The Sullenger's Saloon building has been in the same location for over 100 years.

Although Branson did not become a city until 1912 it was platted in 1903. In her book “A Living History of the Ozarks,” Phylis Rossiter said that “Sullenger’s Saloon” was “the first business building to appear in Branson after it was platted in 1903 and is the oldest building still standing in Branson.”

Jo Stacey Albers, coauthor of the book, “Hometown Branson: Early History” with Dorothy Stacey, points out that the saloon was owned by Henry Sullenger and was originally located at Third and College Streets. He moved the saloon to its current location at 123 E. Main Street, on the northwestern corner of Sycamore and Main Streets sometime prior to 1909 because Branson’s main commercial area, called “The Shelf,” was developing in the Commercial Street area a few blocks east of his original location. With the move he was one block east of the Commercial Street and right on the western edge of the Branson’s railroad development.

Soon after it was incorporated on April 1, 1912, an early morning fire, starting in the Commercial Hotel located in the southeastern corner of the intersection of Commercial and Pacific Streets, virtually destroyed all the businesses in the downtown area. Four commercial buildings survived the fire, the Branson Hotel, the bank building located on the northwestern corner of Main and Commercial Streets, the railroad depot and a two story structure near the depot commonly known as “Sullenger’s Saloon.”

According to Albers during its “heyday” Sullenger’s was very popular with the railroad workers and, among other things, was operated as a saloon and a pool hall. Since then it has been
used for different things over the years. These include a boarding house, a collector card shop and its current use, the “Plum Bazaar,” a business that sells beads, custom jewelry, beading supplies, and gifts as well as conducting classes on “beading.”

Albers points out that in the mid 40’s “Mrs. Noel” operated it as a “real nice boarding house.” That use and its current location are ironic because today it is located kitty corner from Branson’s newest “boarding house,” the luxurious 12 story, 293 room Hilton Convention Center Hotel and Branson’s largest and newest major shopping attraction, “Branson Landing,” is located just one block to the east of the building that moved to its current location, over 100 years ago, because of the development of a new retail area to its east.

Paul Miller, General Manager of the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, points out that the building “Sullenger’s Saloon” was in is currently being operated as the “Plum Bazaar.” It is readily visible at the corner of Main and Sycamore Streets, at the foot of the Main Street hill, as one drives to and from Branson Landing on Main Street.