Columns

The ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb did not emerge from a cornfield Tuesday afternoon at Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe. But Springfield’s version of Field of Dreams became another step closer to reality when Gov. JB Pritzker came to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $70 million development just off MacArthur Boulevard. […]

The Smokey Bones in Springfield closed abruptly Tuesday, although the restaurant may not stay shuttered for long. A sign posted on the door at 2660 S. Dirksen Parkway reads: “This location is permanently closed. Smokey Bones has ceased operations at all locations. We thank you for all the years of letting us serve you.” However, […]

Cousin Eddie’s Sports Bar and Grill has new owners and a new look. Brothers Brandon and Erik Turley bought Cousin Eddie’s, located at 1951 W. Monroe, from Will Hoecker at the beginning of March. They then closed the bar and grill and went to work giving the place a facelift. The Turleys recently reopened the […]

The owners of the Lumpia House restaurant and food truck are opening a new restaurant with a menu designed around the Filipino grilled chicken dish known as inasal. Mcinasal Filipino Grilled Chicken will be opening in the first or second week of June at 1501 Wabash Ave., according to Rolando Cabral, who owns both Lumpia […]

Cainan Barnett, former marketing director for Isringhausen Imports, is launching a new nonprofit to help local small businesses and community organizations create and maintain their digital presence without breaking the budget. Blok by Blok Inc.  builds custom websites for small businesses and nonprofits for a one-time flat fee of $1,000. Barnett, who has spent his […]

Knob Hill Landscape Company has acquired Designer Landscapes, marking the second time the business has recently changed hands. Patty Brockmeyer founded Designer Landscapes in 1985 and operated the Farmersville-based business for four decades before selling it in September to Bill Wells, who also owns Illinois Paving. “Since then, he’s had some health issues and made […]

Long John Silver’s held a ribbon cutting April 17 for its new location at 3112 S. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. The newly constructed restaurant with a modern design was built between Hilton Garden Inn and Shangri-La Dispensary, near LJS’s previous location in the Capital City Shopping Center. A $1 million building permit was filed in […]

Buying and selling coins and cards is in Tim Hadley’s genes. Hadley’s late father operated a coin shop in Peoria for many years, and Hadley is now carrying on the family tradition, opening up Hadley’s Cards and Coins in Springfield. The shop at 1051 Wabash Ave. carries U.S. and foreign coins and currency, basketball, baseball […]

The Creek Pub & Grill in Chatham has completed a significant expansion. Owner Perry McAtee said he removed the wall behind the bar and remodeled the adjacent area, adding about 2,200 square feet to allow for increased offerings. The new space, known as “The Creek-Easy,” will be reserved for 21 and over to allow for […]