The Wakery opened downtown a little over two years ago, but owner Elizabeth Wake said the business has not proven to be sustainable, despite a strong public reception and winning several awards. “A lot of times a business closes and people say, ‘I didn’t even know that place existed,’ so then you know it’s more […]
Comings & Goings
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Springfield Gymnastics prepares to open new location
A year after beginning construction, Springfield Gymnastics Center is preparing to move into a new facility on the west side that is nearly twice as large as its previous space. Springfield Gymnastics Center opened in September 2017 at 3040 Hamlin Parkway, but temporarily relocated to the former Shop ‘n Save property on the corner of […]
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Tacology 201 closes
Tacology 201 was launched as the second version of the popular Mexican restaurant, which also experimented with bar partnerships at one point, but owner James Hamilton has announced that his time in the restaurant business has come to an end. On June 24, a post on Tacology’s Facebook page said the restaurant would be closed […]
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The Fountain on 66 opens in former Sonrise Donuts building
The small brick building at 1101 S. Ninth St. has a new name, a new motif and a new menu. A retro diner, The Fountain on 66, has opened in the building that many Springfield natives still remember as Sonrise Donuts. It opened in 1947 and lasted more than four decades, until owner Don Greenslade […]
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Coltin Cunningham launches Alpha Dog Inspections
Coltin Cunningham says he hopes his new business, Alpha Dog Inspections, will help others avoid the challenges that his family had to face. “It was a seven-year saga with our little girl,” Cunningham said. Shortly after he and his wife brought their youngest child home from the hospital, she began experiencing numerous health problems and […]
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Jerk Shop Go closes
Jerk Shop Go has been through several changes during the five years the business has been open, but now the Caribbean restaurant is ceasing operations. “We will be closing our doors as of June 23, effective immediately,” owner Kadejia Berkley told SBJ. Berkley originally opened Jerk Shop Go in a small space downtown at 213 […]
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Wellman Financial Services and Cornerstone Financial Services merge
Three certified financial planners have joined forces to create Navigator Wealth Strategies, a Springfield-based financial planning firm serving central Illinois. Brandon Wellman opened a new Prudential Financial office in 2017, originally operating out of leased space on Wabash Avenue. Four years later, he purchased a building at 6300 S. Sixth St. to allow for expansion […]
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Vondra Social House to open this fall
A former restaurant in a historic Springfield neighborhood has new owners who plan to reopen it with a different focus. Eric and Sierra Ferrell purchased the property at 724 E. Edwards St. in April for $110,000, according to Sangamon County tax records. The historic two-story building just south of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site […]
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Simplex sells to Canadian company
Simplex, one of Springfield’s largest manufacturing companies, has been sold to a Canadian-based company for $28 million. Simplex was founded in 1934 in Burlington, Iowa, by Michael Debrey, according to the company’s website. A Hungarian immigrant and self-taught inventor, Debrey introduced multiple innovations to the electrical engineering field. The company later operated out of East […]
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Entertainment complex with food court under construction in Legacy Pointe
A new entertainment complex and indoor/outdoor food court is under construction in Legacy Pointe. A group of local developers has broken ground for Legends Entertainment, a 46,000-square-foot complex that will house a food court with five local restaurants, two bars, a bowling alley and gaming for both kids and adults. While plans for the new […]
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Groundbreaking for Friendly Honda expansion
Friendly Honda of Springfield will hold a groundbreaking ceremony June 20 for a major renovation and expansion of the dealership at 2500 Prairie Crossing Drive. The year-long renovation aims to modernize the dealership’s facilities, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. Key aspects of the renovation include a modernized showroom, upgraded service center with additional service bays […]
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New ownership for The Track Shack
The Track Shack has been owned and operated by the same family since 1959, but that is about to change. Joe Jannazzo, who has owned the iconic bar and grill at 233 E. Laurel St. since 1979, told SBJ that he is selling the business to Todd Rauthenberg. Rauthenberg most recently served as the general […]