The opening of Taco John’s on Tucker Road near the intersection of Shelby Road and Kanell Boulevard on Monday morning marks the first of many new businesses to open here in Poplar Bluff.
“That should be just a start to what’s to come down Shelby Road,” Poplar Bluff city building inspector Tony Chilton said.
Also set to open soon in Poplar Bluff is Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. The discount store, which has almost 400 locations nationwide, is tentatively slated to open May 19 in the Mansion Mall Shopping Center.
“They’re getting their shelving up now — they just got it in,” Chilton said. “They want their stock (to be) in (place) also when they do their occupancy (approval).”
Taco John’s is not alone in opening on or near Shelby Road. Hillcrest Animal Hospital is building a new facility on South Shelby Road, south of the location of the new Poplar Bluff Police Department headquarters.
“I was there (Tuesday as) they are going to annex into the city,” Chilton said. “They’ve started the process. That will just be things to come. I foresee a lot of new businesses.”
Also slated to open in Poplar Bluff soon is a new T-Mobile mobile phone store at the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Highland Drive, the former location of Southern Bank and next to Rally’s.
“We were just getting with the electricians so we can get temporary power up on the job site,” Chilton said. “They just started — they just poured the footings, so it’s just getting underway.”
Also on the docket for the near future in Poplar Bluff is a remodel of the former Lucy Lee Hospital on North Westwood into a center for behavioral health center, plus an Americare assisted living and independent living facility on Kanell Boulevard adjacent to New Covenant Fellowship, which will have cottages for independent living.
“They’re going to use the same entrance as the church will,” Chilton said. “The whole driveway is going to be as city ordinance street width of 27 feet. That’ll probably start (construction) in the summer. June or July.”
Chilton is excited for the boom in businesses opening here in Poplar Bluff.
“The city of Poplar Bluff always likes new businesses,” Chilton said. “We can’t express it enough that new business is always welcomed here — and the more the better.”