Cover Story
2024 class of Forty Under 40
The July issue of Springfield Business Journal highlights 40 young professionals who are under the age of 40 in the Springfield and neighboring business communities. These individuals are selected based on their contributions to our local business community and the community in which they reside. Click to view winners
John Curry
John Curry 37 Occupation: Chiropractor and owner, Curry Chiropractic in Springfield and Petersburg; owner, Cowork Springfield; adjunct biology instructor at LLCC and UIS Email: drjohn@currychiro.com Education: Bachelor of science in biological sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; Master of Science in sports science and exercise rehabilitation, Logan University; doctorate of chiropractic, Logan University Family: Parents, Dan and Pat…
The Cats’ Pyjamas to reopen in new location downtown
The cats will be returning to downtown soon. Tom Raymond and his wife, Samantha Enz, opened The Cats’ Pyjamas Cat Café in March but the building at 413 E. Adams St. was heavily damaged by fire June 19. When Raymond spoke to SBJ the following day, he was uncertain about the future of the cat…
Farmstead Primitive in Chatham closes
Farmstead Primitive Co., a women’s boutique in Chatham, has closed just shy of its five-year anniversary. “I’m going to miss all my customers, but between my health and the economy it didn’t make sense to keep going,” said owner Allyson Taapken-Matrisch. She originally launched the boutique retail store in November 2019 and had a location…
Gail Lorenzini Aug. 7, 1952-July 4, 2024
Gail Lorenzini was an educator, an entrepreneur and a business owner who immersed herself into the community and took advantage of her varied points of contact to support area causes. Gail did nearly all of this in partnership with her husband, John, before she died unexpectedly July 4 at the age of 71. Gail and…
No more bitcoin for one Springfield business
A Springfield man has removed a once-prominent feature of his business after he witnessed an alarming trend. “One hundred percent of the time that we saw somebody at the machine they were being scammed,” said Matthieu Fortin. “So I was like, this machine has to go. I’m not going to be a part of that.”…
Building permits – July 22 – July 28
Lutheran High School received a commercial demolition permit for 3500 W. Washington St. Contractor is R.D. Lawrence Construction Co. Ltd. and the project is valued at $450,000. Sixth St. Dev LTD Partnership received a commercial remodel permit for 687 Linton Ave. Contractor is All American Handyman and the project is valued at $15,000. TR 13-0536600…
Sean Keeley joins Arena Food Service
Sean Keeley, a well-known name in the Springfield dining scene, is the new director of catering for Arena Food Service. Keeley spent the past two years as the executive chef at Broadgauge in Petersburg. Prior to that he was the lead culinary specialist at Lincoln Land Community College’s Culinary Institute and the executive chef and general…
Downtown’s festival dilemma
Downtown Springfield has been facing some difficult hurdles lately. In addition to the devastating fire which damaged several businesses on Adams Street in June, the Jaycees’ annual Fourth of July Capital City Celebration, with its popular downtown fireworks display, didn’t happen for the second year in a row (the derecho nixed it in 2023). AbeFest,…
Illinois Attorney General executes search warrants at multiple Monster Pawn locations
Both Monster Pawn locations in Springfield were surrounded by crime scene tape and officers from the Springfield and Chatham police departments the morning of July 23, but it appears the activity was part of a larger investigation. “Investigators from the Illinois Attorney General’s organized retail crime task force executed a number of search warrants as…
710 Rippy G’s to offer Chicago-style and soul food dishes
Springfield will soon have a new option for soul food. Jenita Harris is opening 710 Rippy G’s in the food court at White Oaks Mall on Saturday, July 27. The name was chosen to honor her late brother-in-law, whose birthday was July 10. “He was one of the best cooks in the family,” she said.…
SMTD tries to reduce pollution
The federal government is cutting Springfield Mass Transit District a check to the tune of $17.8 million to provide the city with buses that pollute less and are more efficient to drive. The transit district will be adding 12 hybrid buses that are powered by a combination of diesel fuel and batteries, along with seven…
Kevin England to step down as Memorial Health president
Kevin England, who assumed the title of Memorial Health president July 1, is stepping down from the role due to “an unexpected and recent health issue,” according to a statement from a Memorial spokesperson. “Ed Curtis will continue as Memorial Health president and CEO until a successor is named. Kevin will return to his prior…
Memorial gathering to be held in Springfield for Juliana Turchetti
