Sweet Basil Café closed suddenly in August, but the former restaurant in Prairie Crossing won’t remain vacant for much longer. A mother-daughter team plans to launch Harvest Kitchen and Bar, serving American classics with a twist, at 4241 Conestoga Drive. “We’ll have classics like pancakes, eggs and sandwiches, but we want the dishes to be […]
Columns
Midwest-Family to sell Springfield radio stations
Woodward Communications, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire four radio stations from Mid-West Family that serve the Springfield marketplace: WNNS-FM, WQLZ-FM, WMAY-FM and WMAY-AM. WCI previously acquired four radio stations from Neuhoff Media that also serve the Springfield area WXAJ-FM, WFMB-FM, WCVS-FM and WFMB-AM. That transaction was completed Oct. 1. Related “We are excited […]
Joan Bartolon receives First Citizen Award
The First Citizen Award committee has selected Joan Bortolon as the 62nd recipient of the Springfield area’s prestigious First Citizen Award. As board president of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, Bortolon has played an instrumental role in honoring local veterans by providing them with memorable, no-cost trips to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials […]
Wingstop to open second Springfield location
Wingstop has a second Springfield location in the works, this time on the north end. A building permit has been filed with the city of Springfield for a tenant build out at 2724 N. Dirksen Parkway. There is a vacant 1,525-square-foot suite in the shopping center in front of Wal-Mart that includes Starbucks, Great Clips and […]
Flooring of Springfield relocates, expands
Flooring of Springfield has expanded its operations and consolidated the business into one location at 510 Bruns Lane. “We needed a bigger location; we’re busier than we’ve ever been,” said owner Jagdish Singh. The flooring business, which began in 2008, initially had its retail showroom at 2205 Wabash Ave. and a warehouse at Jefferson Street […]
The Flower Factor opens in Springfield
Hank Cronister’s floral experience ranges from doing arrangements for royal weddings to running a flower shop in the rural town of Pittsfield, and he has now opened The Flower Factor at 401 South Grand Ave. “I’ve been in the floral industry for the past 25 years,” Cronister said. “For many years I did this part-time; […]
Building permits – Nov. 4 – Nov. 10
ILCARRICOSIX LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2430 N. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Richards Construction and the value of the project is $500,000. The Plaza on White Oaks LLC % The Real Estate Group received a commercial remodel permit for 2937 West White Oaks Drive. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the value of the […]
Myers Building to go up for auction
The iconic Myers Building in downtown Springfield, which has been in the same family for three generations, could soon have a new owner. “It is going up for auction,” said Michael Myers, a retired Springfield attorney who is one of the 15 family members who have partial ownership of the building. The commercial real estate […]
Café Moxo to reopen, but not downtown
As recently as a couple of months ago, owner Mark Forinash was still hoping to be able to reopen Café Moxo in its original location. In an Aug. 29 Illinois Times article, Forinash said his goal was to be back open at 411 E. Adams by the end of the year. The restaurant operated there […]
Building permits – Oct. 28 – Nov. 3
White Oaks Plaza LLC % Simon Property Group received a commercial remodel permit for 2801 S. Veterans Parkway. Contractor is MDS Builders Inc. and the project is valued at $240,000. D.E.R. JR LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1617 Jefferson St. Contractor is Joyner Construction Services and the project is valued at $55,000. Spring […]
New owner discusses plans for Gabatoni’s reopening, menu
The meatloaf helped make a match. William “Bill” Pope said he was not a customer of Gabatoni’s, but got to know the owner, Rosalie Beck, because she came into his restaurant, Charlie Parker’s Diner, on a regular basis. “She was here every Wednesday and got meatloaf to take home with her,” Pope said. “I found […]
Best Life Counseling Services is expanding
Melanie Jesse opened Best Life Counseling Services in 2019, and the business is now in the midst of a significant expansion for both its staff and space. “In 2020, right after things opened back up, Melissa McCulloch, my good friend who I had worked with off and on for many years, joined the practice,” said […]

