Fans of MJ’s Fish & Chicken Express will soon be able to patronize the restaurant again, at least for carryout orders. In June 2022, MJ’s shifted its business model to focus on catering and special events, which owner Jerome Taylor said was largely due to staffing issues and needing more flexibility for his family. Now, […]
Comings & Goings
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Scooter’s Coffee opens first Springfield location
Scooter’s Coffee has officially come to Springfield. The location at 2935 Clear Lake Ave. held a soft opening on Dec. 19, while a second store is under construction at 1740 Wabash Ave., an outlot of the Chatham Square shopping center. Franchise owners Marcus and Lauryn McGlasson are Pleasant Plains residents who opened their first Scooter’s […]
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Springfield’s Chabad Center purchases former Red Cross building
Rabbi Mendy Turen is calling it a Hanukkah miracle. The Chabad Jewish Center of Springfield has purchased a building at 1045 Outer Park Dr. to be its new home. The edifice commonly known as the Red Cross building, since the main floor used to house the Springfield chapter of the American Red Cross, is undergoing […]
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Chipotle opens second Springfield location
Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened a second Springfield location at 2325 N. Dirksen Parkway. It includes a drive-thru, in addition to the indoor dining area. The building formerly housed an HSHS Priority Care. The fast casual Mexican company, based in California, has approximately 3,000 locations throughout the U.S. Chipotle opened its first Springfield location in […]
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Beef ‘O’Brady’s closes Springfield location, citing staffing shortages
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Springfield has closed its doors, less than a year after opening at the corner of Wabash Avenue and Veterans Parkway. Joe Rupnik, the area franchisee for the family-style sports pub, opened Beef ‘O’Brady’s Jan. 24, making it the second Illinois location for the Florida-based franchise. The company operates 142 locations in […]
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Marine Bank being acquired by Morton Community Bank
Marine Bank, headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, will merge into Morton Community Bank in the second quarter of 2023, adding 11 locations to the footprint of Morton Community Bank and bringing the total assets of the employee-owned community bank to about $5.75 billion. The transaction will also involve the acquisition of Marine Bancorp, Inc., the holding […]
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Magnolia Lane Home Décor and More to relocate to Wabash Avenue
After nearly a decade of operating from the same location, Magnolia Lane Home Décor and More is preparing to relocate. Marci Ridle purchased the business, originally known as 6th Street Home Décor and More, in April 2013 and moved into the current location at 3600 S. Sixth St. in July of that year. The business […]
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B’s Creative Studio moves to new, larger location
Brandy Fletcher opened B’s Creative Studio in March of this year and has already moved to a larger location. She initially opened at 2915 S. MacArthur Blvd. in a space next to Penny Lane. “We do a lot of classes for kids and adults, and we quickly outgrew that space,” Fletcher said. “Plus, we had […]
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Brian Lauer retiring, closing AB Lauer Jewelers
After more than 40 years in the jewelry industry, Brian Lauer, owner of AB Lauer Jewelers, is retiring and closing the business at 1927 W. Iles Ave. in Springfield. AB Lauer Jewelers has operated since 2009, but the history of the family business dates back to 1910 when Stout’s Jewelers began. Brian’s father, Art Lauer, […]
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Wildly Rooted Boutique opening downtown
Three small business owners and artisans have teamed up to open Wildly Rooted Boutique in downtown Springfield. The store will hold a grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 26. Callie Estes, owner of Jo Jo’s Jewelry; Jessica Lynn, owner of Green Haven Co. and One Knotty Maker in Jacksonville; and Courtney Wright, owner of Cloth + […]
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Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market opens downtown
After more than a year of renovation and restoration in the space at 308 E. Adams St., Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market is holding a grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 26. A ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. and the business will be open until 10 p.m. that day. A Sip ‘n […]
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Noodles & Company reopens Springfield location
Fast-casual restaurant Noodles & Company has reopened at 2575 Wabash Ave. after closing its Springfield location in August due to staffing shortages. “Noodles & Company franchise operator IWI Ventures made the difficult decision to temporarily close to refresh the restaurant, team and service provided to Springfield’s Noodles fans on August 4,” according to a written […]