Building permit roundup – July 8 – July 14
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between July 8 and July 14, 2019. U.S. Bank Corp Real Estate obtained a commercial accessory structure permit for modification at 205 S. Fifth St. The contractor is Windy City Tower and the project is valued at $25,000. Memorial Health Systems obtained a commercial…
Sarah Nelson joins Town and Country Bank as area branch manager
Sarah Nelson has been hired as Town and Country Bank’s area branch manager for the company’s Wabash, Dirksen and MacArthur Boulevard locations. “My passion is to help businesses and individuals in our community achieve their financial goals. I am thrilled to join the team at Town and Country Bank and fulfill the organization’s mission of…
Construction for new downtown YMCA to begin on July 22
By Michelle Ownbey The groundbreaking held in March for the new YMCA facility at Fourth and Carpenter streets involved golden shovels and photo ops, but the actual construction work is now set to begin on Monday, July 22. Mike Sunley, senior project manager with O’Shea Builders, said he anticipates the project will create 210 direct…
Moroleon Tropical Mexican Restaurant opening in former Hunan space
New signage has appeared at the site of the former Hunan Chinese Restaurant announcing that 1101 Wabash Ave. will soon be home to Moroleon Tropical Mexican Restaurant. Owner Salvador Lopez opened Taqueria Moroleon at 1101 S. Ninth St. in 2016 and says this will be a second location with a slightly different concept. “It will…
Falcon Hobby Supply prepares to close
While Falcon Hobby Supply survived after a fire three years ago at the original location on Dirksen Parkway, the business is now in the process of winding down operations. A post on the company’s Facebook page stated, “It is with a very heavy heart, we have to announce that our plans to move the store…
Brian Pierce retiring after 45 years in radio
Longtime morning radio host Brian Pierce (Cozadd) is hanging up the headphones after 45 years in the radio business. He will host his final morning show on WUSW (US 92.7) and his last political talk show on News/Talk 94.7 and 970 WMAY on Friday, July 26. Pierce’s dream to be “the voice on the radio”…
Top 7 ways to do video on social media
We’ve all heard that videos are the way to get engagement on social media. But what do businesses need to know to produce content that people want to see? Josh Hester, the principal and executive producer of The Storyteller Studio will lead a free workshop entitled “Top 7 ways to do video on social media”…
Jason Piscia named director of UIS Public Affairs Reporting
Jason Piscia, digital managing editor of The State Journal-Register, has been named the new director of the University of Illinois Springfield’s Public Affairs Reporting master’s degree program. He will replace longtime director Charles N. Wheeler III, who recently retired after leading the program for 26 years. “I’m honored and humbled to have the opportunity to…
Building permits approved by the City of Springfield between July 1 and July 7, 2019
By Stacie Lewis Safe Harbor Property, LLC Series 3 obtained a building permit for a remodel at 105 S. State St. The contractor is James Gvazdinskas and the project is valued at $3,000. Renken Properties LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for work at Schon Dental at 2809 Mansion Rd. Ryan Homes and Development, Inc.…
Illinois Bankers Association moving to Park Place One
The Illinois Bankers Association has been downtown for more than a decade, but the statewide organization has announced plans to relocate to the Park Place One building, located at 3201 W. White Oaks Dr. in Springfield, as of Oct. 1. IBA has been housed in Lincoln Tower in downtown Springfield since 2007, and executive vice…
Green Family Stores to occupy lower level of former Bergner’s space
While White Oaks Mall lost two anchor stores with the closings of Sears and Bergner’s in 2018, plans are already underway to redevelop the 125,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Bergner’s. Simon Property Group, the parent company that owns and operates White Oaks Mall, purchased the space after it failed to sell at auction earlier this…
Check your blind spots
BY KAREN ACKERMAN WITTER Horace Mann hosted the “CEO Action Check Your Blind Spots” mobile tour on May 30, which was open to every staff member. The company promoted it as a continuation of its commitment to having a diverse and inclusive work environment, facilitating open and honest conversations and increasing awareness of unconscious biases.…
Forty Under 40
The Springfield Business Journal proudly features 40 leaders who are under the age of 40 in the Springfield and neighboring business communities. These individuals are selected based on their contributions to our local business community and the community in which they reside.They represent, in part, the future of business in our community and in central…
Pressing Forward
Paris Cleaners changes hands after 110 years of family ownership BY HOLLY WHISLER Nathan “Nate” Klughart is living the American dream. As of June 1, the 18-year-old entrepreneur is the new owner of Paris Cleaners, a business owned and operated by the Franke family for the past 110 years. Klughart, a native of Atlanta, Georgia,…
Take a ride to Springfield Carriage Co.
BY TOM PAVLIK I love the kind of place that you only hear of by word of mouth – it’s like getting let in on a secret. And from the restaurant’s perspective it can be a gutsy play, but is also indicative of pride in what’s being served. And that’s Springfield Carriage Co. – a…
Summer social
Local First Springfield will hold a summer social on Thursday, June 27 at Bank of Springfield, 3400 Wabash Ave., from 4:30-6 p.m. Both members and guests are welcome to attend the free event, which includes drinks and appetizers. However, advance reservations are requested by booking tickets online at www.illinoistimestix.com.
Transportation and Industrial Expo
Lincoln Land Community College’s hands-on training programs will be showcased at the first-ever Transportation and Industrial Expo Tuesday, July 16, from 6-8 p.m. Prospective students will be able to learn about the many LLCC degree and certificate opportunities that can launch careers in the transportation and industrial fields. The free event will be held in…
CBD Botanicals expands operations
After just six months in business, CBD Botanicals is expanding to another community and owner Jim Weddigen said other locations are also in the works. In January, SBJ reported that CBD Botanicals had opened at 2536 S. Koke Mill Rd. in Springfield, and a second location is now slated to open in late July or…
Building permit roundup – June 17 – June 23
BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between June 17 and June 23, 2019. Memorial Health Systems obtained a commercial remodel permit for a therapy pool infill at 3132 Old Jacksonville Rd. The project is valued at $65,000. A remodel permit for another therapy pool infill at…
Latin American restaurant to open
Luis Morales is preparing to open Roots Latin Grill at 4721 W. Wabash in Springfield, and he says the new restaurant will reflect his own Bolivian roots. “The idea behind this restaurant is that Latin American food in Springfield is just Mexican food. I’m trying to get more of my background from South America and…
