The location of the former Loukinens’ on 4th restaurant is set to go on the auction block at a foreclosure sale. The property at 517 S. Fourth St., across the street from the Executive Mansion, entered into foreclosure on Feb. 25, according to a public notice. The judgment amount is listed as $182,828. According to […]
Comings & Goings
Fact or fiction: Is Golden Hour Bake House closed?
It appears the sun has set for Golden Hour Bake House, just over a year after the business opened a brick-and-mortar location. Customers of the downtown bakery and café discovered the doors locked on Saturday, Feb. 28, with no signage posted to explain the closure during regular business hours. While the business closed for a […]
Aumann Auctions and Cory Craig Auctioneer to merge
Aumann Auctions and Cory Craig Auctioneer have announced a merger of the two Midwest auction companies. Founded in 1965, Cory Craig Auctioneer is a second-generation, full-service auction company serving clients throughout Illinois and surrounding states. Aumann Auctions has conducted auctions locally as well as across the U.S. and Europe since 1962. “Cory Craig has built […]
Hiller Automotive closes
Hiller Automotive has closed its Springfield location. A representative from Hiller Automotive’s shop in Pekin confirmed that the auto repair shop at 2595 South MacArthur Blvd. closed at the end of 2025. There are no plans to reopen the Springfield location, according to the representative. The property, which includes an approximately 7,000-square-foot building with seven […]
New Porsche Center opens
Isringhausen Imports has opened its new Porsche Center in downtown Springfield. Located at 100 E. Madison St., across from the existing BMW facility, the new facility is built to Porsche’s latest Generation 5 design standard and showcases the brand’s architectural vision. It features a panoramic glass showroom anchored by a 180‑inch LED video wall, an […]
Downtown building slated for renovation
One of only five buildings on the Old State Capitol Plaza that remains from Lincoln’s time may soon be getting a new owner and a makeover. The building at 518 E. Adams St. has been vacant since the last tenant, Di Piero’s Sicilan Cucina, closed at the end of 2024. Owner Pete Praia opened the […]
New dispensary planned on South Dirksen
If he had his druthers, Ward 3 Ald. Roy Williams Jr. would rather see something besides a proposed new recreational cannabis dispensary going into 1401 S. Dirksen Parkway, a currently abandoned property in his ward. “But I don’t like empty buildings or empty houses,” Williams said. So, albeit with some reluctance, Williams said he would […]
Francesca’s closing all locations
The Francesca’s store in White Oaks Mall will be closing later this month after the women’s fashion retail chain filed for bankruptcy. Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey earlier this month and plans to close all its stores nationwide. An employee at the White Oaks location confirmed that Feb. 25 would be […]
Grand opening for Bob’s Discount Furniture
Bob’s Discount Furniture held a grand opening Feb. 13 for its Springfield location in Southwest Plaza, one of three central Illinois stores to open this month. In August, the national retailer began renovation work at 3251 S. Veterans Parkway. The former Bed Bath & Beyond space had been vacant since early 2023, when it was […]
Smokey Bones part of bankruptcy filing
The parent company of restaurant chain Smokey Bones has filed for bankruptcy restructuring. Fat Brands Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late January. In addition to Smokey Bones, Fat Brands operates restaurant chains such as Fazoli’s, Johnny Rockets, Ponderosa Steakhouse, and Fatburger. Fat Brands is majority owner of the subsidiary Twin Hospitality Group, which […]
Springfield MCL closes abruptly
The MCL Restaurant and Bakery on Wabash Avenue has closed. A sign on the door of the restaurant, located at 2151 Wabash Ave., stated that the restaurant would be permanently closed as of Feb. 13. “Thank you all for the support over the years,” the sign reads. A recording on the restaurants call-in menu line […]
Fire and Ale closing
Sherman restaurant Fire and Ale has announced it will be closing this weekend after 14 years of business. Zac Copelin, who owns the restaurant along with business partner Justin Misiorek, said that, like many independent restaurants, Fire and Ale has faced significant financial challenges that ultimately made it impossible for the restaurant to continue operations. […]

