the same shopping center at Panera Bread. It’s a design center, featuring a showroom and a gallery with virtually every brand of lighting.
The outlet features brand-name promotions and special buys. An example would be a pallet of Hunter ceiling fans at a special price.
Jones said the biggest part — about 80 percent — of the Better Living Store’s business is Internet sales. Returns from those sales are handled through the outlet.
The Better Living Store is part of a cooperative of 38 stores that are all individually owned. Store hours are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The store has been busy of late. Jones has been working with the designers of the seven houses that are being constructed in connection with the Extreme Makeover project that is under way this week in Joplin.
The fact that those designers chose the Better Living Store for the lighting and fans in the houses ought to tell you something about the store’s product line.]]>http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/?entry=entry111020-114831webadmin@joplinglobe.comThu, 20 Oct 2011 16:48:31 GMTHidden gem
http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/index.php?entry=entry111007-161352
Mary Lee’s Cafe, 712 W. 20th St., has long had a reputation of being a good place to get breakfast. That reputation is being continued under new ownership.
Ken Meistad, the new owner, took over the restaurant and reopened it on Aug. 8. His wife, Helen, is the main cook. The property is owned by Janice Tusinger. Tusinger’s sister, Mary Lee Arnold who died in July of last year, operated the restaurant for years.
I dropped in for breakfast a while back, and ordered the biscuits and sausage gravy. I was expecting to get a biscuit with a little gravy on the side. What I got was a plate of biscuits, smothered in gravy with sausage crumbles on top. I could only eat two-thirds of it. If my memory serves me, it cost $2.99. What a value.
Other items on the menu are an 8-ounce K.C. strip with two eggs for $7.95 and a 6-ounce ribeye with two eggs for $6.95.
Meistad said link sausages and Reuben sandwiches are among the things that have been added to the menu.
Helen Meistad is known for her fluffy omelets. The restaurant offers an omelet card. If you buy five, you get one free.
The restaurant, one of Joplin’s hidden gems, is open from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
]]>http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/?entry=entry111007-161352webadmin@joplinglobe.comFri, 07 Oct 2011 21:13:52 GMTCheap fountain drinks
http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/blogs/wallys_watching/index.php?entry=entry110930-161319
Want a cheap fountain drink?
The Kum & Go convenience store at 3931 E. Seventh St. outperformed other Kum & Go stores in the region in “Store Wars,’’ a fountain-drink sales competition. The promotional campaign lasted for months.
The store’s customers are being rewarded with a price reduction in fountain drinks.
Through Oct. 31, customers will be able to get a 32-ounce fountain drink for 25 cents.
I suspect the store did so well because of the heat wave and drought the region experienced this summer. We hadn’t been that hot in Joplin in 60 years, according to the National Weather Service.
This entry marks the resumption of this blog, which was put on hold because of the tornado. A woman I encountered Thursday at Joplin’s main Post Office said she missed my blog. You can thank her for spurring me into action.