The Whole Story
Midwest Pool & Spa was founded in 1987 as Midwest Pools. The company was started by the Clell & Joyce Harmon and their son George Downing. We are still a family owned and operated business, The same owners and most of the same employees for 24 years. Our staff members average 15 years with Midwest Pool & Spa.
We originally were a pool construction, and on-site service company, with a small retail store on East Division St, in Springfield MO. As time passed we expanded to take over and purchase the entire building, a very small 900 sqft building. In 1992 we added a south side location next door to our current location at 4213 S Nature Center Way (Then known as 2340 E Republic Rd then 4213 S Glenstone Ave). With the addition of the south store, we also changed our name to Midwest Pool & Spa, and expanded our inventory to include a hot tub selection, and stopped construction of in ground pools.
In 1994 we opened our warehouse location near Kansas Expy and Sunset St. The new warehouse allowed us to service the inventory needs of our 2 stores and our service department. In 1997 the north location was closed due to lack of space and the desire to concentrate our staff in to 1 well staffed location. This consolidation allowed us to open 7 days a week and all the summer holidays.
In 2001 we consolidated again and stopped outside service and stopped selling new hot tubs. This consolidation allowed us to concentrate on our core business of retail swimming pool and spa supplies.
In 2001 Darrin and Jody Became our First CPO's. 2008-2010, All of our full time retail staff are CPO certified by the NSPF. The only store in Springfield to have accomplished this level of training. We continually are training in the off season to prepare for the upcoming rush of summer business.
In 2010 we opened our ONLINE SALES website. We now offer the same shop at home convenience and competitive pricing that is available from Nationwide Websites. The difference is that your purchases support the local economy here in the Ozarks. In 2011 we expanded our online presence with an updated modern website, Facebook and twitter and an improved email program.
We aim to be the best "Place For Customer Service". Our store staff members are empowered to do what ever it takes to serve our customers the best way we possibly can. Our success in the Springfield area is due to our customers and our employees. Come meet the people at Midwest Pool & Spa
The History
In 1973 The Harmon & Downing Family opened our first store. Harmon's Pool Service was started in Hanford Ca. We had a retail store, weekly pool service and repair business. Clell & Joyce operated this store with the "help" of all the kids. A short time later a larger local retail chain store hired our dad, Clell Harmon to be their manager, so he sold the company and started working at Sunplay Pool Supply in Visalia CA. In the years between 1973 and 1982 almost all of our family worked and trained at that store. In 1982 our family decided it was time to come back to our roots in Springfield. So we packed up the family and moved to Missouri. When we first moved back to Missouri, Clell and George spent time working in the pool industry in Springfield for the next 5 years to gain knowledge of local pool care methods.
