Springfield, Mo. (KY3) – Chris Cox, owner of Springfield business The Bonsai Guy, is closing his business due to repeated thefts on Facebook.
The post read, “Dear Springfield, you win. I’m done.” He returned from a Japanese fall festival in Springfield over the weekend to find $6,000 worth of items missing. The items included bonsai trees and some irreplaceable mementos from lifelong friends and mentors.
“So once I got here I started to realize that I was missing a lot of little things, I had big trees, but I was missing two really nice little trees. Although they are small in height, they are deep.
Known around town as the Bonsai Guy, Cox discovered his passion for bonsai trees after returning from military service in Afghanistan.
“It activates the same parts of your brain that meditation does,” Cox said. “So you know, you’re not allowed to worry about the future or dwell on the past because you’re focused on work because you don’t want to make mistakes. I can say it saved my life.”
He decided to turn his passion into a business. It has been in the Springfield area for almost a decade. But all this is coming to an end, at least for the foreseeable future. He said he had already notified the city of Springfield that he would not be making any further sales. He still has people come into the building and ask questions about how to care for their trees, and he hopes to open a shop again one day.
“I grew up in Nix. I’ve definitely seen the crime in Springfield, especially. This is a great city with great people. I really hope that goes back,” Cox said. “I know a few bad apples can ruin it for people and now.” This is what happened to me.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com
Copyright 2022 KY3. all rights reserved.
