Most of Carl Junction’s business base lines the city’s two main thoroughfares, but the city’s government and business residents buy in

Carl Junction

A town happy with its unique identity

BY KEVIN McCLINTOCK • kmcclintock@joplinglobe.com

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — While Carl Junction may not have a classic city square, like Carthage or Neosho, or block upon block of historic, Victorian-era downtown buildings, like Joplin, the director of its chamber of commerce says the town harbors something more important — loyal, caring people.

“There is a sense of ownership here; people are very proud of their town. ... They like to see businesses in our community be successful and thrive, and so they support them,” said Cavanaugh Studyvin. On the flip side, “when community residents need help, the businesses are right there to support them.”

This was on display in a big way twice in the past 20 years, when tornadoes tore through the town — first in 2003 and again in 2019.

“When those storms hit, the businesses stepped up without hesitation and helped any way they could. (Ultimately), this is very unique and very cool to see,” she said. “There is this mutual trust and support for each other.”

Carl Junction’s downtown mainly consists of two streets, or “drags” as Studyvin labels them. There’s Pennell Street, the main east-west corridor, which flows right into the Carl Junction R-1 School District. and then there’s the north- to south-running Main Street, with some of Carl Junction’s commercial businesses on one end and the community center, library and city offices on the other end.

“Where Pennell and Main intersect, that’s the heart of (the city). We don’t have our square, but everything you need is all right in our little four-way stop area,” Studyvin said.

In a way, she added, “It’s like our little square.”

Mike Humphrey, pharmacist and manager at CJ Pharmacy, works at the store on March 26. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER

‘NOW WE ARE FAMILY’

The first tornado, in 2003, damaged or destroyed more than 30% of the buildings in Carl Junction; the school district alone needed $6.5 million in repairs.

It sparked a renewed sense of community as well as a new town motto: “We were neighbors, now we are family.”

Mike Humphrey, manager of the locally owned CJ Pharmacy at the corner of Pennell and Main, said he sees this motto come to life on an almost daily basis.

“It’s the people,” he said when asked what is the town’s greatest strength. He began managing the pharmacy in October 2018. “They’re so kind. I came here from a Walmart corporate background, and (Carl Junction) is night-and-day different. ... They have been extremely good to us as a small business.”

Located at 102 S. Main, the independent pharmacy has spent $100,000 renovating the building that dates to 1893, Humphrey said. He described the building as being “in rough shape when we started.”

Misfit Mutts is owned by Danielle Farrar and it located at 124 S. Main in downtown Carl Junction. Misfit Mutts is one of the newest stores in downtown Carl Junction, and is home to several dogs seeking adoption in the community.

GLOBE | ROGER NOMER

Some of the most extensive work includes installing a new roof, replacing all windows with insulated glass, erecting new signage and tuckpointing the building’s exterior brickwork to strengthen patches weak from age. In the near future, he plans to have artists from the Carl Junction schools help conceptualize and bring to life a mural on the Pennell-facing side of the building.

“We have some great local artists, and there is definitely some talent in this community that can really make it shine,” he said.

The community event known as Second Tuesday, first launched in 2019 by the Carl Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, has brought residents and business owners together in a fun way. It is modeled after Joplin’s Third Thursday and Pittsburg’s ArtWalk events, though COVID-19 temporarily halted festivities in 2020.

“The first year they did this, I was a bit skeptical,” Humphrey admitted. “It’s kind of a quiet town. But every night they held it, it was packed. It was great.”

Activities included live music, a DJ, water balloons, chalk for kids, bubbles, games of cornhole and

‘The people who live here do anything and everything they can to come out and support these owners, these business, these schools. Everybody really rallies together.’

more. Humphrey said it was another example of Carl Junction surprising him “in a good way.”

Other businesses lining one of CJ’s two drags include Circle T Collectibles and Auctions at 118 S. Main and The Vogue Boutique at 144 S. Main.

One of the newest businesses found on Main Street is Misfits Mutts, which opened last August at 124 S. Main. Owner Danielle Farrar finds loving homes for puppies with imperfections — overbites, underbites, thin hair. She also sells boutique items for dogs.

“When puppies aren’t able to be sold inside a pet store, they are given to me,” she said. Farrar operated the business from her home over the past 12 years. The support from the community has been there since day one, she said.

“Absolutely — I think the (community) has been very supportive of everything, really; we have kids who walked by here after school who play with the puppies daily,” she said.

“The one thing that people say about Carl Junction — which is very true — is that we support our community 100%,” Studyvin said. “The people who live here do anything and everything they can to come out and support these owners, these business, these schools. Everybody really rallies together. Take Misfits Mutts, for example — the community just showed up in droves just because it was new, and they still do.

