Cover Story
50 years of Massie Massie & Associates
Kent and Sue Massie found a surprise when they designed and oversaw the renovation of the Lincoln Park lagoon in Springfield. “We needed to excavate the ponds because they were filled with silt, and we discovered old bicycles and park light fixtures at the bottom of the lagoon,” Sue said. “The old light fixtures had…
Cannabis College
University of Illinois Springfield combines education and cannabis with Green Flower noncredit certification courses, offering professional development and credentials to people seeking to get into the growing cannabis industry. Partnering with UIS in early 2021, Green Flower, a cannabis education platform and program, has been a driving force for nearly 10 years in bringing science-based…
Gabatoni’s reopens for dine-in service
Gabatoni’s is reopening its dining room Jan. 22 after being closed for nearly five years. The business has changed hands and the inside of the building is updated, but the new owner said he has tried to keep most things the same. Bill Pope purchased Gabatoni’s Oct. 16 and filed a building permit with the…
PhysioTherapy Professionals returning to downtown Springfield
PhysioTherapy Professionals is returning to downtown Springfield with a new location at 306 E. Adams St. The physical therapy business is headquartered at 2201 W. White Oaks Dr., a space it shares with Pure Synergy Massage, Ahh Yoga and Body Symmetry. PhysioTherapy Professionals initially opened a downtown location in 2020 and had an office in the…
Hy-Vee transitioning Wahlburgers back to Market Grille
Wahlburgers arrived in Springfield in 2020 when Hy-Vee converted its Market Grille to a location for the Boston-based hamburger chain, but it’s now coming full circle. Parent company Hy-Vee, Inc. has announced that it will transition all its in-store restaurant locations across the Midwest to Hy-Vee Market Grille locations. “This will take the place of…
Building permits – Jan. 13 – Jan. 19
Chronister Oil Co. received a commercial accessory structure permit for 2009 Republic St. Contractor is Pro Bilt Buildings and the project is valued at $107,900. Glen P. Garrison Trust etal received a commercial permit for North Dirksen Parkway and Bissell Road. Contractor is KPRS Construction Services and the project is valued at $20 million. Meijer…
No free rent
Springfield officials recently finalized an agreement with the owner of the Wyndham City Centre hotel in which the hotel will resume paying rent for use of a city-owned parking lot at 700 E. Monroe St. But on a higher-profile issue – whether the Wyndham hotel will be renovated in the near future – Tower Capital…
Monster Pawn raids result in multiple charges
A chain of central Illinois pawn shops with two Springfield locations functioned as a criminal enterprise, fencing stolen goods and buying silver bullion to launder the proceeds, the Illinois attorney general alleges. The owners of Monster Pawn and some employees appeared in court Thursday in Sangamon County. Charged were Monster Pawn’s owners, Edwin Pierce, 65,…
Bistro Verde, student-led café at LLCC, reopens Jan. 28
Bistro Verde, Lincoln Land Community College’s student-led café, reopens Jan. 28 and will serve customers Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café is open as Bistro To Go, a counter service concept, from Jan. 28-Feb. 27, offering soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods, coffees and drinks. From March 26-April 24, the…
Scooter’s Coffee expanding to Chatham
Scooter’s Coffee is expanding into Chatham with plans to build a new location this spring. Franchise owners Marcus and Lauryn McGlasson are Pleasant Plains residents who opened their first Scooter’s location in Taylorville in 2021, followed by a store at 2935 Clear Lake Ave. in December 2022 and a second Springfield location at 1740 Wabash…
Olde Towne demolitions on hold
Demolition of several uninhabitable Springfield apartment buildings is on hold despite a local judge giving the green light to raze the structures. The five structures are part of the 23-building Olde Towne apartment complex, located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Bruns Lane. Shortly after a judge ruled in the city’s favor, the financial…
Allen Schmale named CEO of United Community Bank
Allen Schmale has been named president and chief executive officer of United Community Bank, effective immediately. He had been serving as interim president and CEO since Aug. 30. “Allen is the ideal leader for this role,” said Bob Narmont, chairman of the UCB board of directors. “His deep banking expertise, dedication to serving our customers…
Jean Bruner Jachino joins United Way
Jean Bruner Jachino has joined United Way of Central Illinois as the new director of strategic partnerships. In this role, she will lead and manage the organization’s fundraising efforts with corporate and business communities, serving as a strategic adviser, expert fundraiser and partnership manager. “Jean’s depth of experience in business development and her passion for…
Building permits – Jan. 6 – Jan. 12
Titan 2900 LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2900 N. Dirksen Parkway. Contractor is Titan 2900 LLC and the project is valued at $50,000. Marine Bank TR#53-1527-7 Chicago Title LTC TR A8553152716 received a commercial fence permit for 100 W. Cook St. Contractor is Goodman Fence Inc. and the project is valued at $14,064.…
Adams Street at a crossroads
In recent years the section of downtown known as the Adams Family has been a vibrant focal point of revitalization efforts. But following a devastating fire over the summer, there are now concerns about demolition plans, failed efforts to showcase spaces in need of renovations and a stalled project that could serve as a catalyst…
Macy’s to close White Oaks Mall location
Macy’s Inc. announced Jan. 9 it would be closing 66 stores nationwide, including the White Oaks Mall location. It is the only Illinois store slated for closure, although a St. Louis-area location is impacted as the Macy’s in the South County Center is also on the list. Macy’s has been the only department store anchor…
Hemp regulation bill stalls amid Democratic infighting
