Businesses and organizations invited to register for the Career Connections Expo at UIS
Businesses and organizations are encouraged to register now for the Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at the Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus. In addition to the Expo, registered employers are invited to participate…
Mayoral forum planned for Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 5:30-7 p.m.
This spring, city elections will be held for several offices, including mayor of Springfield. Two candidates, incumbent Mayor James Langfelder and City Treasurer Misty Buscher, are seeking the top city post. Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times are partnering with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Mid-West Family Springfield to host a mayoral forum…
Building Permits – Jan. 9 – Jan. 15, 2023
Absolute Perfection II, Inc. obtained a commercial remodel permit for 223 N. MacArthur Blvd. Pro Bid LLC is the contractor and the project is valued at $30,000. Spring Street Veterans’ Renaissance, Inc. obtained a commercial remodel permit for 209 W. Scarritt St. Repair Master’s Construction is the contractor and the project is valued at $10,000.
Green Family Stores temporarily moves into former Shop ‘n Save on Wabash Avenue
There is activity once again at the former Shop ‘n Save property on the corner of Wabash Avenue and Chatham Road, at least for now. Green Family Stores is holding an off-site sale for two of its dealerships, Green Certified West and Green Hyundai, that started Jan. 16 and will continue for at least a…
Dew Chilli closes Wabash restaurant, two other Springfield locations to stay open
The Dew Chilli Parlor at 2312 Wabash Ave. has closed, although owners Mike Monseur and John Leskovisek will continue to operate the two Dew Pub and Grill locations in Springfield. A statement on the company’s website references the recent end of a five-year lease for the Wabash Avenue location. “Since there are two other locations…
Building Permits – Jan. 2 – Jan. 8, 2023
BINNINMEYER, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 210 S. Fifth St. Jeremy Bredemeyer is the contractor and the project is valued at $125,000. First Springfield Associates obtained a commercial remodel permit for 1501 S. Dirksen Parkway. Viacon, Inc. is the contractor and the project is valued at $45,750.
Reverie Apparel closing downtown store, shifting to online-only business
Reverie Apparel is closing its brick-and-mortar location, but the business will continue to operate in a different form, said owner Patrick Russell. He opened Reverie Apparel in November 2019 after completing the Co.Starters program through Innovate Springfield, which he credited with inspiring him to start a new business. The location at 407 E. Adams St.…
Aunt Lou’s Soul Food to open downtown
Aunt Lou’s Soul Food is slated to become the next restaurant to occupy the lower level of 524 E. Monroe, which has been vacant since Vele relocated to the west side a little over two years ago. Prior to that, it housed Café Brio for two decades before the restaurant closed in 2016. Corey Dickerson…
Bungee by Dené Fitness opening Jan. 14
Bungee by Dené Fitness was initially intended to open last year, but owner Dené Romanotto said the timing for launching Jan. 14 seems to be working out well. “People are working on their New Year’s resolutions… the weekend classes are all booked and wait-listed right now, so that’s a good start,” Romanotto said. She will…
Notable Springfield renovation projects
By Catherine O’Connor According to plan: Multiyear state Capitol effort wins excellence award Architect Avi Lothan of Lothan Van Hook DeStefano Architecture in Chicago has been the principal in charge of the Illinois State Capitol Complex Master Plan, a comprehensive effort begun in 2007-2008 to provide a vision of sustainable design objectives that guide future…
Jungle Jim’s Cafe has closed
Jungle Jim’s Café, a landmark on the north end and Route 66 for more than three decades, has closed effective Jan. 3. Owner Mary Bloomfield-Davison announced the closing in a post on the business’ Facebook page, writing in part: “This is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make but there are so…
Good as Gold awards program nominations are open
Nominations are now being accepted for the Good as Gold awards program, recognizing those that make Springfield a great place to live and thrive through their spirit of service in the Springfield community. The University of Illinois Springfield, the Junior League of Springfield and United Way of Central Illinois will host the 15th Annual Springfield…
Building Permits – Dec. 19, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023
Brick city LLC Series 17 obtained a commercial remodel permit for 1700 S. College St. Seth Molen is the contractor and the project is valued at $15,000. MBR Springfield downtown Property, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 3106 W. Iles Ave. the contractor is Joyner construction Services, Inc. and the project is valued at…
MJ’s Fish & Chicken Express to offer carryout on the weekends
Fans of MJ’s Fish & Chicken Express will soon be able to patronize the restaurant again, at least for carryout orders. In June 2022, MJ’s shifted its business model to focus on catering and special events, which owner Jerome Taylor said was largely due to staffing issues and needing more flexibility for his family. Now,…
Casa Real Cantina & Grill
By Thomas Pavlik I’m a big fan of fried chicken, so I had some mixed emotions when I heard that Raising Cane’s was taking over the former Casa Real location on Wabash Avenue. Sure, Springfield has quite a few Mexican restaurants, but I’ve always been partial to Casa Real. Thankfully, Casa Real is open once…
Notable Springfield renovation projects
According to plan: Multiyear state Capitol effort wins excellence award Architect Avi Lothan of Lothan Van Hook DeStefano Architecture in Chicago has been the principal in charge of the Illinois State Capitol Complex Master Plan, a comprehensive effort begun in 2007-2008 to provide a vision of sustainable design objectives that guide future growth and expansion…
Q&A with Andrea Aggertt
By David Blanchette Andrea Aggertt was hired in October 2019 to serve as the Architect of the Capitol. She is currently overseeing $350 million in work at the Capitol complex that was allocated as part of Rebuild Illinois, the first capital spending bill approved in the past decade. Aggertt is also responsible for completion and…
Scooter’s Coffee opens first Springfield location
Scooter’s Coffee has officially come to Springfield. The location at 2935 Clear Lake Ave. held a soft opening on Dec. 19, while a second store is under construction at 1740 Wabash Ave., an outlot of the Chatham Square shopping center. Franchise owners Marcus and Lauryn McGlasson are Pleasant Plains residents who opened their first Scooter’s…
Springfield’s Chabad Center purchases former Red Cross building
Rabbi Mendy Turen is calling it a Hanukkah miracle. The Chabad Jewish Center of Springfield has purchased a building at 1045 Outer Park Dr. to be its new home. The edifice commonly known as the Red Cross building, since the main floor used to house the Springfield chapter of the American Red Cross, is undergoing…
Building Permits – Dec. 12 – Dec. 18, 2022
Seritage Kmt Finance, LLC in care of Kmart Corporation obtained a commercial remodel permit for 2500 Wabash Ave. the contractor is Horizon Retail Construction and the project is valued at $250,000. Illinois Municipal Electric Agency obtained a commercial remodel permit for 3400 Conifer Drive. The contractor is Pankey Builders and the project is valued at…
