The Salvation Army Family Store on Wabash Avenue will be closing later this month,but Captain Matt McCluer, corps officer with the Salvation Army of Sangamon County,said the organization hopes to reopen the store in a new Springfield location. The thrift store’s last day in business at the 1762 Wabash Ave. location will be Oct. 24.McCluer […]
Comings & Goings
Posted inColumns
Dutch Bros coming to Springfield
Another national coffee chain will be making its Springfield debut with the planned opening of a Dutch Bros coffee shop on North Dirksen Parkway. The new Dutch Bros will be located at 2343 N. Dirksen Parkway, the former home to Hickory River Smokehouse. Adam Bell, a partner with Core Acquisitions, said the coffee shop should […]
Posted inColumns
A transition for The Railyard
Seeking to spend more time with their growing family, Tim and Emily Lewis are stepping back from managing The Railyard — the outdoor food venue they have operated since February 2025. Brad Martin, who runs Oakview BBQ in one of the four food-vendor shipping containers at the Railyard, will be taking the reins at the […]
Posted inColumns
New bookstore will support community organizations
Cathy Strukely and Tricia McGann are turning the former Fifth Street Flower Shop location into a Christian bookstore, with the goal of spreading kindness and providing financial support to other community organizations. The friends, who met in a church community group, are opening Kindness + Co. at 739 S. Fifth St. “One of the things […]
Posted inNews
Bus Stop bar back on track after flooding
The grand opening of a new bar at the corner of Fifth and Monroe in downtown Springfield was set for Aug. 28 but had to be scuttled when a water main broke and flooded the entire block of Monroe between Fourth and Fifth streets the night before. Undeterred, the owners of The Bus Stop have […]
Posted inColumns
New hibachi restaurant on north end
A new hibachi restaurant is moving into the space formerly occupied by Papa Murphy’s Pizza on Sangamon Avenue. Hibachi & Wok Cuisine is coming to 1712 E. Sangamon Ave. An opening date has not been determined yet, but the restaurant should be open by the holiday season, according to Alexander Chen, store manager. Chen said […]
Posted inColumns
Lee O’Keefe joins Dimond Bros. Insurance
Paris, Illinois-based Dimond Bros. Insurance has expanded its Springfield presence with the recent acquisition of the Lee O’Keefe Insurance Agency. Lee O’Keefe has relocated its operations from its offices on Chatham Road to Dimond Bros. Springfield office at 3931 Wood Duck Drive. The agency will continue to operate under the Lee O’Keefe name, and owners […]
Posted inColumns
Stingers Sports Bar opens
Mike and Shelly Pawelczak, owners of Goodfellas Pub, have opened a new sports bar on Maple Avenue. Stingers Sports Bar opened Sept. 12 in the former Third Base Sports Bar location at 410 W. Maple Ave., next to Springfield and Jerome. The Pawelczaks purchased the property in January of 2025 and have been renovating the […]
Posted inColumns
America Ambulance acquires Dispatch Medial Transport
Springfield-based America Ambulance Service Inc. has acquired Dispatch MedicalTransport Inc., a New Berlin-based provider of non-emergency transport services.Susan Zappa, owner of America Ambulance, said the acquisition will bring together twocompanies whose services align well. America’s ambulances answer 911 calls andprovides medical transport, while DMT provides wheelchair and stretcher vantransportation when a high-level of medical care […]
Posted inColumns
A third Scooters Coffee for Springfield
Local franchise owners Marcus and Lauryn McGlasson are opening a third Springfield Scooters Coffee location on Sangamon Avenue. The McGlassons have purchased the former PNC Bank building at 1949 E. Sangamon Ave. and plan to retrofit it to become a Scooters Coffee shop. Lauryn McGlasson said they are expecting a quick turnaround on the building […]
Posted inColumns
New owner for Cocoa Blue Chocolates
Cocoa Blue Chocolates has a new owner — someone who is a familiar face to regulars at the Rochester chocolate shop. Joshua Becker, who opened Cocoa Blue in 2013, has sold the shop to longtime employee Mary Boesdorfer. Boesdorfer has worked at Cocoa Blue for nine years, starting at the store’s former Springfield location in […]
Posted inColumns
Hickory Point Bank being acquired
The parent company of Hickory Point Bank and Trust is being acquired by an Indiana-based bank in a $111 million deal. First Illinois Corp., the Decatur-based holding company for Hickory Point, will be merging “with and into” First Financial Corp., the holding company for First Financial Bank, according to an announcement from the companies. Hickory […]