High expectations
The small-scale, $8 million marijuana cultivation center expected to open in June on Springfield’s northeast side would be the largest site of its kind in the state, and perhaps the nation, to produce beverages infused with cannabis and hemp oil. So says Christopher Stone, a Springfield-based cannabis entrepreneur and managing partner of CoPack Industries, 3451…
Fairgrounds Café opens on Peoria Road
Fairgrounds Café has opened at the site of the former Jungle Jim’s Café, which was a landmark on the north end and Route 66 for more than three decades before closing in January 2023. Jack Ahmedi and Buka Nuhiji purchased the property at 1923 Peoria Road in August and have extensively remodeled it. The couple had…
Frito-Lay distribution center slated to be built in Springfield
A distribution center employing 150 to 200 full-time workers at a warehouse the size of almost four football fields would be built along Interstate 55 near the Chatham exit, based on a proposal Springfield zoning officials will consider June 20. Local economic development officials told Illinois Times they don’t yet know who would operate the…
Cured Catering breaks ground on new facility
Cured Catering is expanding again, this time by building a new facility in Dawson. Owners Brian and Melissa Reilly, who started the business in 2017, held a May 22 groundbreaking at 10076 Old Route 36 in Dawson. Horve Builders is constructing a 10,000-square-foot building that will serve as the headquarters for Cured Catering’s operations. The…
Building permits – May 20 – May 26
Salt and Light Rejuvenation Inc. received a commercial building permit for 3471 Freedom Drive. Contractor is Joyner Construction Services Inc. and the project is valued at $650,000. D.E.R.JR LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1713 W. Jefferson St. Contractor is SEI Builders and the project is valued at $800,000. Terell Adetunji received a commercial…
U.S. Postal Service delays decision
While delays within the U.S. Postal Service are not usually applauded, one made this month by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was celebrated in Springfield. The Postal Service has chosen to pause until January moving some functions of Springfield’s packaging and distribution center to St. Louis. This is part of a national endeavor to consolidate processing…
Lawsuits for Lincoln Tower Apartments
Structural problems have festered for years at Springfield’s tallest apartment building, but court action to fix at least one of the issues at Lincoln Tower Apartments could be coming in the next few months. The situation – including an inadequate number of working elevators and the city-mandated closure of the deteriorating underground parking garage –…
Jay Roszhart to become CEO of Springfield Memorial Hospital
The Springfield Memorial Hospital board of directors has approved Jay Roszhart as the next president and CEO of the nonprofit hospital. Roszhart, who currently serves as president of the Memorial Health Ambulatory Group, will assume the role on July 1. “I’m honored by the opportunity to lead a hospital that has such an impact in…
Best Places to Work to be held May 23
Springfield Business Journal and United Community Bank invite the business community to attend this year’s Best Places to Work reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, May 23. The event will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at United Community Bank, 1900 W. Iles Ave. There is no cost to attend, thanks to the sponsorship of UCB.…
Airport seeks rezoning to facilitate future redevelopment
Residents of the Val-E-Vue subdivision near Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport say they are relieved the airport altered a plan to change about 92 acres from residential to industrial zoning. The proposed rezoning for the land, which acts as a buffer between the subdivision to the south and the developed part of the airport, “could potentially…
Marcus Sanner joins SP Creativity
Marcus Sanner has joined SP Creativity as art director, responsible for providing artistic vision, design and creative for SP Creativity and its clients. SP Creativity is a full-service, creative boutique working with a range of industries. The firm, based in Springfield, has expertise in brand development, collateral, print and digital advertising, social media management, websites and…
Blackburn College selects next president
Larry K. Lee has been selected as the next president of Blackburn College, following a comprehensive national search and the unanimous recommendation by the presidential search committee and the board of trustees. Lee will succeed Dr. Gregory J. Meyer and begin his role on July 1. Lee currently serves as the vice president for finance…
Building permits – May 13 – May 19
Sixth Street Properties LLC % Mario A. Perrino received a commercial remodel permit for 214 S. Sixth St. Contractor is Howl & Bay Inc. and the project is valued at $330,000. Federated Department Stores Inc. % Tax Dept. received a commercial remodel permit for 2501 Wabash Ave. Contractor is Wall 2 Wall Interior Finishes LLC…