“The unique shops ... you won’t find them anywhere else,” Studyvin said. “We don’t have a square or circle or anything like that, it’s just up and down that one street, so you can get something different at every stop, is what I like to say.”

Carl Junction has more to offer than most people think, said Steve Lawver, city administrator.

“We have our own identity, and that identity is a good place to raise your family, do business and where the kids get a top-notch education,” he said. “It is very much unique, and residents and business owners recognize that and take advantage of it.”

One addition Studyvin and Lawver say they would love to see added to either Main or Pennell is a coffee house and perhaps a restaurant based downtown. Carl Junction is home to plenty of popular restaurants, ranging from Randy’s Drive In to Bailey’s Family Dining, among others, though none are located in the downtown area.

“That’s one of the things that Carl Junction doesn’t have right now,” Studyvin said of a coffee shop. “And we’d love to get a restaurant out here. Anything like that ... is exciting for” local residents.

Carl Junction will also be receiving a new grocery store, Lawver said. Relocating inside the Spinning Wheels Skate Center at 710 E. Pennell Street, which recently closed after 40 years, will be a new Dollar General Plus store, which is larger than the traditional Dollar General stores and will include an expanded grocery section. It’s expected to open this summer.

“We like our businesses that we have here, and we have spaces downtown for a handful of new ones — and we’d welcome them with open arms,” Studyvin said. “But we’re happy with who we are. We all know each other here. We check up on one another. and we check in on our businesses.

“We’re not trying to be anything other than what we are,” she continued, “and that’s what’s really special about Carl Junction.”

Carl Junction Pharmacy (top) is located at 102 S. Main in downtown Carl Junction. The business spent $100,000 renovating the building to its current condition. Misfit Mutts, located at 124 S. Main in Carl Junction, sells pet

accessories and finds homes for pets in need. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER

3 questions for Alderman Gary Stubblefield

Q:WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

A:Increased online purchases continue to have a direct impact on local sales tax collected. The trend toward shopping online is growing and was certainly accelerated last year at the onset of the pandemic. Our local sales tax funds the many amenities that our residents expect. Every time we forgo supporting a local merchant, we negatively impact our city services as well as directly impact employment of local workers and the investments made by our business owners. We do have bright spots, however, such as the expanded Dollar General opening this summer.

Q:WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY’S BIGGEST STRENGTH?

A:It’s hard to pinpoint a single strength that Carl Junction possesses. I would have to narrow it down to two — our people and our schools. Carl Junction is a friendly, welcoming town for all ages. There is a true connection felt among residents.

Our second strength is, of course, our top-ranked schools. Our teachers, staff, administration and school board work together to ensure that our schools consistently turn out the very best students.

Q:WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

A:Carl Junction’s dedication to the quality of life offered can be seen throughout the community. However, some may not know the extent of healthy venues available to our residents and guests. Our walking trails have been expanded for nature lovers. Our series of outdoor parks is continually being improved to serve all ages. Our Community Center offers an indoor walking track and a gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. New outdoor basketball courts have just been added at the Community Center. Carl Junction offers both baseball and soccer fields. We have a skateboard park and a Frisbee golf course. The Briarbrook Golf Course rounds out the list of healthy lifestyle options available in Carl Junction.

The Carl Junction Veterans Memorial was recently dedicated on the east side of Memorial Park. GLOBE FILE

CARL JUNCTION BOARD OF EDUCATION

PRESIDENT LARRY COWGER larry@cjr1.org

BOB HAYS

bob@cjr1.org

TRAVIS SPENCER

travis@cjr1.org

VICE PRESIDENT CHRISTIE HUTCHESON christie@cjr1.org

KASEY COWGER

kasey@cjr1.org

ROB HERRON

rob@cjr1.org

BRIAN MASSEY

brian@cjr1.org

SUPERINTENDANT PHILLIP COOK

pcook@cjr1.org

The Carl Junction Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of every month at the Instructional Services Center, 201 S. Broadway.

MAYOR MARK POWERS

417-649-7237

MAYOR PRO TEM LADONNA ALLEN 417-483-8342

GARY STUBBLEFIELD 417-385-7645

MARK SATTERLEE 417-438-3402

MIKE BURNS 417-499-9729

RICK FLINN 417-649-7232

BOB McAFEE CJAldermanWard3A@CarlJunction.org

JIM GOZIA 417-649-1986

ROGER SPENCER 417-781-7127

The Carl Junction Board of Aldermen meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at City Hall, 303 N. Main Street, inside the Carl Junction Community Center.

CITY LEADERS

CITY ADMINISTRATOR STEVE LAWVER 417-649-7237 POLICE CHIEF DELMAR HAASE 417-649-7070 FIRE CHIEF JOE PERKINS 417-649-6062