Photography for Social Media seminar
Are you interested in learning the best techniques for getting great photos for social media? Whether you own a restaurant, retail store or work in the service industry you can take images ready to post online on your phone that will help sell your business to your followers. Local First is partnering with Kate Spencer…
Milk and Honey Fresh Market to reopen in a new location
Milk and Honey Fresh Market will reopen soon at a new location. Owner Jenny Loftus is planning on a June 1 opening at 413 E. Adams, between Café Moxo and The Elf Shelf, in a space formerly occupied by the Sangamon County Democratic Party. Loftus says while she will not be carrying any dairy, meat…
Cocoa Blue Chocolates’ Springfield location closed
Cocoa Blue Chocolates has closed their Springfield location at 4015 Yucan Drive, which owner Joshua Becker says will allow him to focus more on the original location in Rochester. On a post on the business’ Facebook page, Becker explains, “It’s something I’ve been thinking about the last 3 to 4 months, and it was a…
Fact or Fiction: The fate of Bergner’s at White Oaks Mall
Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., the parent company of Bergner’s, announced late Tuesday that it has accepted a bid from liquidators that will close its stores nationwide. Several employees of the local Bergner’s store confirmed they were told yesterday that the Springfield location will close in 10-12 weeks. On February 4, 2018, Bon-Ton and its subsidiaries filed…
Systemax’s social media seminars continue
Local marketing firm Systemax is offering a workshop on “Facebook Insights – Building an Audience of Advocates,” the second of a series of six social media seminars designed to address questions that business owners may have about how to best promote their products and services. This session will help people using Facebook for their business…
Building permit roundup – Apr. 18
BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Apr. 9, 2018 and Apr. 15, 2018. AT&T Mobility (a lessee) obtained a commercial building permit to upgrade the existing telecommunications facility at 1215 Bunn Ave. Fulton Technologies, Inc. is the contractor and the project is valued at $20,000. Springfield…
Allied Design Consultants moving to MacArthur Boulevard
Last fall, Springfield Business Journal reported that the boutique clothing and gift store District 23 would be moving into 830 South Grand, the location occupied for many years by The Wardrobe. Now architectural firm Allied Design Consultants, Inc. has moved into District 23’s former location at 1413 S. MacArthur Boulevard. Allied Design was previously located…
5 Star Nutrition coming to Springfield
5 Star Nutrition, a retailer focusing on health and wellness products, is preparing to open a Springfield location at 2476 Wabash in Sherwood Plaza. The company has more than 80 locations nationwide, primarily on the east coast and throughout the Midwest, including a store in Peoria and one in Champaign that opened last year. Based…
Building permit roundup – Apr. 11
BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Apr. 2, 2018 and Apr. 8, 2018. Rogers Supply Company obtained a commercial building permit for addition work at 1710 S. 9th St. The contractor is Joyner Construction Services and the project is valued at $120,000. TJX Companies, Inc. obtained…
HSHS sky bridge over Ninth Street to be installed
The installation of the HSHS St. John’s Hospital sky bridge over Ninth Street will begin at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11. Once complete, the sky bridge will connect HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital to the new outpatient center for women and children that will house providers from SIU Medicine, HSHS Medical Group and St.…
15th Annual Women of Influence Awards
Security Bank and Springfield Business Journal are proud to sponsor the 15th annual Women of Influence. This program honors local women for their contributions to the Springfield area community. This year’s recipients are Dr. Clarice Ford, Rev. Margaret Ann Jessup, Aruna Mathur, Polly Poskin, and Angela Sowle. Dr. Clarice Ford currently serves as the vice…
Feldco Windows, Siding and Doors opening Springfield location
Feldco Windows, Siding and Doors originally opened for business 40 years ago in Chicago, and the original showroom in Evergreen Park still serves Chicago area residents. The company is now headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois and has expanded to include operations in Rockford and Peoria, along with three locations in Wisconsin and a new location…
Scott Dahl appointed director of Convention & Visitors Bureau
Mayor Jim Langfelder has announced Scott Dahl as his appointment to be the next director for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. Dahl has spent 25 years in association, lodging and tourism industries, generating record revenues in both lodging and association sectors. Since 2002, Dahl has served as the Director of Membership for the Illinois…
CEO vs. Sharks event
On Monday April 23, the Sangamon CEO program will host its annual Shark Tank-style event “CEO vs. Sharks.” Forty-eight Sangamon CEO participants — local high school seniors interested in entrepreneurship — have teamed up to pitch their business ideas to local investors and entrepreneurs at the BOS Center in downtown Springfield. Fans of the TV…
“Marketing Dos and Don’t’s”
For business owners who would like to get tips about their marketing, Local First is holding a training called “Marketing Dos and Don’t’s” on Tuesday, April 10 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Engrained Brewery & Restaurant. At this 90-minute class, Custom Cup co-owner Kendra Boesdorfer will teach participants the virtues and pitfalls of up-selling versus discounting.…
Bridget Moore has assumed the role of mortgage lender at Town and Country Bank
Town and Country Bank announced that industry veteran Bridget Moore has assumed the role of mortgage lender in the office located at 1925 South MacArthur in Springfield. “We are very excited to have Bridget as part of the Town and Country family. Her decades of experience and broad knowledge of loan programs and grants combined…
Waggener Chiropractic and Wellness Center opens for business in Piper Glen
Waggener Chiropractic and Wellness Center recently opened for business at 7012 Kingsmill Court, in the Piper Glen area. Samantha Mayberry-Waggener, or Dr. Sammy as she’s affectionately called by her patients, is already well-known in the local area. Originally from Rochester, she attended Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Missouri before completing an internship in Virginia.…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Mar. 26, 2018 and Apr. 1, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Apr. 4 BY STACIE LEWIS Aldi Foods obtained a commercial building permit for work at the 2731 N. Dirksen Parkway location. The contractor is Mariottini Construction and the project is valued at $1,300,000. Illini Disposal, Inc. obtained a commercial demolition permit for a roof tear-off at 1545 N. 11th Street. Tony…
Fact or Fiction: Is Sweet Charlie’s opening in Springfield?
