JOPLIN, Mo. —
Big Don’s Music City has been a mainstay at 1501 S. Main St. for 20 years. It’s not going out of business. It’s just moving on down the road.
The property, listed with Keller Williams Commercial, includes a 5,400-square-foot brick building with multiple entrances and a 6,000-square-foot parking lot.
“I’ve been here for 20 years and my needs have changed,’’ said Don Duckworth, the owner. “In the beginning, 100 percent of my business was walk-in business. It’s now 15 to 20 percent. I do most of my business on the Internet.’’
Duckworth, after he sells the property at 15th and Main, will move his business to a smaller storefront at 710 S. Main St.
“All I need now is a small showroom and a warehouse. There’s a brand new parking lot just south of there,’’ he said. “I see no reason to pay taxes on a parking lot I don’t need.’’
Duckworth is moving closer to the action.
“I wanted to stay here and wait for the Sunshine Lamp District to come on down here, but I don’t know whether I can wait that long,’’ he said. “The Sunshine Lamp District is already there (at 710 S. Main).
“Part of the reason I want to move is the whole downtown Third Thursday thing. I’m impressed with how well they are doing there on Third Thursday,’’ he said.
Duckworth will be moving into a building that once was Hornaday’s Department Store, a furniture company and a center for Gold Bond Gift Stamps. Remember those?
A check of city directories shows the building at the southeast corner of 15th and Main was the New System Grocery and Market in 1926. In 1940, it was the Oasis Tap Room. After that, it was the South Towner Tavern.
The building has a walk-in safe with walls that are 14 inches thick. It has a cast-iron door on it. That suggests the building might have been a bank at one time. This will need further research.
I drive Main Street most every day. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen a young kid walk out of Big Don’s with a guitar in hand and a big smile on their face.
New piano bar
If the work can be completed in time, Joey Thumbs Dueling Piano Bar will open at 716 S. Main St. in late January. This will be a nonsmoking bar.
The owner, Del King, is giving the interior of the building a major makeover. A new stage has been constructed to hold two baby grands and a drum set. New windows have been installed along Main Street.
This building for many years was a bakery. It then became a popular beauty academy. Recently, it has been Ree’s and Coach’s Sports Bar.
This is the second dueling piano bar to open on Main Street. The other is J.B.’s at 112 S. Main St.
I’m told that Joey Thumbs will have more of a rock ‘n’ roll flavor. If you like to listen to pianos with an emphasis on rock ‘n’ roll, you need to listen to the new release by Elton John and Leon Russell. It’s called “The Union.” I like classical piano, but I prefer something with a little jump to it. This release is a masterpiece.
The entrance for Joey Thumbs will be on Main Street. Parking will be available on the new lot at Eighth and Main streets. Speaking of that, I hope someone is planning to do something with that ugly blank wall on the south side of the Joey Thumbs building. A fresh coat of paint would do wonders. A mural would be even better.
It’s gone
A storefront at 2026 S. Main St., directly north of Gaylen Plumbing, has been razed and hauled away. The roof had collapsed. It was an eyesore that the city had tolerated for a long, long time.
It was owned by the same family that owned three old houses in the same block on the other side of Main Street. They also were in disrepair. They were torn down earlier this year at the direction of the city.
The demolition has exposed a wall that appears to be made of local fieldstones. When I see that kind of work, I wonder when it was done and who did it. There’s got to be a story there.
The improved visibility could be good news for Gaylen Plumbing, a friendly family business that was founded nearly 30 years ago.
If you have news about something that’s happening on Range Line Road or Main Street, dial 623-3480, ext. 7250; send an e-mail to wkennedy@joplinglobe.com; or send a fax to Wally Kennedy at 623-8598.