Several Springfield tenants waiting to see what’s next after landlord goes to jail

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Several Springfield business owners are weighing their next steps tonight after their landlord, Marco Denis, was charged with domestic assault and kidnapping.

Denis, whose company owns Plaza Towers and several other properties, is being held in jail without bond.

OzarksFirst spoke over the phone with several tenants at the Plaza Towers, some who say they are considering moving out because of the allegations against Denis.

Pastor Roger Franklin has a business deal with Denis outside the tower and says he was stunned when he heard the news this week.

“I was shocked because it came it came out of nowhere,” said Franklin.

He says his initial thoughts were for the victim and her well-being and the next thought was his future partnership with Denis’s company.

“So, I got to do my job. but the business partners are already five years ahead, they’ve already moving forward. So just to let the city know all of this that you’re hearing, it’s not going to affect any business with the the estates and the properties. It’s not going to change anything. It’s actually going to lock it down and get even better management on board to move forward,” said Franklin.

Franklin says the ultimate goal of his businesses is to provide young people with safe places to grow, learn and stay out of trouble. He says Denis’s case is now a reminder of just how important that work is.

“They’re doing that and with my piece of it, with us doing what we’re doing with the young people in this city, in the communities, it’s not change the thing. We’re going to dig deeper. We’re just going to keep pushing it,” said Franklin.

OzarksFirst reached out to Plaza Towers to ask how the arrest affects the multimillion-dollar renovations that are going on there, but they did not return the phone call.

Denis is due back in court on August 6.

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