A bill that would have imposed regulations on new types of intoxicating substances derived from hemp stalled in the Illinois House Jan. 7, dealing a political setback to Gov. JB Pritzker after he strongly supported the legislation. “I was tremendously disappointed,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, after it became clear the bill…
Broadgauge owner addresses closure, future plans
Douglas Pope, the person responsible for the award-winning restoration of Broadgauge in Petersburg, said he is hoping to find a new owner to reopen the restaurant and event venue. A Jan. 2 post on the business’ Facebook page said that Broadgauge would close “indefinitely” following three public events already scheduled to take place later this…
David Hilst opens American Family Insurance office
Last year was an eventful one for David Hilst, and 2025 appears to be shaping up the same way. After launching Vyper Transportation last March, Hilst has now closed that business and opened an American Family Insurance office at 3460 Wabash Ave., the headquarters for his previous venture. “My premiums for my trucking business went…
Nesty’s in Rochester to rebrand as Mexican restaurant
Nesty’s Burger Joint opened a second location in Rochester last year, but now the owners have announced plans to turn it into a Mexican restaurant. In a statement posted on the business’ Facebook page Jan. 2, owners Nestor and Megan Lopez wrote: “During this amazing year as part of the fantastic community of Rochester, we…
Building permits – Dec. 30 – Jan. 5
First & Madison LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 100 E. Madison St. Contractor is Joyner Construction Services and the project is valued at 40,000. Legacy Point Development Co. LLC received a commercial new construction permit for 3751 Imagineer Drive. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $8.5 million. DRN Rentals…
Myers Building auction postponed
The auction for the Myers Building in downtown Springfield has been postponed, but the goal is still to find a new owner for the building after three generations of family ownership. “We have had a lot of interest in the property, but due to the holidays and some weather-related issues, we decided to reschedule it…
Illinois’ minimum wage increases to $15 an hour
The minimum wage in Illinois has increased to $15 an hour as of Jan. 1, completing a six-year transition period since the increase was approved in 2019. Illinois workers making minimum wage will see wages rise by $1 and tipped workers will see their paychecks bump to $9 an hour. Youth workers under 18 who…
Renovations continue at Illinois Capitol
A massive $300 million construction project is underway at the state Capitol. The entire north wing, including the Senate chamber, is being renovated. A beautiful new feature of the Senate chamber is an 18-foot square stained-glass ceiling with skylight, consisting of 105 individual panels and 6,566 pieces of glass. During construction the Senate met in…
Critical thinking jiujitsu
In my son’s jiujitsu practice, coaches help competitors remain calm under pressure. In fact, emotional outbursts in a match result in disqualification. Once your emotions take over, you’ve lost the ability for rational problem-solving and decision-making. This is advice I’m leaning heavily into these days (takes deep breath). It seems like any conversation is just…
Supporting redevelopment in downtown Springfield
The June 19 fire that destroyed a building and impacted multiple businesses in the 400 block of East Adams Street left a hole in the downtown landscape, further challenging the area with finding ways to engage the community and grow. But with loss comes potential for renewal. A recently released master plan for rebuilding and…
Springfield Clinic CEO Ray Williams will retire effective Dec. 31
Springfield Clinic CEO Ray Williams will retire effective Dec. 31 after serving in that role for eight years. “Making the decision to retire was not easy, but my family must come first at this stage of life,” Williams said. “It has been an incredible honor to serve as Springfield Clinic’s CEO, working alongside such talented…
UIS researchers partner with SIU School of Medicine to study how cancer spreads
Scientists at University of Illinois Springfield and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine are teaming up to investigate how certain cells in the body connect and encourage the spread of cancer. The project, led by Natalya Zinkevich, UIS assistant professor of integrated sciences, and Sophia Ran, SIU professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology,…
New laws in 2025 will affect Illinois employers
Starting in 2025, there will be quite a few new laws that will affect Illinois employers. Changes include wage transparency obligations in job postings, inclusion of family responsibilities and reproductive health decisions as protected categories under the Illinois Human Rights Act, stricter record keeping and access requirements under the Personnel Records Review Act and additional…
Fairlane Diner
I grew up in Cleveland, where the phrase rock ‘n’ roll was first coined. And I even went to the epic celebratory party when Cleveland was awarded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So yes, I’ve got a bit of affinity for it starting all the way back in the 1950s, which is why…
Q&A with Molly Berns
Molly Berns is a Sangamon County native who is retiring this month as executive director of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission. She joined the SSCRPC in 2008 as the senior planner for land use and was promoted to her current position in 2018. Berns has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree…
Best Places to Work alumni spotlight: Resource One
Resource One, 321 E. Adams St., is a full-service contract office furniture dealership established in 1987 by Cindy Davis. She serves as president of the company while her son, Chris Davis, is vice president of operations and her daughter, Lauren Nevius, is vice president of sales. The business was recognized as one of Springfield Business…
Building permits – Dec. 16 – Dec. 22
Harun Samir Qattum received a commercial remodel permit for 1038 S. Pasfield St. Contractor is Aboul Raqeb Alward and the project is valued at $2,500. Concordia Village received a commercial remodel permit for 4101 W. Iles Ave. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $586,329. Illuminative Ventures LLC received a commercial remodel…
