Cover Story
Best Places to Work 2025
Springfield Business Journal holds a variety of awards programs throughout the year, but Best Places to Work is unique because it requires employees to nominate their own company for recognition. Instead of simply trading their time for a paycheck, these employees realize that their work is serving a larger purpose and they feel valued and…
Bonni Waters retiring from JREDC
Bonni Waters is retiring after nearly three decades with the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation. Her journey with the JREDC began in 1996 as an administrative assistant. Over the years, her role evolved, first to market research analyst and eventually to vice president. Waters has helped to shape the organization’s strategies, ensuring that Jacksonville and the…
Honey Baked Ham plans Springfield expansion
The Honey Baked Ham Company has set its sights on Springfield. “We started to look at markets across the county that we felt were the top markets that we wanted to be in, and Springfield is at the top of the list,” said Eric Edwards, who handles franchise development for the Georgia-based company. “The location,…
Building permits – March 17 to March 23
Memorial Health System received a commercial remodel permit for 701 N. First St. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $4.99 million. Third Monroe LLC % Andrew Fendrich received a commercial remodel permit for 305/307 E. Monroe St. Contractor is Third Monroe LLC % Andrew Fendrich and the project is valued at…
A demolition, planned renovation for Adams Street
Another of the fire-damaged buildings in the 400 block of East Adams Street in downtown Springfield is being demolished, but historic preservation advocates are pleased that the adjacent one will now be saved. The buildings at 417-421 E. Adams St., just east of where the June 19 fire occurred, are owned by a limited liability…
Ed Curtis to retire after 50-year career at Memorial Health
When Ed Curtis arrived at Springfield Memorial Hospital in 1975 as a new nursing graduate, he had no idea he was beginning a 50-year career that would culminate as president and CEO. Curtis, a native of Springfield and a graduate of Lanphier High School, had been inspired to become a registered nurse after witnessing the…
Historic Bunn Farm gifted to Refuge Ranch
Introducing horse care and riding to traumatized children has been proven to be effective therapy. The Refuge Ranch in Rochester utilizes that strategy and will now be able to expand its work due to a generous donation from Glennon and Jan Paul of a seven-plus acre historic farm in Springfield. Refuge Ranch, started by Stephan…
Primo Designs acquires Decatur company
Primo Designs, a Springfield-based business providing branded wearables and promotional items, has acquired Star Silkscreen Designs, a similar company based in Decatur. Star Silkscreen, founded in 1983 by Karen Ragee, will maintain operations at its Decatur facility with Ragee continuing to lead the location. Primo Designs, 2417 North Grand Ave. East, was founded in 1985 by…
Iris & Ivy to close
At 85 years old, Betty Salisbury says she’s finally ready to retire and close Iris & Ivy, the boutique she’s operated for decades. “I started with $50 and a booth at the Country Lace craft mall,” she said of her initial venture with a few other ladies. “We were just looking for something to do.…
Former Sportsman’s Lounge demolished to make way for apartment complex
It’s been more than a year since Sportsman’s Lounge served its last pork tenderloin, and the building at 229 W. Mason St. is being demolished to make way for a new development. The building, originally used as a livery stable, was constructed in the late 1800s. It later became a bar that operated under various…
Vine & Rind to open on west side
Chelsey Ziebler launched Ta Da Catering three years ago, and the business is now expanding to include a brick-and-mortar location with additional offerings. “Vine & Rind will be our storefront for wine and cheese,” Ziebler said. “The front of our space will be a store with wine for sale and a few different kinds of…
DOGE cuts come to Springfield
Springfield business owner John Chiang received a letter March 10 that landlords dread: a tenant is breaking its lease. The tenant is the U.S. government’s Department of Labor, which rents office space on the second floor of the building at 3161 W. White Oaks Drive. The building is owned by Chiang, 82, who also owns…
Four Springfield Subway stores reopening under new ownership
It’s been nearly two months since four of the Subway locations in Springfield closed, but those restaurants are now under new ownership and will be reopening soon. Vern Evans, who was the franchisee for eight Subway locations, retired after 25 years in the central Illinois market. He operated the store at 607 E. Adams St.…
Sinclair to sell WICS as part of package
An asset purchase agreement filed with the Federal Communications Commission outlines Sinclair Television Group’s plan to sell five of its stations to Rincon Broadcasting Group for $29.4 million. According to the agreement dated March 7, Springfield-based stations WICS/WICD will be included in the sale, along with KHQA in Quincy; KTVO in Ottumwa, Iowa; and WVTV…
Sale pending for former fire station
The former fire station at the intersection of Chatham Road and Monroe Street has been vacant for nearly a year, but if things go according to plan it will soon be the headquarters for a Springfield-based property management company. The building at 2051 W. Monroe St. had served as the Springfield Fire Department’s Station 8…
Building permits – March 3-March 9
HSHS St. John’s Hospital received a commercial remodel – non structural demolition permit for 800 E. Carpenter St. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $2,500.
