Lutheran Senior Services and Diakon merge
Lutheran Senior Services, a nonprofit that specializes in housing, care and supportive services for older adults, and Diakon, a Lutheran organization that offers a continuum of senior lifestyle and health care services as well as a range of services for children, families, and adult individuals of all ages, have signed an agreement to bring senior…
The Crafted Stag Supply opening April 6
A new specialty business catering to men is scheduled to open Saturday, April 6, on Springfield’s west side. The Crafted Stag Supply is the brainchild of Grant and Jennifer Hammer, who purchased the property at 3455 Freedom Dr. in May 2023 and have extensively remodeled it. The building has been vacant since June 2018 when…
Intricate Minds promotes harm reduction as a road to recovery
It may be the only place in Springfield where a person can get a haircut and a meth pipe for free. Intricate Minds provides free hypodermic needles and pipes to those struggling with addiction as part of a harm-reduction strategy designed to reduce the spread of disease. “We provide clean syringes and pipes. We have…
Hale Construction expands
Less than a year after initially launching, Hale Construction has moved into a larger office space and now has plans to expand into the Metro East as well. “I had been working for another construction company, and last May we had that big storm in Chatham,” said owner Seth Hale. “I decided to run with…
Angels among us
While working on building a new home in downtown Springfield, University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator is rolling out some new, innovative programs to expand its resources and services, highlighting access to expertise and sources of startup venture capital for entrepreneurs. Innovate Springfield, which currently offers its members support such as office space, business planning, market…
Springfield doctors join push for statewide insurance reform
Two Springfield doctors are part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s push to reform what he called “predatory health insurance practices.” The Democratic governor’s proposed Healthcare Protection Act would ban “step therapy,” which can delay patients’ access to more-expensive medicines until cheaper medicines are tried first. House Bill 5395 also would ban prior authorization for inpatient admissions…
Building “an ecosystem of solutions” on the east side
A year from now, Dominic Watson expects to open a shared kitchen and culinary incubator for dozens of emerging minority-owned businesses in a 30,000-square-foot building at 11th Street and South Grand Avenue East. A year or two after that, his plans call for the former South Town Theater building – on the same block on…
Building permits – March 18 – March 24
D.E.R. JR LLC received a commercial building permit for 1713 W. Jefferson St. Contractor is SEI Builders and the project is valued at $800,000. SOLON LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 3808 Octavus Via. Contractor is Joyner Construction and the project is valued at $75,000. Young Men’s Christian Association of Springfield received a commercial…
Memorial Health announces succession plan
The Memorial Health Board of Directors has approved a succession plan to ensure continuity of leadership for the nonprofit health system. Effective July 1, current president and CEO Ed Curtis will assume the title of Memorial Health CEO and Kevin England, who currently serves as senior vice president and chief administrative officer, will become Memorial…
Green Hyundai to hold grand opening for new dealership
The public is invited to the grand opening celebration of the new Green Hyundai dealership at 601 W. Stanford Ave. on Friday, March 22, from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Green Family Stores opened the doors of its new 30,000-square-foot Hyundai dealership Nov. 1. The Stanford Avenue location is one of five prototypes nationwide to roll out the…
Potbelly Sandwich Shop opens in Springfield
Potbelly Sandwich Shop opened its first Springfield location on March 26. The restaurant inside the Memorial Learning Center, 228 W. Miller St., offers in-store dining, delivery and catering. In fall 2022, Rob Wilbern, a certified public accountant who also owns Robert’s Automotive and several other businesses in Springfield, signed a franchise agreement with the parent…
Nathan Essex joins Springfield Park District
The Springfield Park District has appointed Nathan Essex as the director of recreation and marketing, effective March 18. Originally from Farmington, Illinois, Essex relocated to Sangamon County in 2002. Before joining the Springfield Park District, he served as the principal of Auburn High School from 2012-2023, and as assistant principal for three years prior to…
USPS announces plans to redirect Springfield mail to St. Louis
In a significant development impacting Springfield and neighboring communities, the United States Postal Service has announced a network consolidation plan that will have far-reaching effects. As part of this plan, 58 Processing and Distribution Centers in smaller communities are slated to be converted to Local Mail Processing Centers. There is a proposed decision to redirect…
