Columns

A new group of owners has taken over the former Crows Mill Pub and reopened it as The Library Pizza and Sports Bar. The building at 1220 Toronto Road has been a bar and music venue since 1976, although it has operated under various names and owners over the decades. “We’re rebranding, and we will […]

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has awarded Bloom Wine Bar & Florals an infrastructure grant of $245,000, which the owners plan to use to expand the business. The downtown Springfield wine bar was the only Sangamon County business to receive a grant. Bloom Wine Bar opened in November 2023 at 2 S. […]

After several years of selling her line of athleisure wear online and via pop-up shops and wholesale, Rachel Rodriguez has opened a brick-and-mortar location. Inspira opened its doors earlier this month at 3438 Wabash Ave., part of a shopping center that includes Hae’s Bakery & Coffee Shoppe and another boutique, Better With Bubbli. “I started […]

Vondra Social House, located in a historic building across from Lincoln’s home, is holding a soft opening today. Owners Eric and Sierra Farrell held a ribbon cutting Nov. 18 and plan to begin offering a limited dinner menu while they wait for delivery of a walk-in cooler that will allow them to expand the offerings […]

Don Smith Paint Co. has come full circle, with former owner Richard Scott announcing plans to officially reopen the longtime business on MacArthur Boulevard later this week. Scott operated the business from 1999 until 2019, when he sold it to Nate Tierney. However, Scott still owned the real estate at 1724 S. MacArthur Boulevard and […]

The moving company Two Men and a Truck is preparing to relocate its headquarters to a larger west-side property that will allow for significant expansion. “It gives us an opportunity to expand our services, as well as more room for office space for our staff and more parking for trucks,” said business development manager Travis […]

Three friends from Bloomington have formed a business partnership to bring a new golf simulator to Springfield. Lee McFarland, Ryan Tarter and Sam Napolitano are new franchisees for X-Golf, a California-based company with more than 130 locations across the U.S. McFarland said the trio all enjoy playing golf and have patronized the X-Golf in Bloomington, […]