A backlog of licensing applications
Back in April, the executive director of the American Nurses Association Illinois, Susan Swart, told my associate Isabel Miller that advanced practice registered nurses are losing their jobs because of ongoing and severe state licensing delays. Swart said some of those nurses are waiting “a year to 18 months” to get their licenses from the…
Golden Hour Bake House to open café downtown
After getting her start at the Old Capitol Farmers Market, Alli Donaldson is transitioning Golden Hour Bake House to a brick-and-mortar location downtown. Donaldson began selling baked goods at the Farmers Market in May 2021, and last August she told SBJ that she was “eyeing some storefronts and looking at taking that next step.” While…
Charro Mexican Restaurant opened May 20
Charro Mexican Restaurant opened May 20 at 2500 Sunrise Dr., just off South Dirksen Parkway. The family-owned business started in the St. Louis area and also has locations in Taylorville and Decatur. Earlier this year, owner Ezequiel Camacho purchased the building that formerly operated as Springfield Char House and remodeled it for a fourth Charro’s…
Nominate a young professional for Forty Under 40
Do you know an outstanding young professional who deserves to be recognized? The July issue of Springfield Business Journal will feature 40 leaders who are under the age of 40. Nominees must reside and/or work in Sangamon or Morgan County. The selectees’ career paths, educational background and community affiliations are varied. You can expect to…
New ownership for Ice Deli
Springfield’s iconic Ice Deli has new owners and a new look. “We took it over at the beginning of the year,” said Eric Creviston, who also owns Springfield Monument and several related businesses in Rochester, Petersburg and Havana. “The Ray family owned it previously, but their kids were all grown up and they were ready…
Matthew Hutton joins Wellman Financial Services
Matthew Hutton has joined Wellman Financial Services as a financial adviser. The firm, located at 6300 S. Sixth Street Frontage Road East, includes Brandon Wellman and his staff, Heather Wellman and Yvonne Anderson. Hutton has been working in the personal financial industry in various capacities for more than 14 years and has been a certified…
Building permits – May 6 – May 12
Meijer Store LTD Partnership received a commercial accessory structure permit for 4200 Conestoga Drive. Contractor not listed. Project valued at $100,000. Roland Law received a commercial permit for 1815 W. Jefferson St. Contractor is Vandonbergh Excavating and the project is valued at $60,000. Legacy Pointe Dev. Co. LLC received a commercial permit for 3951 S.…
Jeff Jurgens named Bloomington city manager
The city of Bloomington recently announced the appointment of Jeff Jurgens as its new city manager. Jurgens began his tenure after taking the oath of office on May 6. A central Illinois native, Jurgens brings a wealth of experience in municipal management and a deep understanding of the region, having previously served as a partner…
Springfield-area Ace Hardware stores to change ownership
Ace Retail Holdings is acquiring Bishop Ace Hardware, a 13-store chain in central Illinois. Bishop Ace currently owns and operates two Ace Hardware stores in Springfield (214 N. Walnut St. and 1600 Wabash Ave.), one in Chatham (1200 North Main St.) and in in Jacksonville (900 W. Morton St.) in addition to nine other stores…
Renovations, repairs ramping up at state fairgrounds
Construction crews and Illinois State Fair staff are working hard to finish up renovations to the grounds as the countdown to the 2024 fair continues. The Illinois State Fair hosts a plethora of construction projects, including phase two renovations to the Illinois State Fair Coliseum and restoration to the Multi-Purpose Arena. “Spring means construction here…
Coble Animal Hospital has new ownership
A longtime Springfield veterinary practice has new ownership as of May 1. Dr. Joan Saner Reeder, who has worked at Coble Animal Hospital for 23 years, purchased the practice from Dr. Frank Coble. His father, Dr. Porter Coble, founded the vet clinic in 1941. “Frank was my mentor for many years, so I’m very excited…
New ownership for Yellow Bird Coffee House
Yellow Bird Coffee House has new ownership, but patrons shouldn’t expect any major changes. “The most important thing right now is to uphold the Yellow Bird standards; we want all the fans to know that there’s nothing to be afraid of,” said Nicole Watts, who purchased the business along with Barb Binkley as of April…
Two Springfield Family Dollar stores closing
Family Dollar is closing two of its four Springfield stores as part of nationwide cutbacks for the discount retailer. In March, the parent company of Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores announced it would close approximately 1,000 locations across the U.S., citing inconsistent revenue due to inflation. Profit expectations for the fourth quarter of 2023…
A state tax on services?
