Like many teenagers, Caleb Canada’s first formal job was working at a McDonald’s. But instead of making it a short-term arrangement, Canada stayed with the company and is now the vice president of operations for Capital City McDonald’s, a franchisee with 16 stores throughout central Illinois. “I started out when I was 16 and worked […]
Comings & Goings
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Westside Market to launch in June
A group of five women who are all small business owners with interests on the west side of Springfield are launching a Westside Market that will take place the first Sunday of each month, starting in June. Celeste Malham, who owns FED Kitchen, which recently merged with Papo’s Café, said she had a vision for […]
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Loukinens’ on 4th closing permanently
Loukinens’ on 4th is closing again, this time for good. Co-owner and chef Keith Loukinen has announced Saturday, May 3, will be the last day of operations. “With the changes that have occurred in the dynamic of downtown Springfield these past few years, coupled with the skyrocketing cost of doing business, he has deemed it no […]
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Pro Com Services sold to St. Louis-area company
Pro Com Services of Illinois, a Springfield-based debt collection company, has been acquired by CACi of St. Ann, Missouri. “We do still have a local workforce; however, the local office (on Constitution Drive) has closed,” said Connie Matrisch, the former Pro Com owner who is now vice president of client relations for CACi. “There were […]
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Insurance agency opens Springfield office
Globe Life Liberty National Division has opened an office in Springfield. The company, which provides life and supplemental health insurance, is based in Texas. The business traces its roots back to 1900 and was previously knowns as Liberty National Life Insurance. “I was tasked with helping open an office in Springfield,” said Dolan Barnes, general […]
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Wienerschnitzel seeks expansion to Springfield
Wienerschnitzel, a fast-food chain that specializes in hot dogs, is hoping to find a franchisee that will allow the company to expand into Springfield and throughout central Illinois. The only Wienerschnitzel restaurant in the state is in Champaign, so Ted Milburn, director of U.S. franchise development for the company, said there is plenty of room […]
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Woodward Communications acquires Mid-West Family radio stations
Woodward Communications, Inc. has completed the acquisition of four radio stations serving the Springfield marketplace from Mid-West Family: WNNS-FM, WQLZ-FM, WMAY-FM, and WMAY-AM. This acquisition follows WCI’s October 2024 purchase of four other Springfield radio stations from Neuhoff Media: WXAJ-FM, WFMB-FM, WCVS-FM, and WFMB-AM) Kevin O’Dea, market manager for Woodward’s Springfield marketplace, will continue his role and […]
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Springfield Lice Clinic opens
After a “mortifying” experience with her own daughter, Megan Stoller decided to open Springfield Lice Clinic to help other parents in a similar situation. “Last summer, I was checking my then-3-year-old’s hair for ticks, but what I found wasn’t a tick,” said Stoller. “I kind of freaked out. We were traveling and I didn’t want […]
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New downtown bar, Fluid, to open in May
Downtown Springfield will get a new addition to the bar scene when Duane Williams and Jaime Estell open Fluid next month. “I’ve been a hairdresser for 26 years and owned a couple of salons,” said Williams. “I turned 50 this year, and I decided instead of buying a sports car for a midlife crisis, I’d […]
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Former funeral director launches Memorial Tributes by Cory Brown
Cory Brown hopes to use his years of experience in the funeral business to simplify the planning process for grieving families with the launch of his new business, Memorial Tributes by Cory Brown. Brown spent 13 years working at area funeral homes before taking a job in 2022 as director of music for the Dominican […]
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Honey Baked Ham plans Springfield expansion
The Honey Baked Ham Company has set its sights on Springfield. “We started to look at markets across the county that we felt were the top markets that we wanted to be in, and Springfield is at the top of the list,” said Eric Edwards, who handles franchise development for the Georgia-based company. “The location, […]
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Primo Designs acquires Decatur company
Primo Designs, a Springfield-based business providing branded wearables and promotional items, has acquired Star Silkscreen Designs, a similar company based in Decatur. Star Silkscreen, founded in 1983 by Karen Ragee, will maintain operations at its Decatur facility with Ragee continuing to lead the location. Primo Designs, 2417 North Grand Ave. East, was founded in 1985 by […]