Juliana Turchetti made a big impact on Springfield during her short time in the community. Springfield residents knew her as the owner of Aviatori Coffeehouse, a café which combined her love of flying and coffee. On July 10, Turchetti, 45, was killed while fighting a fire in Montana. According to an article published the following…
Grand opening for Jack McNamara’s Par Fore Lounge
Golf fans now have another year-round option to enjoy their favorite sport. Jack McNamara’s Par Fore Lounge, a bar and lounge that also offers a golf simulator, has opened at 7036 Kingsmill Court. “We knew the golf simulators were becoming popular, and because we’re located right behind Piper Glen, we thought during the winter months…
Crave Cookies opens Springfield store
Crave Cookies has opened a Springfield location at 3808 Octavus Via. Franchise owners Josh and Jennifer Ellison announced plans earlier this year to bring the gourmet cookie company to the capital city. A soft opening was held July 31, with a grand opening planned for Saturday, Aug. 3. “We’ll be giving away 1,500 free chocolate…
City council moves Frito-Lay project forward, despite objections from neighbors
Almost two dozen neighbors of what is expected to be a large Frito-Lay distribution center along Interstate 55 near the Chatham exit left a Springfield City Council meeting frustrated July 16. The council voted 6-3 in favor of zoning variances allowing the project to move forward. Voting in favor were Alds. Chuck Redpath of Ward…
Springfield Gymnastics Center has two moves in the works
Springfield Gymnastics Center has a new facility under construction on the west side, but in the meantime, the business will operate out of the former Shop ‘n Save property on the corner of Wabash Avenue and Chatham Road. “The new building is scheduled to be done next spring,” said co-owner Brad Epperson. “We’ve already broken…
Downtown fund makes first round of awards to those affected by fire
Twelve residents, seven businesses and one nonprofit affected by the June 19 fire at 413 E Adams St. in downtown Springfield received checks June 15 from the INB Benefit for the Businesses Affected by the Adams Family Fire fund. To date, the community has raised a little more than $18,000 to support those people and…
A magical, boozy dessert
Zabaglione (za-ba-lee-ohn) is a seemingly magical dessert that originated in Italy in the 15th century. Egg yolks are whipped with wine and sugar to create what is essentially a boozy custard sauce. Originally made with Marsala, the French quickly adopted their own version of the recipe using Sauternes, a lusciously sweet white wine from Bordeaux.…
Maid-Rite: 100 years without many changes
What’s happening at the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop is not complicated, but it is enduring. Preparing to celebrate 100 years in business, longtime owner Sam Quaisi downplays his product’s specialness while providing a distinctive spin on why it is indeed special. “There is nothing special about the recipe because it’s the same. It’s the same thing,…
A Wild Rose grows downtown
Wild Rose Artisans Gallery and Boutique celebrates the talents of local artisans as they pour their hearts into creating their masterpieces. The store is at 115 North Sixth St., in downtown Springfield, just across from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. There you are invited to a shopping experience that embraces creativity and supports…
Downtown fund to distribute first $10,000 to businesses affected by fire
As the one-month anniversary of the fire at 413 E. Adams St. approaches, $10,000 of funds raised by the community for businesses and residents affected by the fire is set to be distributed. The fund at INB, “Benefit for Businesses Affected by Adams Family Fire,” was created the day after the June 19 fire. Donations…
McCann sentenced to 42 months
Former Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann’s criminal misuse of more than $630,000 in campaign funds justified a 3½-year prison sentence and contradicted his stated dedication to serving the public, a federal judge said July 9. “You knew exactly what you were doing, all the while holding yourself out as a God-fearing man…
Shangri-La Dispensaries to hold grand opening July 11
Shangri-La Dispensaries will hold a grand opening at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 11, for its new Springfield dispensary. The event will include area vendors, food trucks and live music. Shangri-La, 3128 S. Dirksen Parkway, represents the company’s first entrance into Illinois’ adult-use cannabis market. The parent company, founded in 2019, is a multistate cannabis operator…
New restaurant under construction on west side
A new restaurant is under construction on the west side of Springfield, with additional space available for a second restaurant or retail use. Rotary Center LLC, an entity partially owned by area developer Steve Zhao, is constructing a two-unit building at 3061 Wabash Ave., located in Southwest Plaza II along with the west-side Lowe’s. The…
Building permits – July 1 – July 7
