

Land of Lincoln Economic Development Corporation seeking input
The Land of Lincoln Economic Development Corporation (LLEDC) is seeking to engage the community in a meaningful way to create an economic development plan for strategic action. Community members are invited to complete an online survey or by providing input at one of three open houses: Thursday, Sept. 27, 5-6:30 p.m. at the University of…
John Park joins O’Shea Builders
O’Shea Builders has hired John Park as a field engineer. Park will be working in the field at various job sites. Originally from Buffalo, Illinois, Park previously worked in construction with Space Age Construction, which specializes in Walmart remodels, over the last several years. Park currently resides in Springfield with his wife, Amanda, and their…
Leadership changes at Henson Robinson Company
Joe Kulek is the new CFO/Executive of Henson Robinson Co., effective Sept. 4. He succeeds Steve Etheridge, who had served in that role for 23 years. “Steve is still with the company and will be phasing out over the coming year,” said Kulek. “The other change is that Brian Vogt, who is currently president of…
It’s All About Wine has new owners
John Roman, who opened It’s All About Wine in 2006 after operating the local Famous Liquors store for many years, has sold the business to new owners. However, regular customers of the business located at 1305 Wabash Ave. won’t notice any drastic changes. The selection of merchandise and store hours will remain the same, and…
Springfield’s first hookah lounge
Springfield will get its first hookah lounge when The Field Bar & Grill Hookah Lounge opens later this month at 933 North Grand Ave. Hookah lounges, which originated in India and spread throughout the Middle East, are now fairly common in larger cities throughout the United States and Europe. Owner Yvette Tucker said the idea…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Sept. 10 and Sept. 16, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Sept. 19 BY STACIE LEWIS SJ Valentine, LLC obtained a commercial building permit for an Aquamarine Car Wash at 2600 Prairie Crossing. Cloyd Builders, Inc. of New Berlin is the contractor and the project is valued at $1,000,000. ILLIRS Company, LLC obtained a commercial parking lot permit for 3101 Constitution Dr. …
2018 Springfield Preservation Awards
Springfield Business Journal and the City of Springfield’s Historic Sites Commission are hosting the 2018 Springfield Preservation Awards, sponsored by Illinois Realtors. The recipients of this year’s awards will be recognized at a reception and awards ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 5-7 p.m. at Illinois Realtors. There is no charge to attend, please RSVP…
2018 Springfield Preservation Awards Recipients
Be sure to check out our event at the Illinois Realtors 522 S. Fifth St. Springfield, IL on September 19th, 2018 from 5pm to 6pm. Learn more about the event here.
Unveil Your Beauty relocates
Unveil Your Beauty, a retail store specializing in handmade wedding accessories, has relocated to 1020 W. Lawrence Avenue in Springfield as of Aug. 27. Owner Brenda Ritter originally started the business 10 years ago out of her home in Divernon and then moved to a location on West Jefferson in Springfield a few years ago.…
Town and Country Bank hires Howard Martin
Town and Country Bank has hired Howard Martin as a member of the commercial lending team. Howard serves as vice president, commercial banking officer, and is responsible for new business development within Springfield and the surrounding markets. His focus will be on commercial, industrial and commercial real estate lending within the respective markets. “We are…
Larry Sapp joins Garrison Group
Larry Sapp, a well-known local real estate developer, has joined Garrison Group as a broker. Sapp began his real estate career as an agent with Lincoln Land Development in 1975 and most recently served as president and managing broker of the company. Lincoln Land Development has been responsible for a number of projects in the…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Sept. 3 and Sept. 9, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Sept. 12 BY STACIE LEWIS Curtis Trampe obtained a commercial fence permit for a 6’ black vinyl fence at 4815 Rodger St.. Goodman Fence, Inc. is the contractor and the project is valued at $21,698. Trust 413-015, in the care of United Community Bank, obtained a commercial remodel permit for code…
Eye Candy Salon & Spa is growing
Eye Candy Salon & Spa, located at 3001 W. White Oaks Drive, has recently doubled in size by expanding into an adjacent suite. The owner, Tye Hale, opened the business in the Cascades Shopping Center last November. Tye had previously rented space at a salon in town before deciding to go out on her own…
Ride to Remember 9-11
Hall’s Harley-Davidson is hosting “Ride to Remember 9-11” on Sunday, Sept. 9, an annual memorial parade and ceremony to remember those that lost their lives and to honor the first responders and the heroes of that fateful day. On Sunday, Sept. 9, vehicles can begin lining up at 9 a.m. at Hall’s Harley-Davidson, located at…
People on the move at Hanson Professional Services
Ronda Folkerts has joined Hanson Professional Services Inc. as chief financial officer as Jo Ellen Keim, CPA, transitions into retirement. “Jo has done an outstanding job during her 23 years with us,” Sergio “Satch” Pecori, P.E., Hanson’s chairman and CEO, said. “She was our first CFO, and her financial leadership has helped us grow from…
Fact or Fiction: New Starbucks coming to Springfield?
SBJ has received several inquires about what is being built on the lot just north of Panda Express on North Dirksen in Springfield. Construction is underway at 2720 North Dirksen, with no signage to indicate what might be coming soon. A building permit filed by CFT NV Developments of Rosemead, California, the parent company of…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2, 2018.