Charro Mexican Restaurant to open in April
Charro Mexican Restaurant is coming to Springfield. The family-owned business started in the St. Louis area and also has locations in Taylorville and Decatur. Now, owner Ezequiel Camacho has purchased the building at 2500 Sunrise Dr. and is in the process of remodeling it for a fourth Charro’s location. “Back in 2011, I was planning…
Eye Candy Boutique merges with Deep South Pout
Less than a year after closing its brick-and-mortar store, there are more changes in the works for Eye Candy Boutique. Owner Alinda Hale has merged her business with Deep South Pout, an online boutique based in Mississippi. “It all came about because in the boutique word, everybody is familiar with everybody,” Hale said. “I’ve run…
Building permits – March 11 – March 17
Blackstone Group-Cranmer LLC doing business as McDonald’s Corp received a commercial remodel permit for 2303 W. Monroe St. Stratus Unlimited is the contractor and the project is valued at $50,000. CGM Management LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2205 Wabash Ave. Contractor is Marriott Real Estate Serv. and the project is valued at $3,000.…
The end of an era
A 149-year-old family manufacturing business in Chatham is closing its doors in early June and an unrelated, but well-known, national franchise business will move into its space along Interstate 55. Armbruster Manufacturing Company will close and its 33,000-square-foot facility will be the new home of the central Illinois Roto-Rooter franchise. The sale of the legacy…
A history of the Armbruster Manufacturing Company
Rudolph Herman “R.H.” Armbruster was born in 1852 in Baden, Germany. He emigrated with his parents to the United States before the Civil War and the family settled in Springfield in 1855. In 1875, R.H. Armbruster broke away from his family’s prominent Springfield jewelry business to open an awning and upholstery store. His first shop…
“There’s a magic about this place.”
Several Armbruster Manufacturing Company employees have worked for the 149-year-old firm for approximately one-third of its history. What keeps the employees coming to work at the same place for decades? “It’s been a fun job. I’ve been to England four times and to Norway,” said Jim Wiggins, who has worked for 51 years at Armbruster.…
Brezie’s Roasted Beans & Gaming opens in Southern View
Brezie’s Roasted Beans & Gaming is a new addition to the Springfield area’s growing coffee scene, but it also offers breakfast and lunch options plus activities for kids. “I’ve been in the restaurant and bar industry my whole life,” said owner Bree Richardson. “Plus, my mom owns Jamie’s Route 66, so when the suite next…
Springfield man charged with operating six “houses of prostitution”
A Springfield man owned or rented six “houses of prostitution” in Springfield in which Asian women – some traveling from other countries – provided sexual services in exchange for free food, lodging and incomes of up to $30,000 per month. Those were some of the allegations aimed at Gregory L. Fraase, 60, in legal documents…
Former La-Z-Boy owner launches Vyper Transportation
David Hilst recently sold his La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor stores to the corporate parent company, but he has hired eight of the former employees to launch a new business, Vyper Transportation. Hilst and his mother, Sandy Hilst, owned and operated multiple La-Z-Boy stores for nearly four decades. “We had some of the top-performing stores…
Revitalizing Route 66
Tourism attractions that commemorate Springfield’s links to Historic Route 66 and Black history, as well as a mix of new residential sites, all accessible by improved sidewalks and some areas closed off to traffic, are part of a master plan for a three-mile section of Ninth Street and Peoria Road. “This provides a structure and…
Building permits – March 4 – March 10
Fred W. Wanless LLC received a commercial building permit for 3100 Ridge Ave. Contractor is Greg Mackling and the project is valued at $600,000. Friendly Tract A. Inc. % Susan S. Langheim received a commercial accessory structure permit for 2540 Prairie Crossing Drive. Contractor is MB Heating & Cooling and the project is valued at…
OSF HealthCare expands women’s health care services
Women in the Lincoln, Decatur-Forsyth and Champaign-Urbana areas will soon have increased access to obstetrics care through a new collaboration on select services between OSF HealthCare and Advanced Women’s Healthcare in Bloomington. Clinics with Advanced Women’s Healthcare providers and OSF Mission Partners began serving patients in Forsyth, 845 US Route 51, in February, and anticipate…
Gabatoni’s listed for sale
An iconic Springfield restaurant is for sale, but the owner says she has no plans to close before a new owner takes over. Gabatoni’s was founded by Johnny and Rosemary Lynn in 1951 and originally operated out of a building at Third and Washington streets. In 1959, the family-owned business moved to its current location…
