Since so many transplants from out of state follow my blog, it occurred to me last weekend that some of you may not know about Pickwick Avenue, a charming, tree-lined street in Springfield where people love to take a stroll.
What’s the big deal about this street? Well, the beautiful old homes in the Rountree neighborhood are reason enough to go for a walk. But over the years, the corner of Pickwick Avenue and Cherry Street has grown into a little village of locally owned businesses, complete with coffee, quiche, cocktails, Italian food and more.
I send a “things to do” email every Sunday night to tons of parents and caregivers in the Springfield, Mo. area. It’s full of free ideas that always match the season we’re in.
And right now, those big, mature trees are starting to put on their fall colors. Add a bagel and a coffee, and you have the makings of a lovely morning with the family.
On a recent Sunday morning, I was pleased to discover the corner has a new-to-me bagel shop: Big Baby Bagels, which opened in April at 1427 E. Cherry St. It’s a new effort from the owners of Skully’s Ramen, in the same space their restaurant once was. They’re making their bagels from scratch, boiling them before baking, and serving them with flavored cream cheeses and as breakfast sandwiches.
With a toasted poblano cheddar bagel in one hand and a coffee in the other, I set off on my house-ogling walk.
A fall walk down Pickwick Avenue
Pickwick is especially pretty this time of year, when patches of red and gold are working their way into the trees. Nestled below them are the kinds of houses I can’t help but stare at: wavy windows, ivy-wrapped porches, old brick and elegant porticos.
For your own walk, start around Cherry and Pickwick, then head south on Pickwick past Grand Street. Wander a few blocks and turn around whenever your crew is ready, or keep exploring the surrounding residential streets. With younger kids, you could make a little game of finding red, yellow and orange leaves or choosing a favorite front door (there’s a stunning yellow one that inspired an unreasonable yelp out of me).
There’s a long history behind all this charm. In a deep dive article on Rountree Elementary for Ozarks Alive, Kaitlyn McConnell traced newspaper advertisements for lots in Pickwick Place back to 1890, when buyers were being promised a streetcar ride to the Public Square.
The business corner has a more recent story.
Drinks, eats and spots to visit on Cherry and Pickwick
Amanda and Ryan Owen bought property at Cherry and Pickwick in 2010 and opened Homegrown Food, a neighborhood market. Cherry Picker later moved into the original corner space. Today’s collection of gathering places has grown over time, alongside longtime neighborhood favorites.
If you’d like to linger before or after your walk, here are a few nearby stops:
- Coffee at Cherry Picker Package & Fare, 601 S. Pickwick Ave. The corner coffee shop, lunch counter and neighborhood bar has outdoor seating for watching the neighborhood go by. On Sundays, it opens at 10 a.m.
- Quiche at Tea Bar & Bites, 621 S. Pickwick Ave. A garden patio, daily quiche and dessert make this another option for a slower breakfast or lunch. It opens at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
- A little browsing at The Local Bevy, 617 S. Pickwick Ave. This shop carries locally made art, jewelry, cards and gifts. Its Sunday hours are 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- A painting project at Artistree Pottery, 1423 E. Cherry St., Suite 103. Choose a ceramic piece to paint, then leave it for firing and return for pickup about a week later. Pieces start at $12, including painting supplies and firing. The studio opens at noon on Sundays; reservations are recommended.
- Lunch at Tie & Timber Pizza Kitchen, 1451 E. Cherry St. Another 2026 addition to the neighborhood, the brewery’s pizza kitchen gives you a reason to stretch the outing into lunch. It opens at noon on Sundays.
You can also keep the plan as simple as ours: breakfast, a walk and a chance to enjoy the trees while they’re turning.
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