March came in with a bang as Springfield welcomed several new stores and eateries to town. These five new openings and offerings are just a slice of what’s happening in town. 

Buff City Soap, 2750 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield

Your next at-home spa session just got a little more luxurious thanks to Springfield’s newest tenant–Buff City Soap. This specialty soap franchise opened its Springfield location on March 4, which marks Buff’s first store in Missouri. The shop specializes in delicious smelling soaps, laundry detergents, bath bombs, shower fizzies, body butters, and bath salts. It even carries a special line for kids and men. But part of what makes shopping for soaps here more enjoyable than your regular trip to the store, is that you can create your own scents or choose from one of the already curated aromas. So far, the most popular scents have been cherry almond and fruity loopy, which, as you might have guessed, smells just like the cereal.  


Prairie Pie, 307 South Jefferson Ave., Springfield 

The wait is finally over! Prairie Pie officially opened the doors of its new brick and mortar shop on March 11. Over the past four years, pie-enthusiasts have devoured every flavor combination Prairie Pie has come up with, and owner Eleanor Taylor has dreamed up some delicious pies. There’s the matcha custard, the cinnamon buttermilk, the honey custard with sea salt, and the mile-high chocolate mousse. And during those four years, slices of Prairie Pie were only available at select shops around town or by order. Prairie Pie fans often tuned into Instagram to learn where their favorite pies were available. Now, Taylor has her own storefront, and she’s expanded her menu to include savory pies plus sides of mashed potatoes and salad. The menu changes weekly, but the savory pie options you can count on include chicken and vegetable. Specialty flavors including curry vegetable and carnitas, will rotate in and out. As for those sweet pies, Taylor says she will have a weekly rotation of sweet pies available by the slice plus whole pies available every day along with an assortment of mini pies and cookies. It’s the perfect delicious combination for a space that’s as colorful and inviting as the fillings of each Prairie Pie. The shop was designed by Taylor’s mom, Sharon Gullet who is the owner of the interior design company Pickwick House. “She wanted to draw eyes upwards toward the ceiling using large pieces of art,” Taylor says. “This also helps showcase our tall, tall ceilings.”


Rise,
105 Park Central Square, Springfield 

There’s a new reason to get excited about breakfast in Springfield, and that’s Rise. This new breakfast and brunch spot opened downtown February 21, and the colorful atmosphere matches the dishes on the menu. There are fresh juices, grain bowls, homemade yogurts, indulgent french toast topped with candy coated chocolate pearls and heartier options including biscuits and gravy. Rise is the creation of owners Uliana Komodi and Christina Sava who along with their head chef Branden Dinger, have created a breakfast menu that focuses on the homemade. And if the baked goods look or taste familiar, that’s because Uliana and Christina are also the owners of Rise’s neighbor, European Cafe. “We just love food,” Uliana says. “With European Cafe, we don’t have a full kitchen, so having a restaurant was always the dream.” Now that Rise is open, Uliana and Christina are busy baking all the breads that show up on the menu. Uliana says Christian is the real “yeast queen” and has been perfecting her sourdough recipe for years. Now that they have a full kitchen, it’s time to put those skills to the test, and we’re here for every delicious bite.

Jane Troup in her studio

OH Gallery, 214 W. Phelps St., Suite 101, Springfield

OH Gallery has a new collection by Springfield artist Jane Troup, and the excitement is growing. Dubbed “Studies in Fungi,” Troup’s latest collection features her colorful take on the wild world of mushrooms. Unlike Troup’s most recognized works, which often feature brightly colored layers of landscapes and wildlife, her newest collection features singular fungi on black backgrounds. The collection, which is on display at OH Gallery, includes works that range in size and can be viewed during gallery hours 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday through Friday and from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays.


Top Shelf Fungi, Springfield

Speaking of mushrooms, Blaine Conway, owner of Top Shelf Fungi, is now selling DIY mushroom kits. Blaine started stocking Springfield restaurants and grocery stores with specialty mushrooms including blue oyster, black pearl king oysters, lion’s mane, and freckled chestnut mushrooms in November, 2020. As his mushrooms have grown in popularity, he’s added new items to his inventory including DIY mushroom kits. The kits allow consumers to grow their own black pearl, blue oyster, or lion’s mane mushrooms. Simply order the kit from Conway, pick up the bag, cut a slit in it, and watch your mushrooms sprout up. If you’re curious how to prepare your harvest, Conway says these mushrooms are best served in soups, stir fry, and on top of pizza.