E.P. Boutique closing March 8
The last day of operations for E.P. Boutique will be Saturday, March 8. The store at 4302 W. Wabash Ave. will be open to the public from 3-8 p.m. with marked down prices on the remaining items. In 2020, E.P. Boutique was the first tenant in the newly constructed strip center at Wabash and Meadowbrook Avenue.…
Japanese conveyer-belt restaurant opening March 13
The owner of Izumi Rotary & Bar, Springfield’s first conveyer-belt-style restaurant, says he wants to bring a new experience to the area. “I worked as the head chef at a sushi restaurant in Dallas, Texas,” Yong Wu said. “But I got tired of the big city and wanted to settle down here – my family…
Legislation aims to help first-time homebuyers
As the cost of housing continues to rise, Illinois realtors are pushing legislation to make it easier for first-time homebuyers to save for a down payment. Senate Bill 148 would enable Illinois residents to open a special kind of savings account that could only be used to pay eligible costs for the purchase of a single-family…
HSHS names System Vice President Chief Nursing Executive
Kelly Kostich has been named System Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive for Hospital Sisters Health System. She will join HSHS on March 31. In this role, Kostich will oversee system nursing practice, nursing standardization, clinical education and St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield. Kostich is a nursing executive with experience on the clinical and executive…
Cousins Maine Lobster launches food truck to serve Springfield area
Two franchisees for Cousins Maine Lobster are establishing a presence in central Illinois to address what they believe is a demand for quality seafood here. “Last year we came here for a tour and had a massive response compared to any other metro area,” said Yunus Shahul. He and his brother, Thameem Shahul, currently have…
Trump to implement new tariffs on Illinois’ largest trading partners
As the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget Director Alexis Sturm warned a House committee that uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s economic and administrative policies could affect Illinois revenue, the president announced new tariffs will take effect next week on imports from some of Illinois’ top trading partners. After initially pausing implementing 25% tariffs on…
Building permits – Feb. 24-March 2
619Walnut LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 619 S. Walnut St. Contractor is Repair Masters Construction and the project is valued at $75,000. Downtown Property LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza. Contractor is Evans Construction Co. and the project is valued at $320,000. Spring Meadows Owner LLC…
New vendors coming to The Railyard
The Railyard will be reopening this spring with new management and new participants. Tim and Emily Lewis, owners of Three Twigs Co., announced Feb. 15 they had signed a lease for The Railyard, an outdoor food venue based around shipping containers. It closed for the season in September and the Lewises permanently closed Three Twigs…
Two local business owners buy former Alexander’s property
Two area business owners have purchased the former Alexander’s Steakhouse as an investment property and say they’re still discussing possibilities for the site. Andrew Cochran and Marcus McGlasson purchased the property at 620 N. Bruns Lane last month for $825,000, according to Sangamon County tax records. “We’ve talked about a lot of different things,” said…
Manufacturing operations moving to Clinton
A manufacturer with more than 100 workers is closing two of its Springfield facilities and moving operations to Clinton after a dispute with the city over building-code violations. Mike Hoyle has owned Kwik-Wall for 19 years, a company that makes movable partitions for conference and convention facilities. Hoyle used an LLC to purchase the former…
Springfield YMCA
The YMCA of Springfield was formed in March of 1874 and initially operated in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church. The organizers saw a need to provide reading rooms and meeting spaces to young men as an alternative to drinking establishments. Many people today know the YMCA as a gym, a pool and a…