Register by March 8 for the Urban Tech & Construction Jobs Program
The Springfield Urban League has announced the launch of the Urban Tech & Construction Jobs Program (UTCJP), an initiative designed to introduce underrepresented populations and at-risk individuals to the burgeoning drone industry and the construction sector. This program will empower communities by providing them with valuable skills and opportunities in these rapidly growing fields. UTCJP…
FBI targets area Asian massage parlors
A 60-year-old Springfield man faces one or more federal felony charges resulting from an FBI investigation of Asian massage parlors and related allegations of human trafficking, prostitution and schemes to gain citizenship benefits for immigrants through sham marriages to Americans. Gregory L. Fraase was arraigned March 6 in Springfield’s U.S. District Court after a federal…
Loukinens’ on 4th reopens
Loukinens’ on 4th has reopened as of March 2 after closing suddenly in mid-February. Owners Keith and Laurie Loukinen announced Feb. 13 the restaurant at 517 S. Fourth St. would “temporarily close until further notice.” Loukinens’ opened in 2017 across from the Executive Mansion and featured “casual, upscale dining” using local, seasonal ingredients. A recent…
The mystery and romance of the rice cooker
The late Roger Ebert was an unlikely enthusiast of the electric rice cooker. A Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times (and Urbana native), Ebert had a true passion for food and cooking. My wife’s cousin, Carolyn, who knew Ebert well, shares fond memories of how he loved going to restaurants with a big group…
Building permits – Feb. 26 – March 3
Lewis House LLC % Karen R. Conn received a commercial accessory structure permit for 508 S. Sixth St. Contractor is Lewis House LLC % Karen R. Conn and the project is valued at $3,000. Blackstone Group-Dirksen LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2512 N. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Schuster Construction and the project is…
Potter Drug to open in Springfield
Potter Drug is expanding into the Springfield market with a west-side location slated to open this summer. “It’s a matter of pride for me to bring a family-owned pharmacy back to Springfield,” said owner Tim Gleason. “I see an opportunity for disruption in the market; there hasn’t been an independent pharmacy here for about eight…
AR Luxury Event Spaces to open
AR Luxury Event Spaces will soon offer another option for people in the Springfield area who want to host events. Owner Kaia Griffin is leasing the 2,500-square-foot space at 675 E. Linton Ave. that most recently served as office space for the Springfield branch of the American Cancer Society. She plans to transform it into…
Makeover Dental to hold ribbon cutting
Makeover Dental is holding a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, March 13, at 4:30 p.m. Dr. Jorge Mosquera purchased the dental practice at 687 E. Linton Ave., formerly known as Secure Dental, last fall and rebranded it as Makeover Dental. “We’re planning to build an implant center; that’s going to be our main focus,” said David…
Troxell
Troxell opened its doors in 1887 and still remains locally owned and operated today. Although there are branches all over Illinois, Troxell is based out of Springfield. The company has grown significantly over the years but has not lost the touch of a small business. “Troxell is a group of individuals who enjoy each other…
Watts Copy Systems
Skip and Carol Watts opened Watts Copy Systems in Springfield back in 1982. The foundation for the company was to create a premier service organization in central Illinois that would focus on customer satisfaction and customer retention. The original company motto was, “Where service is more than a promise.” Currently led by Carol Watts, the…
Memorial Health names new board members
Three new members have been named to the board of directors of Memorial Health. “We’re proud to have a board that brings together people with a wide range of expertise from across the region we serve,” said Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health. “Each of these new members brings their own valuable perspective…
Women’s Power Lunch Against Cancer
Join Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine for the Women’s Power Lunch Against Cancer on Thursday, April 4. The event will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield Hotel and feature guest speaker Dr. Bertice Berry, who will share a message of resilience, kindness, humor and hope. The event is…
A Q&A with Rev. Silas Johnson
Silas Johnson was born and raised in Mississippi but has lived in Springfield for the past 50 years. He had a dual career for many years, working as a journeyman electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 193 while also pastoring Community Baptist Church for a decade and then Calvary Baptist Church for…
To move or remodel?
