The meatloaf helped make a match. William “Bill” Pope said he was not a customer of Gabatoni’s, but got to know the owner, Rosalie Beck, because she came into his restaurant, Charlie Parker’s Diner, on a regular basis. “She was here every Wednesday and got meatloaf to take home with her,” Pope said. “I found […]
Comings & Goings
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Best Life Counseling Services is expanding
Melanie Jesse opened Best Life Counseling Services in 2019, and the business is now in the midst of a significant expansion for both its staff and space. “In 2020, right after things opened back up, Melissa McCulloch, my good friend who I had worked with off and on for many years, joined the practice,” said […]
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Building Blocks Preschool to close
After 35 years, Building Blocks Preschool will be closing its doors at the end of the year. Owner Devi Harper said the business never fully recovered from the pandemic-related shutdowns and the teacher shortage that followed. “If you’ve watched the national news, you’ve heard the price of day care is going up and it’s getting […]
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GeekGirl Technologies opens on South Grand Avenue
Shelly Roby founded her computer repair business in 1991 but opened her first brick-and-mortar location earlier this month at 426 South Grand Ave. “I’ve been doing this since I was in high school,” said Roby. “I originally called the business Roby Computer Services and worked out of my house.” Roby said about 12 years ago […]
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Dumb Records to open second location at White Oaks Mall
Dumb Records is opening a second location in White Oaks Mall on Friday, Nov. 1. Brian Galecki, who co-owns the business with Jeff Black, said Dumber Records, as it will be known, will have the same merchandise as the downtown location but allow the business to expand its events. “Customers can expect more of the same […]
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Shayna Gibbons Keeley Boutique opening Nov. 1
Shayna Gibbons Keeley Boutique is opening Nov. 1 on Springfield’s west side, and the owner said she plans to offer “affordable, everyday fashion with a trendy twist.” Keeley, a Springfield native, said she has been in retail management for more than 15 years. She most recently worked as a district manager for Chico’s FAS, Inc., […]
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Three businesses receive $20,000 awards from Isringhausen DRIVE Grant
Isringhausen Imports has announced the recipients of the 2024 Isringhausen DRIVE Grant, a program designed to support local entrepreneurs in establishing their businesses within downtown Springfield. This year, $20,000 grants have been awarded to three local business owners: Jacob Dinardo of Arrowroot Coffee, Kimsimone Manning of A Taste of Seoul and Alli Donaldson of Golden Hour […]
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Changes in the works for Inner Health Spa
Michelle Bullock founded Inner Health Spa in 2014 but now plans to make some changes to the business as of Nov. 1. Located at 1733 S. Fifth St., the business offers a variety of spa and wellness treatments. Bullock is a licensed massage therapist and has another massage therapist on staff, plus an esthetician. However, […]
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Big plans for Clear Lake Avenue
A 38-acre lot the city of Springfield owns along Clear Lake Avenue may become a $38-million complex of municipal warehouses and offices. The city is contemplating erecting a $24 million water distribution facility and a $14 million Public Works building in the 2100 block of Clear Lake Avenue. The matter was slated for consideration by […]
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Making Springfield a distribution hub
A second large warehouse project to receive city approval in the past three months underscores Springfield’s growing footprint in the logistics and distribution industry, local economic development officials say. “It’s a nice diversification of our employment base,” Ryan McCrady, president and chief executive officer of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, told Illinois Times. “We have […]
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Whimsy Tea Company adds lunch menu
Whimsy Tea Company has released its fall menu, which includes soups and sandwiches in addition to the drinks and sweet treats for which the downtown business originally became known. Gordon Davis, who co-owns the business with his wife, Laura, said a menu expansion had been in the works for a while but the June 19 […]
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Velvet & Rosemary opens boutique downtown
Velvet & Rosemary, a boutique specializing in both new and vintage women’s items, is opening a fashion house inside Willow & Birch Salon in downtown Springfield. “This is something you would see in Nashville. It is highly designed, thoughtfully curated and Instagram-worthy,” said co-owner Angela Holland, who also owns the interior design company Broad Strokes […]