Rotary Center LLC received a commercial permit for 3061 Wabash Ave. Contractor is Steve Zhao and he project is valued at $450,000. City of Springfield % chief surveyor received a commercial fence permit for 1000 E. Washington St. Contractor is Goodman Fence Inc. and the project is valued at $16,180. Illinois Map II LLC received…
Pritzker keeps economic development at forefront in exclusive interview with “Illinois Lawmakers”
With fiscal year 2025 beginning July 1, Gov. JB Pritzker continues to tout available state tax incentives and promote Illinois as a site for business development. On the season finale of “Illinois Lawmakers,” Pritzker pointed to a pair of developments in East Alton and Normal as proof of his administration’s effectiveness in luring businesses to…
Neuhoff sells Springfield and Bloomington radio stations
Neuhoff Family Limited Partnership, the parent company of Neuhoff Media-Springfield, LLC and Neuhoff Media-Bloomington, LLC has announced it has entered into an agreement to sell the assets of WFMB-AM/WFMB-FM, WCVS-FM, WXAJ-FM and Channel1450.com in Springfield and WBBE-FM, WWHX-FM and WIHN-FM in Bloomington to Woodward Communications, Inc. This transaction marks the final sale of the divestiture…
Building permits – June 24 – June 30
325 W Adams St LLC % Myers Commercial R E. Inc. received a commercial remodel permit for 325 W. Adams St. Contractor is 325 W Adams St LLC % Myers Commercial R E. Inc. and the project is valued at $450,000. Second & Jefferson LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 200 E. Madison St.…
Terrie Malmstrom opens Doggie Stylez
Terrie Malmstrom has been in the pet grooming business for years, but now she has a new venture called Doggie Stylez. “I owned Bubbles of Fun Pet Grooming for more than 10 years and sold it in 2017,” Malmstrom said. “I was going to semi-retire, and I actually moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.” However, Malmstrom’s…
Quantum technology companies set for big tax incentives under new law
Gov. JB Pritzker has given final approval to a plan to bolster the state’s tech industry, including an incentives package – backed by $500 million in the state budget – aimed at making Illinois the nation’s leader in quantum computing. The package also expands tax credits for the film industry, extends a tax credit program…
Big plans for future of the State Fairgrounds
The Illinois State Fair has a rich history dating back to 1853 when the first fair was held in Springfield. Multiple cities hosted fairs before Springfield became the permanent home of the Illinois State Fair in 1894. For the first time in this long history, there is now a long-term master plan for the Illinois…
Daniel Hirstein joins Security Bank
Daniel Hirstein has joined Security Bank as assistant vice president of mortgage lending, effective June 10. He has worked in the banking and lender sector for more than seven years, most recently at Morton Community Bank and U.S. Bank. A native of Springfield, Hirstein has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from MacMurray College in Jacksonville.…
Solid Rock Youth Transitional Services
Marscia Anderson believes God put it in her heart to start Solid Rock Youth Transitional Services after she learned that 40% of youth who age out of foster care end up homeless. “That was a devastating statistic,” she said, “and it broke my heart to learn so many young people are homeless and trying to…
Q&A With Christina Shutt
Christina Shutt, 37, has served as the executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum since June 2021. Previously, Shutt was executive director for the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the African American museum of history and culture for the state of Arkansas. Under her guidance, the center was awarded first-time national museum accreditation.…
Three sisters join forces to open a day care center
With 128 enrolled children, ages six months to six years old, Independent Childcare Preschool and Nursery is a lively and successful business just 18 months after opening. The founders and owners are three sisters: Cynthia Daniels, 55; Tearetha (also known as “T”) Plair, 54, and Christie Carter, 49. They opened the day care in December…
Learning together in the family business
Steve Shelton, founder and president of Solution Printing, started learned about printing during his time in the U.S. Army, where he was tasked with printing reports and various projects. After his time in the military, Shelton was living in Indiana and working in sales but wanted to get closer to his hometown of Pittsfield, where…
Conquer the crowd: Mastering the art of public speaking
Just the mention of the words –public speaking – can send shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned professionals. Whether it’s a presentation in front of colleagues, a pitch to potential clients or a keynote address at a conference, the ability to communicate effectively in front of an audience is a skill that…
Is a living trust better than a will?