HSHS St. John’s Hospital
HSHS St. John’s Hospital is celebrating 150 years of service by the Hospital Sisters, whose mission has always been to care for the sick and the poor. In November 1875, five Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis arrived from Germany at the request of Bishop Peter Joseph Baltes of the Diocese of…
Green Nissan
Green Family Stores acquired the Nissan franchise in 2011 from Royal Oaks Nissan. The company boasts a large line of new and pre-owned vehicles, as well as electric vehicles. But perhaps its greatest success is in how it treats its employees, customers and the community. “We take pride in servicing our community and making an…
Knob Hill Landscape Co.
Landon and Jamie Kirby started Knob Hill Landscape Co. in 2011. Working with a spouse in a new business comes with its share of challenges, but Landon Kirby said he wouldn’t have it any other way. Currently, he serves as the CEO while Jamie is the CFO. “You get to share the same goals and…
Isringhausen Imports
Isringhausen Imports is a family-owned, luxury automotive dealership based in Springfield representing prestigious brands such as Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. The company was established in 1981 and has since built a reputation for excellence in customer service, automotive expertise and an unwavering commitment to quality. “Over the years, our dealership has evolved by embracing…
Springfield Plastics
In 1978, a group of local investors headed by Roy Baker, Wayne Baker and Glen Brandt began Springfield Plastics, Inc. With a background in agricultural drainage, Wayne insisted that the company produce products that would stand up to the demanding farm-drainage market. His experience from the early days of plastic drainage pipe also reinforced the…
Make a nomination for the 2025 Women of Influence
Security Bank is proud to partner with Springfield Business Journal for the annual Women of Influence recognition program, which honors local women for their contributions to the Springfield area. Selected by their peers through submitted nominations, all have made important contributions to the community at large. Nominations are not limited to the business community for…
Joann to close all stores nationwide
Area residents were holding out hope that the Joann fabrics store in Springfield would survive the retailer’s planned closures, but the company announced Feb. 24 that it will close all of its 831 stores nationwide. In January, the Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in a year, citing sluggish…
A succession plan for Floyd Imports
A succession plan has come to fruition at Floyd Imports as Andy Floyd and his father, Eric Floyd, are now running the business together. Brothers David and Eric opened the business in August 1994. David retired last year and Eric plans to transition to part-time in the coming year. Andy started working at the shop while…
Building permits – Feb. 17 – Feb. 23
Island Bay Yacht Club received a commercial remodel permit for 78 Yacht Club Road. No contractor listed. The project is valued at $150,540. Taynya Ruby received a commercial remodel permit for 29 Oakbend Court. Contractor is Repair Masters Construction and the project is valued at $10,000. West Side Christian Church received a commercial remodel non-structural…
Tiny houses project faces big hurdles
A nonprofit that wants to build tiny homes on Springfield’s southeast side faces more big hurdles after the Springfield City Council on Feb. 11 unanimously voted to withdraw a resolution to commit funding for the project’s resource center. Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory, who represents the area where the homes would be built, said he…
Pritzker proposes $2B in spending growth without new income or service taxes
Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed growing spending by about $2 billion without new income or service taxes in the upcoming fiscal year – though his administration acknowledged policy changes by the Trump administration could drastically alter the fiscal landscape. Spending and revenues would each grow by about 3% under the proposal laid out Wednesday during…
