The first freestanding Taco Bell in Chatham could be open by the end of the year. The restaurant is under construction at the site of the former Hardee’s on North Main Street. LucWork Enterprises Inc., a Peoria-based Taco Bell franchise owner, will be the restaurant’s owner and operator. “Obviously weather can play into it, but […]
Comings & Goings
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Red Raven Candle Co. opens in Chatham
Colleen Walraven crafts blueberry waffles topped with whipped cream, banana cream pies and strawberry shortcakes that look mouthwateringly realistic – but actually are made out of wax. Walraven is the owner of Red Raven Candle Co., which opened up shop in Chatham on Oct. 10. The store carries the dessert-lookalike candles along with other items […]
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Four Leaf Accounting opens Springfield office
An Illinois native, Lisa Stevenson moved to Phoenix after college, where she eventually started NPO Accountants, a firm specializing in supporting nonprofit organizations. Now, more than two decades later, she’s moved back to Illinois and merged her firm with another Phoenix-based accounting firm. The merger of NPO and Four Leaf Financial & Accounting created a […]
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Spirit Christmas coming to Springfield
Spirit Christmas, the holiday-themed sister shop to Spirit Halloween, will be opening a store in Springfield next month as part of a national expansion of the brand. The current Spirit Halloween store at 3329 S. Veterans Parkway, in the former Party City building, will swap seasonal motifs and transition into a Spirit Christmas store in […]
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New bookstore opening downtown
Continuing a local trend that flies in the face of conventional wisdom about physical media, a new bookstore specializing in literary fiction, contemporary nonfiction, poetry and graphic novels will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.. Three Ducks Bookstore is located at 414 E. Monroe St. in downtown […]
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A third 7 Brew for Springfield
7 Brew Coffee opened its first Springfield location in May, broke ground in July for a second location and has now filed a zoning petition for a third store. Dennis Pronto of Brew Horizons LLC is listed as the contract purchaser on a rezoning petition filed for 3150 S. Sixth St. seeking to reclassify it […]
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Taqueria El Pollo to close
The Taqueria El Pollo restaurant on West Jefferson will be closing at the end of the month after six years in business. The high cost of doing business in the current economy prompted the closing, said Julio Barrenzuela, who has served as a business liaison for small business owners in the area and works with […]
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Former Norb Andy’s under contract
The mansion built by Virgil Hickox in 1839 at 518 E. Capitol Ave. has been vacant since Anchors Away, the most recent restaurant to occupy the space, closed in 2023, but it is now under contract to a buyer who wants to renovate the historic building. It once housed the Sangamo Club, as well as […]
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Longview Community Bank building branch in Springfield
A Mt. Pulaski-based bank with Springfield ties is planning to build its first local branch on Wabash Avenue. The bank at 3741 Wabash Ave., near the Masons’ Grand Lodge, will be Longview Community Bank’s eighth location. Cam Pepper, chief marketing officer for Longview, said planning for the new branch is in the early stages and […]
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Henson Robinson acquires Clow Controls
Henson Robinson Company has acquired the assets of Clow Controls and Service Inc., a commercial HVAC controls and service company headquartered in Decatur. Henson Robinson is an employee-owned company providing commercial HVAC, plumbing, roofing, site utilities, building automation and facility services. Clow Controls delivers HVAC controls, building automation systems and related services to commercial and […]
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Midas slated for MacArthur Boulevard
A longtime local owner and operator of Midas franchises has acquired the former Hiller Automotive property on MacArthur Boulevard — with an eye toward opening a new Midas location on the site. The property at 2595 S. MacArthur Blvd. has been vacant since Hiller Automotive closed at the end of 2025. Kenton Childs, who has owned […]
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Salvation Army store on Wabash to close
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 […]