After 35 years, Building Blocks Preschool will be closing its doors at the end of the year. Owner Devi Harper said the business never fully recovered from the pandemic-related shutdowns and the teacher shortage that followed. “If you’ve watched the national news, you’ve heard the price of day care is going up and it’s getting […]
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GeekGirl Technologies opens on South Grand Avenue
Shelly Roby founded her computer repair business in 1991 but opened her first brick-and-mortar location earlier this month at 426 South Grand Ave. “I’ve been doing this since I was in high school,” said Roby. “I originally called the business Roby Computer Services and worked out of my house.” Roby said about 12 years ago […]
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Dumb Records to open second location at White Oaks Mall
Dumb Records is opening a second location in White Oaks Mall on Friday, Nov. 1. Brian Galecki, who co-owns the business with Jeff Black, said Dumber Records, as it will be known, will have the same merchandise as the downtown location but allow the business to expand its events. “Customers can expect more of the same […]
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Building permits – Oct. 21 – Oct. 28
Wilmarth Renewals LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 916 S. Eighth St. Contractor is JR Hinchey and the project is valued at $20,000. B&D Pope Properties LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 300 E. Laurel St. Contractor is Creasey Construction and the project is valued at $30,000. SDCO Properties LLC TR received a […]
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Cheri Plummer launches her own insurance agency
After many years of working in the industry, Cheri Plummer has launched her own insurance agency. CLP Insurance Solutions officially opens Nov. 1 at 3050 Montvale Drive, Suite C. Plummer most recently worked for Lee/O’Keefe Insurance Agency, specializing in commercial insurance. “It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to be […]
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Shayna Gibbons Keeley Boutique opening Nov. 1
Shayna Gibbons Keeley Boutique is opening Nov. 1 on Springfield’s west side, and the owner said she plans to offer “affordable, everyday fashion with a trendy twist.” Keeley, a Springfield native, said she has been in retail management for more than 15 years. She most recently worked as a district manager for Chico’s FAS, Inc., […]
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Kayla Graven takes job with the state of Illinois
Kayla Graven has a new job with the state of Illinois, working for the Department of Agriculture as the domestic marketing manager. “I grew up on a farm, so it’s really getting back into the skills that I’m passionate about,” Graven said. “I wasn’t looking for a new job, but it’s just been my dream […]
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Advocates seek support for drug price control board
A consumer advocacy group continued its push this month to drum up support for legislation to establish a state board to regulate the price of many prescription drugs in Illinois. Citizen Action/Illinois, along with other groups, convened a town hall meeting in Rockford Oct. 8 – the fifth in a series of such meetings the […]
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Work hard, play hard
I fancy myself a pretty funny person. In my house we don’t tell dad jokes; the punny zingers are usually delivered by mom and are met with exaggerated eye rolls (and for an especially good one, exasperated sighs) by my 12 and 14-year-old sons. I often use humor to lighten a tense mood, ensure others […]
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A worldwide company that gives back locally
Locally founded Bunn-O-Matic Corporation is a worldwide beverage equipment company, and its coffee makers are commonplace globally. But there’s another aspect to what they dispense, and that’s corporate citizenship. As is stated on BUNN’s website, “At Bunn-O-Matic, being a good corporate citizen is embedded in our primary mission, ‘To act with purpose to make a […]
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Yummy Bowl
I’ve heard about Yummy Bowl for quite some time but had never visited until now, which was my loss. Most of the comments I heard were about how crowded it is and how much creativity diners used in loading their bowl – but more on that later. My friend and I planned to have lunch […]
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Three businesses receive $20,000 awards from Isringhausen DRIVE Grant
Isringhausen Imports has announced the recipients of the 2024 Isringhausen DRIVE Grant, a program designed to support local entrepreneurs in establishing their businesses within downtown Springfield. This year, $20,000 grants have been awarded to three local business owners: Jacob Dinardo of Arrowroot Coffee, Kimsimone Manning of A Taste of Seoul and Alli Donaldson of Golden Hour […]