Mike Alwood retired from CWLP last fall, but he has already taken on a new career and is now preparing to renovate a historic building downtown to house his office. Alwood, a U.S. Navy veteran, began working as a lineman for CWLP after his military service ended. After more than three decades, he retired as […]
Michelle Ownbey
Michelle Ownbey is the publisher of Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times.
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UCB announces Springfield-area market reorganization
United Community Bank has announced key leadership transitions and market reorganizations for the Springfield area. Steve Otten, who serves as the current Springfield market president, is transitioning to a mentorship role. He has been named UCB Ambassador, which will allow him to provide strategic guidance and leadership support while enjoying more time with his family, […]
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Maryflor Mexican Restaurant will close
It’s said that bad news comes in threes, and Maryflor Mexican Restaurant became the third downtown business in just two weeks to announce it would be closing. A notice posted on the door at 2 Old State Capitol Plaza Monday stated the restaurant would permanently close July 20. It read in part: “After years of […]
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The Wakery owner addresses upcoming closure, what’s next
The Wakery opened downtown a little over two years ago, but owner Elizabeth Wake said the business has not proven to be sustainable, despite a strong public reception and winning several awards. “A lot of times a business closes and people say, ‘I didn’t even know that place existed,’ so then you know it’s more […]
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Springfield Gymnastics prepares to open new location
A year after beginning construction, Springfield Gymnastics Center is preparing to move into a new facility on the west side that is nearly twice as large as its previous space. Springfield Gymnastics Center opened in September 2017 at 3040 Hamlin Parkway, but temporarily relocated to the former Shop ‘n Save property on the corner of […]
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Tacology 201 closes
Tacology 201 was launched as the second version of the popular Mexican restaurant, which also experimented with bar partnerships at one point, but owner James Hamilton has announced that his time in the restaurant business has come to an end. On June 24, a post on Tacology’s Facebook page said the restaurant would be closed […]
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The Fountain on 66 opens in former Sonrise Donuts building
The small brick building at 1101 S. Ninth St. has a new name, a new motif and a new menu. A retro diner, The Fountain on 66, has opened in the building that many Springfield natives still remember as Sonrise Donuts. It opened in 1947 and lasted more than four decades, until owner Don Greenslade […]
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Coltin Cunningham launches Alpha Dog Inspections
Coltin Cunningham says he hopes his new business, Alpha Dog Inspections, will help others avoid the challenges that his family had to face. “It was a seven-year saga with our little girl,” Cunningham said. Shortly after he and his wife brought their youngest child home from the hospital, she began experiencing numerous health problems and […]
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Springfield Chamber announces Small Business Award winners
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the 40th Annual Small Business Awards on June 24 at the Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center. The event recognized outstanding community entrepreneurs in the following four categories: Not-for-Profit Director of the Year, New & Emerging Business Owner of the Year, Small Business Owner of the Year and Lifetime […]
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Jerk Shop Go closes
Jerk Shop Go has been through several changes during the five years the business has been open, but now the Caribbean restaurant is ceasing operations. “We will be closing our doors as of June 23, effective immediately,” owner Kadejia Berkley told SBJ. Berkley originally opened Jerk Shop Go in a small space downtown at 213 […]
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State budget includes $4.5 million for Capitol Airport
Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, has secured $4.5 million in capital project funding for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in the state of Illinois’ 2026 budget that was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker last week. These funds are dedicated for airport capital improvements including aircraft maintenance and flight training facility development. Over the past decade, the Springfield […]
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Memorial Health names chief information officer
Suresh Krishnan will join Memorial Health as chief information officer effective July 28. Krishnan most recently served as chief technology officer at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is very familiar with Illinois, having spent more than 30 years with health care organizations in the Chicago area earlier in his career. He graduated with […]