Café Coco looking for a new location
Café Coco, which has been located at 3705 N. Dirksen Parkway for nearly six years, is now looking for a new location. Owner Connie DiCenso said that in March of this year, a health inspector questioned the adequacy of the kitchen hood. After an inspection by the county’s mechanical engineer, the property owner was issued…
Just Right Eating is expanding
Just Right Eating, a local meal delivery service that focuses on offering healthy options, is expanding. In addition to the meal delivery service, Just Right Eating will now offer an eatery with options for dine in or pick up. The eatery will be open six days a week for lunch or dinner and will also…
Final BankNotes seminar coming up
Marine Bank will be hosting the final BankNotes seminar of 2018 on Oct. 23 at Panther Creek Country Club. “Will Your Business Survive: Planning for the Future” will be presented by Pamela Hart, partner at Scott & Scott P.C. Hart will discuss how to plan a successful transition for your business. Lunch will begin at 11:30…
Charles White has joined the U.S. Small Business Administration
Charles White, a veteran loan officer with nearly 20 years of experience helping Illinois small business owners access capital, has joined the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Illinois District Office as a lender relations specialist. In his new role at the SBA’s Springfield branch, White will conduct trainings and other outreach activities across downstate Illinois to…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Oct. 8 and Oct. 14, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Oct. 17 BY STACIE LEWIS Bonstores Realty Two, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for renovation work at Michaels at White Oaks Mall, 2501 W. Wabash. The Law Company, Inc. of Wichita, KS is the contractor and the project is valued at $1,500,000. Trieger & Paoni, LLC obtained a commercial remodel…
Capital Area Real Estate merges with Keller Williams
Capital Area Real Estate has merged with Keller Williams, although the firm will continue to operate the office located at 316 E. Adams in Springfield. In 2016, Phil Chiles left The Real Estate Group and opened Capital Area Real Estate, citing a long-time desire to have a downtown office. Asked about his recent decision to…
Sun Thai to open soon
In May of this year, Jamie Loftus announced that he had sold No Agenda 321, a bar and tapas restaurant located at 321 N. Main Street in Chatham, to Jose Lopez, who also owns and operates the Casa Real and Tacos Pepe restaurants in Springfield. However, the business has already changed hands again and is…
Centre@501
Work continues on the former First United Methodist Church downtown, which is being renamed Centre@501. The building, which has been vacant since 2008, is undergoing an $8.4 million redevelopment to convert the space to 25 residential units as well as commercial space. Funding is being provided through a variety of sources, including New Market Tax…
Memorial hosts Be Aware Women’s Fair
The Be Aware Women’s Fair, hosted by Memorial Medical Center, will return to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for its ninth annual event on Saturday, Oct. 13. An estimated 2,000 people are expected to converge on the Orr Building for Memorial’s Be Aware Women’s Fair, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A $5…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Oct. 10 BY STACIE LEWIS Chicago Title Land Trust obtained a commercial demolition permit for interior, nonstructural demo work at 401 S. Dirksen Pkwy. Brad Milliman is the contractor and the project is valued at $75,000. Springfield Right to Life obtained a commercial parking lot permit for 519 N. Bruns Ln. …
Refresh Leadership Simulcast
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Express Employment Professionals to offer the 9th Annual Refresh Leadership Simulcast event, held at Calvary Church on Oct. 24. CEOs, business owners and community leaders are encouraged to attend. Express will sponsor the cost of your ticket, normally $45 per person. However, Express is asking each…
State of Illinois privatizes real estate services
By David Blanchette The State of Illinois is dipping a toe into the pond of privatizing its real estate management services, and if the initial foray works it could mean an $845 million, 10-year plunge involving 22 million square feet of property and 683 state-owned, leased and surplus facilities. The Illinois Department of Central Management…
Dr. Lucore steps down as president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield
Dr. Charles L. Lucore, president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, is leaving HSHS for a new position as president of St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York. “This opportunity came to light quickly and my decision was not an easy one,” said Lucore. “It required many hours of discernment and discussion…
ABC Supply on the move
ABC Supply, a national distributor of building materials, will be moving to the former International Trucks building at 401 S. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. The company has been located at 1900 East Moffat since 1995, when it was known as West Roofing. “ABC Supply bought out West Roofing in 2004, and now we’re the largest…
