Month: December 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Scholastic is selling its headquarters in New York and its distribution center in Jefferson City through a lease-back deal, according to a press release from the company’s website.

A leaseback occurs when a business sells a location to another party and leases it from the buyer.   

Scholastic is selling the Jefferson City location “to funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group (“Fortress”) for gross proceeds of $95 million in cash,” the release says. Its New York location is being sold to Empire State Realty Trust for $386 million, the release says.

The Jefferson City distribution will have a 20-year lease with two 10-year extensions available, the release says.

“The Board ultimately determined that these transactions offered a compelling and attractive opportunity to enhance Scholastic’s balance sheet and maximize value for shareholders, while streamlining Scholastic’s footprint with minimal disruption to operations and employees,” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A popular bar in Columbia will close for 15 days after its liquor license was suspended by the state.

Tropical Liqueurs – colloquially known as “Trops” by locals – will shut the doors of both of its locations in town beginning on Thursday, the business announced on its social media page. Trops is located at 515 East Broadway in downtown Columbia and 3805 South Providence Road on the south side of town.

The business wrote that the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control determined it was not in compliance with the state’s to-go alcohol law.

“According to their report we are still not in full compliance with the new state to-go alcohol law, even after all the changes we have made… a finding we respectfully (and loudly, in our heads) disagree with,” the social media post says. “We’re also fully aware that these rules aren’t exactly enforced equally across the state, but hey, here we are… So we’ll use this little break to make sure every operational detail is lined up perfectly with the state guidelines, down to the tiniest technicalities so that we can continue to serve our beloved slushees.”

Trops’ downtown location has a sign on its front window stating “Liquor laws say your drink needs a snack buddy! Buy Some popcorn and your drink can hit the road! Thanks for keeping it legal (and tasty)!”

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The business wrote on its social media that both locations are expected to reopen Friday, Dec. 19.

A similar complaint was filed by the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in 2024, but a closure was avoided after an appeal was filed by the business.

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Marie Moyer

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Carver School Apartments, once home to Fulton’s George Washington Carver School, opened Wednesday, adding 33 affordable senior apartments to the city’s housing stock.

Victor Pasley, a member of the George Washington Carver Cultural Center and former student at Carver school from 1952-60, was inspired by a similar project in Sedalia that a friend told him about.

“He showed me a school that had been renovated from an elementary school like Carver into senior apartments,” Pasley said. “So I went through the school and saw it, and I said, ‘That’s exactly what we need in Fulton.'”

MACO Development Company began renovations on the building at the end of October 2024, after around four years of funding negotiations, with historic building credits and state and federal housing credits helping cover costs.

The apartments are not furnished, but include a bathroom and a kitchen. Some units have multiple bedrooms, expanded bathrooms and lower kitchen counters for residents with mobility issues or who use a wheelchair.

“It is a definite need, affordable housing,” Fulton Ward 1 Councilman Bill Hinchie said. “That’s one of the things we’re trying so hard as a City Council to develop, is a lot of affordable housing. This is a great check mark to get affordable housing for people 55 and older.”

Carver School was built in 1937 and served as an all-Black school until it was integrated by the Fulton Board of Education in 1970. The school hosted sixth-grade classes until its closure in 1982.

Matt Gowin, a former student, has been following the building’s years-long development process and is happy with the work the board and local community members have put into the project.

“As I walk through the hallways, I remember fond memories, my friends, the purpose of each of these rooms, the hardwood floors that have been maintained, the gymnasium is beautiful, just a lot of great memories,” Gowin said.

LaVerne Williams, who attended Carver School in 1960, has also been following the construction process.

“Starting school here, and to see the building just go down, it really hurt, but is so wonderful to see now that it’s built up, and it’s just exciting,” Williams said.

The building also features a gymnasium, office lounge and workout room. Several apartments also have the original hardwood flooring and chalkboards.

“You walk into some apartments, and they have a chalkboard there where folks can put their grocery list for the day, there’s just a lot of neat features like that,” Pasley said.

During the grand opening, a sign was featured that said rental applications can be picked 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 310 Christopher Lane in Fulton. The office can also be contacted at 573-310-6086.

MACO added rental applications are open and can also be obtained through the George Washington Carver Cultural Center.

“We have this beautiful facility now that … Carver School will be here forever now,” Pasley said. “As the citizens of this town move up and down the street, Westminster Avenue, and they see this school, it brings back incredible memories.”

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