Have you attended an estate planning seminar or read promotional materials that claim you must have a living trust to avoid estate taxes and probate? Has a salesperson come to your home with frightening information about probate? While a living trust is appropriate for some people, the cost of creating, funding and administering a living…
Travelers Kitchen
I love exploring new cuisines. And although Springfield has an ever-increasing number of ethnic restaurants, African cuisine has been a rarity. But with Travelers Kitchen’s West African-inspired menu, that’s no longer true. Travelers is in the former La Bamba space on MacArthur Boulevard. When it formally opened last September, it slowly transitioned from a Mexican…
Springfield Clinic opens newly renovated facility
Springfield Clinic held a ribbon cutting June 24 to celebrate the relocation of the endocrinology and nephrology teams to a newly renovated facility at 401 E. Carpenter Street‹ After more than a year in the works, Springfield Clinic is ready to welcome patients to the renovated facility. Tours of the facility were offered during an open house, providing…
SIU employee named Social Worker of the Year
Hannah Jacobs, a licensed clinical social worker at SIU Center for Family Medicine, has been named the 2024 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter. Jacobs has worked at the SIU Center for Family Medicine, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving medically and socially complex patients, for…
SIU employee named Social Worker of the Year
Hannah Jacobs, a licensed clinical social worker at SIU Center for Family Medicine, has been named the 2024 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter. Jacobs has worked at the SIU Center for Family Medicine, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving medically and socially complex patients, for…
New owner and name for Tax Partners Holdings
How do you take over a legacy small business that was founded in Springfield 20 years before you were born? If you’re Emmanuel “Manny” Davis, you just dive right in. The 24-year-old Davis became the new owner of Tax Partners Holding, Inc. on Feb. 1. The tax preparation and bookkeeping business, located at 2060 W.…
Wildflowers and Barley opening hat-burning studio
Katelyn Klos and Grace Kennedy are turning their hobby of hat burning into a brick-and-mortar business. “My business partner and I are both science majors; she’s a biologist and I’m a biochemist,” said Klos. She explained that the business got its start when Kennedy “made herself a custom denim jacket, and then other people started…
Building permits – July 15 – July 21
Menard Inc. received a commercial permit for 2247 Prairie Crossing Drive. Contractor is JBS Quincy and the project is valued at $1.68 million. TRI-JEN of Springfield LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 731 Adlai Stevenson Drive. Contractor is WM Aupperle 4 Sons Inc. and the project is valued at $440,000.
Rabbi Rob returns to Jacksonville
He tools around town in a pickup truck with the license plate “Rabbi R.” He has bought several downtown buildings and is transforming them into retail, entertainment and living spaces. He’s going to bring actual World War II tanks to town and have them fire off a few rounds. He’ll even officiate at a wedding…