SIU School of Medicine creates new department
The Department of Population Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s first new department in nearly three decades, aims to be a champion for rural Illinoisans. To improve the health and wellness in the 66 counties of central and southern Illinois, the department will identify community-based interventions and study how factors such as…
Healthy Jacksonville initiative announced
A partnership between Passavant Area Hospital, SIU School of Medicine and MacMurray College aims to increase access to health care using a holistic approach for vulnerable or at-risk residents of Jacksonville. Healthy Jacksonville, modeled after a highly-successful and award-winning community health worker (CHW) program in the Enos Park neighborhood in Springfield, will initiate engagement with…
100+ Who Care hosts annual giving event
100+ Who Care of Springfield will host their 3rd annual giving event at the Illinois REALTORS, 522 S. 5th Street, on Oct. 11 from 5-6:30 p.m. This grassroots fundraising concept is popping up all around the country. The Springfield chapter was formed three years ago from a project started through Leadership Springfield, a leadership program…
Sandler Training webinar
Bob Barber with Sandler Training is hosting a webinar, “Seven secrets in 37 minutes for crushing 4th quarter sales,” on Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 11-11:37 a.m. Barber said, “If your company is concerned with meeting sales objectives for the final stretch of the year, you are guaranteed to leave with actionable tips for boosting your…
Real estate investment office opens
Matthew Davlin and Dan Moja have opened a real estate investment office, TBFS Investments, at 310 South Grand Avenue West in Springfield. “We consider ourselves a boutique real estate investing firm,” explained Davlin. “Almost all of our investing is in the Chicago area for right now, we specialize in Airbnb properties. We have about 20…
Eric Creviston to open Springfield Monument
A new tenant will soon be moving into the former Candice’s Bridal space with a very different type of business. The building located at 1824 W. Jefferson in Springfield will become home to a new business, Springfield Monument. Owner Eric Creviston purchased Petersburg Monument Company in May of this year. “It’s been around for 130…
Craig Zablocki to speak on “The Intelligence of Fun”
The Central Illinois Chapter of the National Customer Service Association (CIL-NCSA) is bringing nationally-known speaker and consultant Craig Zablocki to Springfield for a presentation on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 8-9:30 a.m. at Dove Conference Center, 619 E. Mason Street. Zablocki will speak on “The Intelligence of Fun” and how a positive attitude is critical to…
15 Under Fifteen
Springfield Business Journal and United Community Bank are hosting a reception and awards ceremony to recognize the small businesses who were chosen as this year’s 15 Under Fifteen. The event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the United Community Bank located at 1900 W. Iles Avenue in Springfield. There is…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Sept. 26 BY STACIE LEWIS R & G Prairie Properties, LLC obtained a commercial building permit for a new pole barn at 3421 Lumber Lane. Ragland Buildings & Supply of Hopedale is the contractor and the project is valued at $40,000. Image Facilities, Inc. obtained a commercial remodel permit for work…
Many different options for senior living
BY DIANNE CROWN Like many seniors, Angie Squires and her husband had moved from a house to a condo where they could still enjoy independent living; but, in the years after Chet died, Angie began falling and needed a different housing solution. She chose River Birch Senior Living from Springfield’s wide variety of options, and…
100+ Who Care funds local nonprofits
BY JANET SEITZ There is strength in numbers, especially when armed with checks. Building that reserve is the goal of 100+ Who Care in Springfield, a grassroots organization that aims to recruit 100 people to pay $100 each to attend an event at which local nonprofit organizations vie to earn the evening’s proceeds. Three randomly…
City launches online zoning map
By Julia Frevert Navigating the complexities of the City of Springfield’s zoning can be daunting, particularly for small businesses and start up entrepreneurs. To break down any potential barriers, the City of Springfield has launched an online zoning map – a tool designed to help businesses, developers and realtors identify the current zoning classifications for particular…
Art4U to open Oct. 1
Kim Votsmier, who has owned the paint-your-own pottery studio China Towne since 2002, is opening a new business in the same shopping center. Art4U will open on Oct. 1 in the former Cocoa Blue Chocolates space, located at 4015 Yucan Drive in Springfield. “It’s a whole new thing,” explained Votsmier. “It’s an artist co-op, and…
