Macy’s Inc. announced Jan. 9 it would be closing 66 stores nationwide, including the White Oaks Mall location. It is the only Illinois store slated for closure, although a St. Louis-area location is impacted as the Macy’s in the South County Center is also on the list. Macy’s has been the only department store anchor […]
Comings & Goings
Posted inColumns
Broadgauge owner addresses closure, future plans
Douglas Pope, the person responsible for the award-winning restoration of Broadgauge in Petersburg, said he is hoping to find a new owner to reopen the restaurant and event venue. A Jan. 2 post on the business’ Facebook page said that Broadgauge would close “indefinitely” following three public events already scheduled to take place later this […]
Posted inColumns
David Hilst opens American Family Insurance office
Last year was an eventful one for David Hilst, and 2025 appears to be shaping up the same way. After launching Vyper Transportation last March, Hilst has now closed that business and opened an American Family Insurance office at 3460 Wabash Ave., the headquarters for his previous venture. “My premiums for my trucking business went […]
Posted inColumns
Nesty’s in Rochester to rebrand as Mexican restaurant
Nesty’s Burger Joint opened a second location in Rochester last year, but now the owners have announced plans to turn it into a Mexican restaurant. In a statement posted on the business’ Facebook page Jan. 2, owners Nestor and Megan Lopez wrote: “During this amazing year as part of the fantastic community of Rochester, we […]
Posted inColumns
Myers Building auction postponed
The auction for the Myers Building in downtown Springfield has been postponed, but the goal is still to find a new owner for the building after three generations of family ownership. “We have had a lot of interest in the property, but due to the holidays and some weather-related issues, we decided to reschedule it […]
Posted inColumns
Party City closing all U.S. locations
Party City, the largest party supply store in the U.S., has announced that it will close all of its 800 locations nationwide by Feb. 28. CNN reported that corporate employees were told Dec. 20 that it would be their last day of employment and the company would begin “winding down” operations immediately. The business is […]
Posted inColumns
Big Lots to close all remaining stores
The two Springfield Big Lots stores were spared from a round of nationwide closures that took place earlier this year, but now the company has announced plans to close all of its remaining locations. A statement posted to the Big Lots website Dec. 19 read: “We have made the difficult decision to begin conducting going […]
Posted inColumns
Pritzker endorses hemp regulation bill
More than five years after Illinois began issuing permits for legal production of industrial hemp, Gov. JB Pritzker said he now favors legislation to bring the industry under tighter regulation. At a Dec. 13 news conference in Chicago, Pritzker said in the short time since both the state and federal governments legalized hemp production, a […]
Posted inColumns
Downtown restaurant Di Piero’s to close
Pete Praia is calling it a wrap for his downtown restaurant, Di Piero’s Sicilan Cucina. The upscale Italian restaurant at 518 E. Adams St., on the south side of the Old Capitol Plaza, will close as of Dec. 28. Praia has owned and operated two other Italian restaurants in addition to two pizzerias in the […]
Posted inColumns
Marco’s Pizza closes remaining Springfield store
Springfield’s first – and last – Marco’s Pizza location has closed with the shuttering of the store at 3201 W. Iles Ave. as of Dec. 9. In a Dec. 10 interview with The Pantagraph, McLain Hoogland, president of Hoogland Restaurant Group, cited the rising minimum wage in Illinois as the reason for closing the Springfield, […]
Posted inColumns
CarQuest of Springfield is closing
CarQuest of Springfield is closing, but franchisee Rob Wilburn said it wasn’t his decision. Wilburn said Advance Auto Parts, the parent company, “sent out 200 notices to independent operators like me to close their stores. We’re very disappointed. We had a very profitable business.” Advance Auto Parts released its third quarter financial statement on Nov. […]
Posted inColumns
17-year-old entrepreneur launches Nourish food truck
A young entrepreneur launched a new food truck in November that serves the Springfield area. Nourish is the brainchild of 17-year-old Camille Moorman, who said she uses family recipes for the menu. Moorman described her grandmother as a “huge inspiration” who mentored her. “I have three main items each time I open; I like to […]