Local restaurateur Jeff Griswold has opened a new dining establishment in the former Roots Latin Grill space on Wabash. Levity Bar and Grill officially opened Aug. 1, serving hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood as well as “a lot of wine and martinis,” Griswold said. “It’s higher-end food in a casual atmosphere,” he said. Griswold previously […]
Columns
Posted inBuilding Permits
Building permits – July 27 to Aug. 2
Connie Martin Baker LLC & Stearns Investment Co. received a commercial permit (addition) for 2801 Lindbergh Blvd. Contractor is Baldovin Co. and the project is valued at $1.3 million. AMM Springfield LLC received a commercial permit (new construction and parking lot) for 3200 Northfield Drive. Contractor is HR Green Development and the project is valued […]
Posted inColumns
Cathy Schwartz named inaugural recipient of Good Golly Miss Molly Kindness Award
The Mid-Illinois Communications Association has named Cathy Schwartz of Springfield as the inaugural recipient of the Good Golly Miss Molly Kindness Award, which honors individuals in central Illinois who demonstrate exceptional kindness and a commitment to uplifting others within the community. The award was established in memory of communications professional and former MICA president Molly […]
Posted inColumns
LA Fitness closes
Springfield’s only LA Fitness location is closing, with local gym FitClub acquiring the location’s membership base and equipment. Friday, July 31, is the last day of business for the LA Fitness located at the White Oaks Mall at 2501 Wabash Ave., according to an employee at the location. Local LA Fitness memberships will transfer to […]
Posted inColumns
New location for Aunt Lou’s
After two years downtown, Aunt Lou’s Soul Food restaurant is moving west to the Town & Country Shopping Center on MacArthur Blvd. Saturday will be the restaurant’s last day serving customers at its 524 E. Monroe St. location. Aunt Lou’s hopes to be up and running at its new location at 2413 S. MacArthur Blvd., […]
Posted inColumns
New owner for Arizona Tile
Local flooring company Arizona Tile Co. has a new owner as its founders, Cary and Sheryl Daugherty, head toward retirement. Zach Mast, who has worked in the local flooring industry for 13 years, purchased the company in a deal that closed on Wednesday. Mast said he saw the Daugherty’s listing seeking a new owner for […]
Posted inBuilding Permits
Building permits – July 20 to July 26
Hy-Vee Inc. received a commercial permit (addition) for 2115 S. MacArthur Blvd. Contractor is Hy-Vee Construction and the project is valued at $1.5 million. RKN IL Holdings LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2241 S. First St. Contractor is Mabus Building & Home Improvement and the project is valued at $280,000. Frederick Coombe received […]
Posted inProfessional Development
The risk (and assurance) of avoiding risk
Picture two leaders sitting in the same meeting:The first hears a bold new idea and immediately thinks, “This is exciting. It could transform our business.”The second hears that same idea and thinks, “That is a crazy idea, and it will never work.”Too often, we celebrate the first leader as innovative and quietly dismiss the second […]
Posted inRestaurant review
The Spot 90’s bar & grill
If you grew up in the 1990s, a visit to The Spot 90’s Bar & Grill is likely to trigger a wave of nostalgia that approaches sensory overload. Located on Ginger Creek Drive on Springfield’s west side, The Spot pays homage to a decade that gave us everything from grunge music and compact discs to […]
Posted inAsk an Attorney
Environmental issues in commercial real estate
Environmental issues regarding real estate may seem commonplace these days, but the implications have real-world consequences for the uninformed.Imagine you’ve bought your first piece of income-producing property. After several months, you discover the prior owner dumped contaminants out the back door, and now the Environmental Protection Agency wants you to clean up the property. It […]
Posted inMedical News
Ceremony honors faculty leadership, pioneers of academic medicine
The June 29 investiture ceremony at the Memorial Learning Center in Springfield recognized three faculty leaders whose careers have shaped surgery, plastic surgery and emergency medicine across central and southern Illinois. Dr. Michael Neumeister was invested as the J. Roland Folse, MD, Endowed Chair of Surgery. Dr. Nicole Sommer became the Elvin G. Zook, MD, Endowed Chair […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Supporting local charities with local dollars
While the American Business Club of Springfield is part of the national AMBUCS nonprofit organization, its impact has been locally focused for 100 years.“Springfield volunteers raising Springfield dollars impacting Springfield lives,” said Kevin Lust, one of the club’s recent presidents.Lust said ABC of Springfield is “dedicated to inspiring people to conquer challenges related to mobility […]