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Jerzi Rae’s Boutique closing

Jerzi Rae’s Boutique is closing shop this week after just a year in its Springfield location. Friday will be the last day of business for the fashion boutique located at 1927 W. Iles Ave. Owner Sommer Henrikson relocated Jerzi Rae’s from its former location in Williamsville to Springfield in April 2025, hoping that moving to […]

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Bespoke Café and Kitchen opening

A new breakfast, brunch and lunch spot will be opening soon in the former Ugly Restaurant and Bar location on Wabash Avenue. Renovation is underway to transform the storefront at 2312 Wabash Ave. into the Bespoke Café and Kitchen. Bespoke is owned by Irfan Djaferi, his wife Dia Djaferi, and his brother-in-law Neti Nuhiji. Nuhiji, […]

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Downtown Subway closes

Just over a year after it reopened under new ownership, the downtown Subway has closed again. In March 2025, ECI Investments purchased six of the eight locations owned by longtime operator Vern Evans after he retired following 25 years in the central Illinois market. Four of those acquisitions were in Springfield: 607 E. Adams St. […]

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New ownership, name for auto repair shop

A simple mistake brought the new owners of Ruggless Auto Service Center to the Springfield area. Tisa Sawin and Evan Moentenich purchased Ruggless from Roger Ruggless late last year and have since rebranded the auto repair shop as Monkee Wrench Auto.  But moving to Springfield wasn’t part of the couple’s original plan. Sawin and Moentenich […]

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Merrill Lynch leaving downtown

After more than four decades downtown, Merrill Lynch is moving its Springfield office west.The financial services firm is relocating from 611 E. Monroe St., where it has beenlocated since 1981, to 3161 W. White Oaks Drive. The approximately 20 employeeswho work in the office will officially make the move this week. Diane Wagner, regional spokesperson […]

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West side strip mall in the works

A new strip mall is under development on West White Oaks Drive, just west of Kohl’sand White Oaks Plaza. The development at 2901 West White Oaks Drive will feature six units of about 1,800square feet each. Prep work currently is underway, and ground could be broken at thesite “at any time,” according to Jerry George […]

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Kay Jewelers relocating store

Kay Jewelers will be closing its store in White Oaks Mall to move to a new location just across Veterans Parkway in White Oaks Plaza. The new Kay Jewelers will open April 29 in the space at 2851 S. Veterans Parkway formerly occupied by Sally Beauty Supply. The mall location will close at the end […]

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Salt & Light Wellness to open

Dr. Deepa Cyriac-Thirunelli is preparing for the grand opening of her Salt and Light Wellness center. Salt and Light, located at 3471 Freedom Drive, recently wrapped up a two-week soft launch, during which friends and supporters — or as Cyriac-Thirunelli refers to them, her “founders circle”— had the opportunity to sample the wellness center’s offerings. […]

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