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Manufacturing operations moving to Clinton

Scott Reeder

A manufacturer with more than 100 workers is closing two of its Springfield facilities and moving operations to Clinton after a dispute with the city over building-code violations. Mike Hoyle has owned Kwik-Wall for 19 years, a company that makes movable partitions for conference and convention facilities. Hoyle used an LLC to purchase the former […]

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Placing a value on pets

by Sarah Delano Pavlik

Historically, pets have been treated like any other personal property. Unless your pet was a prized purebred or a service animal, the law placed very little value on it. Pets had no rights, and the law did not take into account their best interests. But a lot of that has changed. If your pet was […]

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Helping others reach the American dream of home ownership

by JANET SEITZ

Larry Robinson is constructing a better life for others one house at a time. He founded Springfield’s J&L Properties in 2010 and recently formed J&L Foundation to focus on revitalizing poverty-stricken neighborhoods, particularly on Springfield’s east side where he grew up. “Most of my properties are in lower-income neighborhoods,” said the 41-year-old Robinson, “and about […]

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St. John’s Foundation welcomes 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Champions

by SBJ Staff

Two Springfield-area former patients of HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital have officially assumed their roles as 2025 local and national champions for the Children’s Miracle Network. Jase Hendricks, 9, of Rochester, and Lyndie Jones, 11, of Chestnut, will serve as ambassadors for the 170 U.S. and Canadian member children’s hospitals for the next year by […]

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CD’S BBQ

by Thomas C. Pavlik Jr.

CD’s BBQ is a family-owned restaurant near the intersection of North Grand Avenue and Eighth Street. The “C” is for Cecil Turner, who’s been barbecuing virtually his whole life, while the “D” is for his wife, Doris Turner, who helps prepare the food when she isn’t at the Statehouse performing her duties as a senator. […]

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Speak up or shut down?

by Kelly Gust

With a background in business psychology, I have to admit that one of my guilty pleasures when out and about in the community is to observe and study organizational culture. Are the employees chatting and helping each other? Do they seem happy? Are the manager’s actions supportive and upbeat, or terse and punitive? Between client […]

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Joann to close all stores nationwide

by Michelle Ownbey

Area residents were holding out hope that the Joann fabrics store in Springfield would survive the retailer’s planned closures, but the company announced Feb. 24 that it will close all of its 831 stores nationwide. In January, the Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in a year, citing sluggish […]

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Building permits – Feb. 17 – Feb. 23

by sbjadmin

Island Bay Yacht Club received a commercial remodel permit for 78 Yacht Club Road. No contractor listed. The project is valued at $150,540. Taynya Ruby received a commercial remodel permit for 29 Oakbend Court. Contractor is Repair Masters Construction and the project is valued at $10,000. West Side Christian Church received a commercial remodel non-structural […]

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Former Hooters property to be auctioned

by Michelle Ownbey

The former Hooters restaurant in Springfield is getting ready to go up for auction. Commercial real estate website Loopnet.com lists 3241 Horizon Drive as scheduled for auction Feb. 24-26, with a starting bid of $190,000 for the 4,262-square-foot building. The property is listed with broker Daniel Elliot of SRS Real Estate Partners, a Dallas-based commercial real […]

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