To say the last three years have been interesting for the real estate market, including home builders, is an understatement. The pandemic changed how people go to work and how they spend time at home. Remote work prompted some to buy larger homes with more outdoor space, and some people remodeled existing homes to include…
City of Springfield penalized for violating Fair Housing Act
The 7-year-old federal court case that determined Springfield illegally discriminated against people with disabilities through residential zoning is approaching a conclusion. The late U.S District Court judge Richard Mills ruled in March 2020 that the city violated the federal Fair Housing Act through a spacing ordinance prohibiting two homes for people with disabilities from operating…
Homes are selling quickly and cash is king
Whether you’re the homebuyer or the seller, the current housing market requires you to be prepared, decisive and ready to move forward swiftly. That was the message emphasized at the Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce’s February luncheon, held at Illinois Realtors, which focused on the area housing market. The panel discussion included Jane Hay of…
That empty feeling: Can vacant office space downtown be transformed into residential dwellings?
The paradox of America’s deserted downtowns and the affordable housing crisis has been reported on by well-known media outlets such as PBS, CNN, The New York Times and Slate magazine. One potential solution to this problem is to convert vacant commercial space into residential housing. Although this potential solution comes with many barriers, it’s not…
Dealing with mine subsidence
You may have been shocked to hear that mine subsidence forced Lutheran High School to relocate in 2022. The idea of your place of business or residence being affected by a similar event might seem alarming at first. Springfield is known for the presence of underground mines, so this possibility might be more common than…
Promoting our community
The Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance reports that it has helped facilitate more than $1.6 billion in economic development opportunities coming to the region over the next several years. The organization seeks to advance economic development and partnership opportunities across the region. The SSGA engaged with local business leaders last year through about 100 business retention…
The first rule of employee engagement: We don’t talk about employee engagement
In today’s hot job market, getting great talent in the door can be a challenge. According to a recent article on LinkedIn, 53% of employees are thinking of leaving their current position in 2024, and 77% of employers are worried about attracting and retaining top talent. For some organizations, creating a great culture where employees want to…
Chatham Cafe
I was excited at the prospect of Chatham Cafe opening in Springfield on MacArthur Boulevard, but a fire in the almost-completed space dashed my hopes for a diner in my neighborhood. With that in mind, I decided to venture over to Chatham to see what the original Chatham Cafe is about. Chatham Cafe looked like…
Capitol Radio Group
For nearly 40 years, Capitol Radio Group and Saga Communications Inc. of Illinois have been a staple in the Springfield radio landscape. Former CEO Ed Christian acquired WDBR, WYMG and WTAX radio stations in the mid-1980s, and over the years the group has added 101.9 The Wolf, Pure Oldies 107.5 and 101.1 The Outlaw. In…
Best Places to Work 2024
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…
First Impressions Day Care Center
First Impressions Day Care Center has been in business since 1997. The company operates out of an updated, converted home located in a historical area near downtown Springfield. In 2016, Colleen Ikerionwu, a mother of six and former police officer, purchased the day care. The company’s mission is to provide quality care for children in…
Hanson Professional Services
In 1954, Walter E. Hanson, along with two of his former students from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, founded Hanson Professional Services in Springfield. The firm’s name has changed throughout the years, but Hanson’s commitment to their clients reflects an allegiance to their most-valued asset – their employees. “When Walt founded Hanson, he started what would…
