Potbelly Sandwich Shop is expanding its Springfield presence with a second location on the west side, and customers won’t even have to wait for construction to be complete. Franchisee Rob Wilbern has signed a lease for 2,000 square feet of the new building under construction at 3061 Wabash Ave. Area developer Steve Zhao is constructing […]
Comings & Goings
New tenant for former MOD Pizza location
Does the area near White Oaks Mall need another fast-food chicken restaurant? Representatives for Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based company specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken, seem to think so. A building permit recently filed with the city of Springfield lists the chain as the new tenant planned for 2401 Wabash Ave., which most recently […]
The Painted Tin Bin moves into Red School Mall
The Painted Tin Bin is bringing paint parties to the Red School Mall. Owner Erin Saxton-Snodgrass said she initially worked for It’s Scrapicated, a metal-fabricating business in town, before deciding to go out on her own about eight years ago. “I had an idea to go to people with a paint party,” she said. “I […]
Estes, Bridgewater & Ogden dissolving accounting firm
The accounting firm of Estes, Bridgewater & Ogden has been in business since 1918, but the current partners are getting ready to go their separate ways. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things, but lack of staffing is the biggest piece of it,” said partner Lori Milosevich. “Public accounting has taken a hit over […]
New downtown business to focus on gourmet baked goods, coffee and wine
A new business in the works downtown plans to offer coffee, wine and gourmet baked goods, whether customers are looking for breakfast, lunch or a late-night snack. Signage has appeared at 227 S. Sixth St. for Schlee’s Gourmet Bakery & Bottle Shop, which is slated to open by the first quarter of 2025. “We wanted […]
Ad Astra to open café
Ad Astra Wine & Tapas Bar is expanding its operations to include extended hours and a more expansive food and drink menu. “We’ve gotten a lot of requests from people who work downtown who wanted someplace casual to take coworkers for lunch or a drink,” owner Kristina Barbee said. “And a lot of people who […]
A Taste of Seoul opening downtown
Seoul 4 Soul has closed less than nine months after opening, but one of the owners is launching a new Korean fusion bistro in its place. In January, Kimsimone Manning and Emily Tylman teamed up to open a restaurant in the upper level of Buzz Bomb Brewing Company at 406 E. Adams St. Manning had previously […]
Sweet Basil owner addresses sudden closure
Billie Dent was waitressing at Sweet Basil Café last month when she and about 20 coworkers learned they were out of work the hard way – Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies arrived and evicted the restaurant from the building. “We had one table of customers in there at the time; we asked if they could finish […]
Joyner Construction to build new apartment complex on west side
After receiving zoning approval from the Springfield City Council, developer Corky Joyner has more than 250 additional apartments in the works for the west side. Joyner is president of Joyner Construction Services Inc., a Springfield general contracting and construction management company. “We have a pretty long waitlist on our two projects on the west side,” […]
The Railyard closes for the season
The Railyard, an outdoor food venue based around shipping containers, has closed for the season. Located at 2442 S. Sixth St., just north of the newly constructed overpass on South Sixth Street, the four shipping containers situated around a 3,000-square-foot outdoor dining space each offer a different menu. There is a taqueria, Texas-style barbecue, Japanese […]
Sixth Street County Market closing, but other grocery options in the works
The County Market on South Sixth Street is closing soon, but the parent company may keep a presence in the shopping center in some other form. “Our lease is not being renewed,” said Gerry Kettler, director of consumer affairs for Niemann Foods, who said the store will be closing in about six weeks. “All employees […]
Filipino street food coming to Springfield
The Lumpia Truck is set to launch in Springfield, and the owners say a brick-and-mortar location serving Filipino street food may not be far behind. Rolando Cabral and his wife, Myrna Balabag, moved to Springfield to work in the medical industry, but their first love is cooking and sharing their favorite native dishes with others. […]

