Steve Pokin

SPOKIN@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Answer Man: A Shoney’s sign is still at National and Battlefield even though the restaurant has been closed for years. It makes me wonder: How many tourists have wasted time going over there because they saw the sign? And who's responsible for taking it down? — J.D. Mutrux, of Springfield

What I've learned in answering your question, J.D., is that a business sign is a valuable commodity.

I'll explain more in a minute.

The Shoney's restaurant at National and Battlefield closed almost three years ago, along with one on Glenstone Avenue and a third in Ozark. They were owned by the same franchisee.

I went to see the sign firsthand on Wednesday.

I have to be honest, J.D. I was skeptical that tourists would be drawn from afar — like the Three Wise Men of so many years ago — because they saw a Shoney's sign in the night sky.

After all, if Shoney's was such a hot ticket in the Springfield area, why did the three restaurants close?

But I might be wrong. A Captain D's restaurant sits next to the Shoney's sign and former restaurant.

"People do come in asking, 'Where's the Shoney's,'" says Phyllis Thomas, who has worked at Captain D's for a year. "I tell them it's closed."

Today, the property — including the sign — is owned by Community Bank of Raymore, which is near Kansas City, according to Mike Fusek.

He is the real estate agent whose name is on the leasing sign outside the empty building.

"If we lease to some other restaurant, they will rename it," he says. "And it's always possible we could bring Shoney's back to the Springfield market."

Developers know it's best to let old signs stand untouched on vacant property, says Chris Straw, director of building development services for the city of Springfield.

"If the sign is taken down, then you have to start all over again with new permits and new everything," he says. "And those signs are a substantial investment.

"Tomorrow, that thing could sell," Straw says of the former Shoney's. "And all the new owner would have to do is change the name panel."

Keep those questions coming. Send them to The Answer Man at 836-1253, spokin@gannett.com, on Twitter @stevepokinNL or by mail at 651 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65806. These are the views of Steve Pokin, the News-Leader's columnist.

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