A whole new kind of ice cream is coming to Springfield as Sweet Charlie’s prepares to open its first location in Illinois. Two weeks ago, Springfield Business Journal broke the news that Gypsy Soul was going to be the first tenant in the new retail building at 3450 Liberty Drive, across from Sky Zone. Now, it is…
Illinois Capital Innovation Competition Awards
The University of Illinois Springfield, Innovate Springfield and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine will host the first Illinois Capital Innovation Competition Awards. The awards will be presented during a ceremony from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018, at the UIS Student Union. The awards aim to identify, celebrate and engage area innovators in the Sangamon County area…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Mar. 19, 2018 and Mar. 25, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Mar. 28 BY STACIE LEWIS Rush Enterprises obtained a commercial building permit for 3441 Gatlin Dr. for an addition and remodeling. The contractor is Cambridge Companies, Inc. and the project is valued at $1,000,000. Springfield Clinic obtained a commercial demolition permit for 800 N. 1st, 3rd floor. O’Shea Builders is the…
Backyard Leisure prepares to open Springfield location
Backyard Leisure, a company based out of Terre Haute, Indiana, is preparing to open a store in Springfield, which will be their second location. They have purchased the building at 1434 Wabash Avenue that formerly housed Divine Designs and are currently moving in inventory. “We have every intention of being open in the next couple…
Illinois Realtors make their mark on history
By Rachel Johnson Fifty years ago on April 11, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act, making it illegal to discriminate in renting or selling property based on race, color, religion or national origin. Illinois and Chicago, in particular, were key areas struggling for equality at the time. With the swell of immigrants…
Full-service print shop marks 50 years
Family-owned Emerson Press of Divernon has deadlines to meet By David Blanchette Many things have changed during the 50 years that Emerson Press has been in business. But two things have remained the same – it’s still a family-owned and operated business, and there are still deadlines to meet. Leonard Emerson operates the business that…
Enos Park prepares to welcome new YMCA facility
By Scott Faingold Few would disagree that the 55-year old YMCA building at the corner of Fourth Street and Cook in Springfield has seen better days. Addressing this, a plan was unveiled at a well-attended March 13 meeting of the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association at Third Presbyterian Church to replace the old facility with…
Clarion Consulting wins $100,000 prize from Microsoft
Last week, a Springfield man who started his own company just three years ago and remains the sole employee took home a $100,000 prize from Microsoft by winning a global developer competition. More than 5,000 software developers participated in the Dream.Build.Play 2017 competition and Stellar Conquest, a game designed by Shaun Tonstad with Clarion Consulting…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Mar. 12, 2018 and Mar. 18, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Mar. 21 BY STACIE LEWIS Jeffery Alans obtained a miscellaneous building permit for a seasonal greenhouse at 1602 W. Wabash. The contractor is Jeffery Alans and the project is valued at $8,000. Little Angels Child Care obtained a commercial building permit for work at 101 E. Allen St. Carolina Contractors…
Nominations for Women of Influence now open
Each year in May, Security Bank partners with Springfield Business Journal for a program recognizing local women for their achievements. Women of Influence honors local women for their contributions to the Springfield area community. The recipients are profiled in the May issue of the Business Journal and recognized at a special ceremony and reception. These…
Gypsy Soul, Gypsy Tribe and Gypsy Dreamer consolidating.
The recently constructed retail building directly across from Sky Zone will soon be getting its first tenant. Sue Schwartz, owner of Gypsy Soul, Gypsy Tribe and Gypsy Dreamer, plans to consolidate all three of her locations into one 5400 square foot store. “We don’t have a concrete date yet, but we’re shooting for the end…
Steve French moves to TROXELL
TROXELL has announced the addition of Steve French to the sales team. French has been in the automotive and insurance industry for more than 20 years. After French’s previous employer made the decision to cease writing a majority of their business in Illinois, TROXELL took the opportunity to bring him in as part of the…
Social Media Seminars
Local marketing firm Systemax will be offering a series of six social media seminars designed to address questions that business owners may have about how to best promote their products and services. “We’ve been getting a lot of questions from customers after we speak at conferences on the topic of social media. They want additional…
Fact or Fiction: What’s really happening at Legacy Pointe?
By Michelle Ownbey Several weeks ago, new signs at Legacy Pointe appeared announcing 2019 openings for The Outlets at Springfield and Springhill Suites by Marriott. On March 19, Fox Run Restaurant & Lounge shared photos of the signs on Facebook and said, “Getting some new neighbors soon.” The images are now widely circulating on social…
