Nothing But a Cross Roads

Dexter Smith

Nixa, Mo

One of the towns earliest leaders was a man by the name Nicholas A. Inman. Inman was a blacksmith who moved from Tennessee to establish a new life in Missouri with his family. Two main names were suggested for the community in its earliest days; those being Inman, and Nix which referred to the saying, “nothing but a crossroads.” In order to keep the name name Nix, and to honor Inman, the name settled at Nixa, with the “A” referring to Inman’s middle initial. The town was incorporated as a village in June 10, 1902.

Although some may recognize Nixa as being the town that the fictional character Jason Bourne was birthed in, the town has a much richer history to tell than that of a fictional assassin. Nixa was originally occupied by farmers and desired because of its rich and fertile ground. This same atmosphere of farming still exist in the Nixa community as Nixa Hardware services the local community with grass seed that is supplied by local farmers.

Nixa hardware began in 1899 and this year is celebrating 120 years in business and remains one of the areas oldest functioning business. Nixa Hardware is locally famous for the friendly employees and delicious popcorn. Often times customers will be seen coming into the store simply to talk to employees and grab themselves a bag of popcorn at either of the two popcorn machines located on either end of the store. “The popcorn brings them in, but the employees make them stay,” says Roy Curbow, a longtime nixa hardware employee. The local hardware store seems to have something for everyone in every season. Customers will often express, “If Nixa (Hardware) doesn’t have it: nobody does.” In an ever expanding world it can be easy to lose the hometown touch of a locally owned store but Nixa Hardware keeps the tradition rolling on.