Michelle Ownbey

Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. has been a downtown anchor since 2018, but co-owner Josh Flanders said the hobby-turned-business has reached “the end of the line, unfortunately.” Flanders, Benjie Gines and Bill Larson launched the business at 406 E. Adams St. in downtown Springfield after building a following via the Prairie Schooners Homebrew Club. The group […]

After owning and operating a restaurant in downtown Springfield for two years, Kimsimone Manning says she’s ready to catch her breath before she decides on her next move. “I have a list of projects that I’ve pushed to the back burner that have nothing to do with cooking,” Manning said. “I’m going to breathe – […]

The Barrel Head has been closed for more than two years, but those who are nostalgic about the longtime bar and grill now have a chance to own a piece of its history. Aumann Auctions is conducting a liquidation sale of the bar and grill’s inventory, ranging from beer and spirit signs and assorted draft […]

The number of Hardee’s restaurants in the Springfield area continues to decline, with two more locations closing permanently within the past week. The stores at 317 E. Clear Lake Ave. and 2501 Stevenson Dr. both have “permanently closed” signs on the front doors directing customers to visit the remaining locations at 1835 Sangamon Ave. and […]

After transitioning to all-virtual services for the past few years, PeopleReady has reopened a brick-and-mortar location in Springfield. “We wanted to get back in front of the customers and our associates,” said branch manager Logan Peters of the company’s new space at 2804 Southwest Plaza Drive. The office is located in the freestanding building along […]

It’s only been a year since Alex Bogusz opened Happy Hour Pilates, but she already has a second location in the works. “I didn’t anticipate it to take off the way that it did. We’re running out of room,” Bogusz said of the existing location at 455 N. Walnut St. Bogusz, who worked for a […]

A new group of owners has taken over the former Crows Mill Pub and reopened it as The Library Pizza and Sports Bar. The building at 1220 Toronto Road has been a bar and music venue since 1976, although it has operated under various names and owners over the decades. “We’re rebranding, and we will […]

After several years of selling her line of athleisure wear online and via pop-up shops and wholesale, Rachel Rodriguez has opened a brick-and-mortar location. Inspira opened its doors earlier this month at 3438 Wabash Ave., part of a shopping center that includes Hae’s Bakery & Coffee Shoppe and another boutique, Better With Bubbli. “I started […]

Vondra Social House, located in a historic building across from Lincoln’s home, is holding a soft opening today. Owners Eric and Sierra Farrell held a ribbon cutting Nov. 18 and plan to begin offering a limited dinner menu while they wait for delivery of a walk-in cooler that will allow them to expand the offerings […]

Don Smith Paint Co. has come full circle, with former owner Richard Scott announcing plans to officially reopen the longtime business on MacArthur Boulevard later this week. Scott operated the business from 1999 until 2019, when he sold it to Nate Tierney. However, Scott still owned the real estate at 1724 S. MacArthur Boulevard and […]