JAN. 29-FEB. 4, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 NEWS CONTENTS A Conversation With ... SBJ sits down with developer Brad Thessing to talk about his redevelopment work on the north side and a new 20-acre commercial development in Ozark. page 12 Economic Development Open for Business A food truck begins service in southwest Springfield. page 4 Business Spotlight It’s all about hot sauce for startup Springfield Trading Co., which last year sold $180,000 while building the brand nationwide. page 6 Opinion Page Executive Editor Christine Temple shares why SBJ joined the Informed Voter Coalition. page 27 Book outlines businessman’s near death in China Council considers bill to curb cash-prize gaming machines by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Springfield hotelier Gordon Elliott had a specific audience in mind when he penned his autobiography: his grandchildren. “It was mainly to pass it down to generations of grandkids,” he said. “I always wanted lots of grandkids. I figure you’re rich when you have a lot of grandkids.” That’s how his book, “Dead on Arrival in China,” was born – but Elliott, 80, said as he got into it, he realized the ideas inside could be used by other grandkids, and other people, as lessons for living. The book released this month chronicles his experience having a severe heart attack while on vacation in China in September 2004 and then starting the long process of wresting back his health and returning home. At the outset, things looked bleak. The first chapter of the book recounts the moments when Elliott’s wife, Glenda, awaited word on her husband’s condition: As Glenda watched them proceed to inject needles and give my heart electric shock treatment, she was, of course, confused and just trying to take it all in. While she was in that dazed condition, she talked to an American lady who had just lost her husband. That woman was still at the hospital, presumably still working with the staff to sort things out. She told Glenda, “I hope they can save your husband; they just lost mine.” Shortly thereafter, Glenda overheard a phone call from the hospital to the American Embassy. They said that they had a United States national, aged 61, who was DOA – Dead On Arrival. She realized they were talking about me. Two decades later, Elliott is signing copies of his book, a 128-page paperback with his photograph on the cover – a photograph taken by a Springfield Business Journal photographer when he was a by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Springfield City Council is taking aim at gaming machines in an ordinance introduced at its Jan. 22 meeting. The ordinance would add a section to the city code to ban what it refers to as entertainment devices offering monetary prizes. Commonly known as video lottery terminals, the machines – often found in gas stations, fraternal halls, smoke shops and gaming rooms – allow customers to place bets on electronic outcomes. Council plans to vote on the proposed ordinance Feb. 12. Missouri law allows unregulated gaming devices known as pre-reveal or nochance machines that its proponents say do not meet the legal definition of gambling. Across the country, some states and localities have attempted to ban pre-reveal machines, which the Florida legislature defines as those in which the player must press a preview button before they can play. “The preview button displays the outcome of the next game but not the game after that,” the Sunshine State legislative record states. Council is not entering into the fray about whether the machines constitute games of chance or gambling. Rather, the ordinance proposed by members Monica Horton and Matt Simpson would eliminate monetary prizes. The new code language would state the following: “No person shall maintain or offer for use by any person any entertainment device that offers a monetary prize to any person regardless of the frequency with which a monetary prize is conferred or the TAWNIE WILSON Gordon Elliott got a new lease on life two decades ago after his near-death experience, recounted in his new autobiography, “Dead on Arrival in China.” See BOOK on page 24 See COUNCIL on page 30 Gordon Elliott says he had too much to do to die CITY BEAT From the Jan. 22 City Council Meeting: • A vote allowing council to change conditional use permits without Planning & Zoning Commission input is now scheduled for Feb. 26. • Two congregate shelters will receive a share of the city’s ARPA funds, with a third to be considered at a future meeting. • Parks Director Bob Belote is honored upon his retirement. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat
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