On Broadway a few years ago...by David R.

Jimmy Greenspon used to call himself "The Mayor of Broadway" - his family for three generations owned a women's clothing store at the corner of 8th & Broadway (where the grey stucco lawyer's office is now located, on the southeast corner.) He never really loved running the business. His degree was in journalism from, you guessed it, the Missouri School of Journalism. He died about four years ago - too young.
(from a scanned tearsheet - this was from the Our Town series, portraits of Columbia.)

Broadway: Start of an idea...

Here are some images from my initial visit to Buchroeder's Jewelers on Broadway...


Owner Mills Menser plans to renovate the area where he's sitting to make way for more diamond cases. The shelves to his left and right are empty.


Menser bought the family business from his father, Mike Menser, in 2007. His father still owns the building. The picture of the two hangs at the front of the store.


Part of the area that has been prepared for renovation. A similar photo is posted to my blog.


This building has housed Buchroeder's Jewelers since 1911. It's possibly the oldest business in Columbia, Mo. While the first floor houses Buchroeder's, the second story is comprised of residential apartments.

Although I think it's interesting to find this business in the middle of transition, I still haven't found *the heart* of the story. Any ideas? I welcome feedback...

Broadway Discussion #2

Colleen: Columbia Cemetery

Laura: Broadway Baptist, Second Baptist Church, Mt. Olive Christian, Community Methodist. Buildings that were churches or vice versa

Jessica: Grant Elementary/Walking school bus/Above Broadway

Chris and Lilli: Development/History/Cherry Hill/Widening Broadway/Preservation lady

Mito: Gumby’s ride-along and delivery on Broadway/college bars

Anne: Columbia exchange circle/Bed and Breakfast

Calin: West Boulevard and Broadway stores/People who live on Broadway/Broadway stores/Bank President

David: Architecture/Funky things on Broadway/school of metaphysics

Daisuke: My Sister’s Circus/The Village/ Plato’s Closet/Ellie’s Couture

Other ideas: Food/KPON