About Wheeler’s Lofts

Full of style, charm and elegance, the Wheelers Building has played a key role in the historic story of downtown Springfield.

The site where the Wheeler’s Lofts building stands was originally home to St Paul Methodist Church, which was constructed prior to the beginning of the Civil War. During the war the church served as an armory and was occupied by Union soldiers.

In 1905 the church was razed after a devastating fire and a new structure was constructed by a group of local businessmen. A large oddly shaped stone from St Paul Church was used to make the datestone for the new building, aptly named St Paul Block, and is still visible at the top of Wheeler’s Lofts northeast corner.

Blackwell Home Furnishings was the first occupant of the new building, followed by the Hermann-Sanford Saddlery Co in 1920. After a name change in 1924 to Hermann- Bronlow, they grew to be one of the largest harness making businesses in Springfield’s history.

Due to growing demand, the company gradually shifted its offerings from saddles and harnesses to automobile supplies.

By 1958 the building had been divided into smaller shops which housed a number of retail concerns over the next thirty years including Jay Key & Gun, Gilbert’s Furniture, House of Tomorrow, Heer Furniture and Carpet Company and Robberson Oil Company.

Wheeler’s Furniture returned it to its original function as a home furnishings store in 1988, which operated there successfully until downsizing the store and moving to Springfield’s south side in early 2008.

That same year Springfield resident and local developer, Morris Dock purchased the building. He had a vision of taking this landmark business structure and mixing in a residential twist.

The ensuing meticulous renovation adapted the second and third floors into six lofts each with modern, unique designs while ensuring the historic elements of the building were preserved, making the development one of the first of its kind in Springfield.

St Paul Block was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in December of 2008.

Shortly after Wheeler’s Lofts welcomed the buildings’ first residents in 2010, the ground floor was occupied by the Bistro Market by Price Cutter. After seven years in business the Bistro closed its doors leaving a food desert in it’s wake.

Morris opened Seattle Roast Coffee Shop in a 2,000 sq ft portion of the ground floor in 2020 and ceased operations in 2023. Springfield Public Schools utilized much of the space for curriculum storage until late 2023. Believing that a market was a critical missing piece in the neighborhood’s growth and prosperity, and always striving to be good stewards of Downtown, Morris and his wife Becky, began actively seeking a new grocery tenant shortly after the coffee shop vacated the premises.

In July of 2025 the search ended when Farmers Market of the Ozarks opened Ozarks Farm Stop, an innovative concept store which provides a unique retail experience that supports local farmers, artisans, and food producers while offering customers an accessible and sustainable way to enjoy fresh, healthy food.

Open six days a week, the year-round local food hub connects small family farms and local food artisans with the community, offering a place to shop, learn, and gather.

With a strong emphasis on community engagement and sustainability, the Farm Stop serves as an essential hub for local agriculture, providing an outlet for small family farms and food makers to connect directly with customers.

The residents of Wheeler’s Lofts love the convenience of having Farm Stop in the building!