Gov. JB Pritzker unexpectedly moved away last week from his long-standing opposition to taxing services, saying he didn’t want to start taking ideas off the table as lawmakers search for ways to fund and reform the Chicago region’s mass transit system. A major business group predictably pushed back. As you may know, Chicagoland’s mass transit…
Building permits – April 29 – May 5
Nu Tran received a commercial remodel permit for 3848 Wabash Ave. No contractor listed. The project is valued at $55,000. Binninmeyer LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 212 S. Fifth St. Contractor is CAD Construction and the project is valued at $335,500. First & Madison LLC received a commercial demolition permit for 215 N.…
217 Taco, Nacho & Margarita Week continues through May 5
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo for a whole week, April 29-May 5, and explore the amazing taco and nacho dishes area chefs have created at these participating restaurants. Many locations will also offer signature Tequila Herradura or el Jimador margaritas. Find more details at 217FoodWeek.com and download your 217 Taco, Nacho & Margarita Week passport to…
State to enforce law aimed at ending lending discrimination
In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make credit available in all parts of the communities they…
Attorney trio in trouble
A Springfield lawyer was asked to resign from her city job this month after allegations of unethical behavior came to light from her time working for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. At the heart of the controversy is Salena Young and the two men with whom she lives; both also worked with her…
Building permits – April 22 – April 28
River Birch Christian Village LLC received a commercial remodel permit 4012/4016 Cockrell Lane. No contractor listed. The project is valued at $133,000. IAR Plaza Inc. received a commercial remodel permit for 522 S. Fifth St. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $1.8 million. 1700 W Washington St 28000135 LLC doing business…
Crave Cookies coming to Springfield
Crave Cookies is coming to Springfield, becoming the second gourmet cookie company to open a franchise in the capital city this year. The first was Crumbl Cookies, which opened in February in Parkway Pointe near the west-side Walmart. Now construction is underway at 3808 Octavus Via, a 1,560-square-foot suite in a shopping center next to…
WILD Canine Rescue to open upscale thrift store
WILD Thrift & Sniff, an upscale thrift store with all proceeds going to support WILD Canine Rescue, is slated to open in June. “This is an offshoot of WILD that will add additional fundraising support,” said Jill Egizii, president of WILD Canine Rescue. “It’s not an uncommon practice for rescues to open thrift stores, and…
Make your workspace more modern
The modern workspace is undergoing a significant evolution. Companies are rethinking and reimagining their offices to align with new priorities – from flexibility and collaboration to sustainability and employee wellness. We will continue to see emerging office design trends as businesses create spaces tailored to their unique needs and company cultures. If you’re looking at…
Top legal industry trends for 2024
Law is known as one of the industries most resistant to change, with many law firms sticking to traditional methods – but not without a good reason. These traditions have built some of the biggest practices that we know today, and they undeniably influence other firms to stick to what they know best. All that…
Artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing
Generative artificial intelligence tools have been silently innovating how businesses market to consumers in big ways over the last year. However, proposed new AI disclosure laws in Illinois may soon shine a light on these practices. It should come as no surprise that AI has rapidly infiltrated countless areas of life. Whether you have noticed…
The tax rules of giving
People frequently ask me how much they can give to someone at any one time. The answer for most of us is any amount you want. The federal government imposes a transfer tax on all American citizens and residents, but there is an exemption of $13,610,000 per person as of Jan. 1, 2024. This amount…
Register for the Little Miracles 5K Walk/Run
HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital is encouraging people of any age or ability to participate in the Little Miracles 5K Walk/Run. All proceeds from this event will go towards the ongoing needs of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. John’s. “The Little Miracles 5K offers an opportunity for friends, families and colleagues to…
Free trauma-informed care training
Free training on trauma-informed care is available for people who work in community-based organizations, health care or education settings or who work closely with people in vulnerable populations. The training will be offered both virtually and in-person thanks to a partnership between Memorial Health, S. Consulting LLC and Heritage Behavioral Health. In Sangamon County, there…
Supporting women at work
I think a lot about how women make workplaces better, as well as the opportunities and challenges women face. When consulting with individuals and organizations about management challenges, I try to balance organizational, systemic solutions with empowering individuals to take ownership of their situations. Focusing only on organizational solutions robs individuals of their power and…
Seoul 4 Soul
Dining options, especially for lunch, have been dwindling in downtown Springfield, which is why I was happy to hear that Seoul 4 Soul had recently opened on the second floor above Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. on Adams Street. Seoul 4 Soul advertises itself as a “Korean fusion bistro with vegan and vegetarian options.” It also…
Women for Women
When former Springfield Mayor Karen Hasara visited Hilton Head, S.C., nearly 20 years ago, she was inspired by a group she came across. “I saw a photo and article about a women’s giving circle there and thought it would work here, she recalled. “It seemed like a good fit for us in the Springfield area…
Ava Carpenter-McPike
Ava Carpenter-McPike is a force of nature and an inspiration. She has dedicated her adult life to working with at-risk youth who often don’t have a voice for themselves and have endured traumatic events. She puts her heart and soul into advocating for them and helping them change the course of their lives for the…
Jennifer Bettis
Jennifer Bettis grew up in Quincy, where volunteering and giving back were staples in her family’s life. After graduating from Quincy University with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Bettis moved to Springfield to attend graduate school at University of Illinois Springfield. She was part of the Graduate Public Service Internship program and earned a…
Kayla Edwards
Kayla Edwards, managing partner at Express Employment Professionals, credits her parents for instilling in her the drive to succeed. “My parents had high expectations of what I did in school, sports and how I practiced. My mother emphasized academic excellence and my dad encouraged me in sports,” she said. Edwards now encourages other people to…
Women of Influence 2024
Related Related Related For 21 years, Springfield Business Journal has partnered with Security Bank for the annual Women of Influence program, which honors local women for their contributions to the Springfield area community. Selected by their peers through submitted nominations, all have made important contributions to the community at large. We hope you enjoy reading…
Q&A with Pat Joyce
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job? I was born in Chicago, and we moved to Oak Park when I was 10. I caddied for a couple of years when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school and made decent money for a 15-year-old kid. When I was…
Navigating trends in the staffing industry
As the workforce shifts in response to changing trends, Springfield staffing agencies are navigating these changes across a variety of industries. Changing government regulations, remote work, artificial intelligence, immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion are forces prompting change in local agencies this year. New legislation for temporary workers Temporary staffing agencies are regulated by the…
Illinois Supreme Court rules against staffing agencies in antitrust case
Staffing agencies – a fast-growing industry that employs nearly a million Illinoisans – are not exempt from the state’s antitrust law, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in January. The decision comes three-and-a-half years after Attorney General Kwame Raoul sued a trio of staffing agencies, alleging they used their mutual client to coordinate no-poach agreements, which…