Building permit roundup – Sept. 5 BY STACIE LEWIS Walgreens obtained a commercial remodel permit for 2020 S. MacArthur Blvd. Icon Identity Solutions of Rolling Meadows is the contractor and the project is valued at $23,000. McDonalds Corporation obtained a commercial fire sprinkler remodel permit for 522 W. Jefferson. Automatic Fire Sprinkler, LLC of Normal…
Local First Springfield’s upcoming awards program
Local First Springfield will host their inaugural awards program on Thursday, September 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Isringhausen Imports. Mayor Langfelder will give remarks and awards will be presented to local businesses in seven different categories. This will also serve as the annual meeting for Local First and is a great opportunity to meet the…
GoWeb1 has relocated
GoWeb1 has recently moved to a new location at 400 South Grand Ave. West, just down the street from their previous office space in the former Standard Mutual building. GoWeb1 purchased the 3300 square foot building that previously served as an office for Lutheran Child & Family Services. Owner Mark Roberts said, “I’ve always admired…
Illinois Women in Leadership Annual Womens Symposium
Illinois Women in Leadership will host their 7th Annual Women’s Symposium on Sept. 27th at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. This year’s theme is “Unite.” The keynote speaker, Cordia Harrington, will speak on “No is not an option.” She will teach attendees how to overcome obstacles, be resourceful and stay focused to get you to…
Sojourn’s Resale to close Aug. 31.
Sojourn’s Resale, a thrift store whose proceeds support the work of Sojourn Shelter and Services, has announced that Aug. 31 will be their last day in business. The resale shop, which is located in Fairhills Mall, tried to renew their lease earlier this month and was notified that the rent for their space would be…
News from Springfield Clinic
Springfield Clinic has announced the promotion of Cal Thomas to vice president of marketing and business development. Thomas has served as both a director and senior director in business development and physician recruitment over the past seven years. In addition, Springfield Clinic has hired Zach Kerker as director of marketing and communications. He comes to…
Tim Robinson and Jason LeMasters join Marine Bank
Tim Robinson and Jason LeMasters have joined Marine Bank as vice presidents of mortgage lending for the Springfield market. Both lenders assist home buyers, ranging from first-time buyers to vacation home buyers, with all types of home loans including conventional, FHA, VA and USDA. Robinson has more than a decade of experience in mortgage underwriting,…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Aug. 19 and Aug. 26, 2018.
Building permit roundup – August 29 BY STACIE LEWIS HSHSH Medical Group obtained a commercial remodel permit for work at 2901 Old Jacksonville Rd. O’Shea Builders is the contractor and the project is valued at $330,844. Curtis Trampe obtained a commercial mechanical permit for a new construction mini storage at 4815 Rodger Road. Darrin Wood…
Joseph’s Fine Cuisine is now open
Joseph’s Fine Cuisine, the latest venture for James “JoJo” Solomon and Joe Hacker, opened this week. After the success of their downtown location, JoJo’s Street Quisine, the owners decided to open a fine dining restaurant on the west side of Springfield. Joseph’s Fine Cuisine is anchoring the strip center at 3141 Hedley Road that Mike…
New downtown coffee and retail shop
A new coffee and retail shop has opened in downtown Springfield. Brown Sugar and Vanilla Beans opened last week at 304 E. Adams, next to JP Kelly’s Pub. In addition to a selection of international coffees and teas, which can be purchased by the cup or packaged, the shop has an eclectic mix of antique…
Pittman’s Popcorn Shop plans a second location
Pittman’s Popcorn Shop has announced plans for a second location in downtown Springfield, in addition to the original location at 1500 Wabash Ave., which opened in 2016. There will be no shortage of options for those with a sweet tooth, since Pittman’s new location at 221 S. Sixth is located on the same block as…
Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home acquires Staab Polk facilities
The Butler family has recently acquired Staab Polk Memorial Home and Sangamon Prairie Reception Center in Chatham. The organizations under the umbrella of the Butler family now include Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home; Butler Cremation Tribute Center; Butler Pet Cremation Services; Boardman-Smith Funeral Home; and Roselawn Memorial Park and Roselawn Pet Cemetery (Springfield); McCullough-Delaney &…
Greater Springfield Chamber Job Fair
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce will host The Greater Springfield Chamber Job Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This event provides a convenient and cost-effective way for employers across central Illinois to connect with job-seekers of all ages, as well as individuals interested in new or advanced careers. For job-seekers,…
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Aug. 13 and Aug. 19, 2018.
Building permit roundup – August 22 BY STACIE LEWIS CFT NV Developments, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for interior work at Great Clips at 2724 N. Dirksen Pkwy. MCO & Associates of Phoenix, AZ is the contractor and the project is valued at $60,000. CFT NV Developments, LLC also obtained a commercial mechanical permit…
Access to Care program receives national recognition
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY DAVID BLANCHETTE A three-year collaborative effort to improve the overall health of a specific Springfield neighborhood has received national recognition and is poised to expand into another area of the capital city. The American Hospital Association has recognized HSHS St. John’s Hospital and Memorial Medical Center with the NOVA Award for the…
New tariffs may harm ag, steel industries
BY SCOTT FAINGOLD On July 27, the Citizens Club of Springfield presented its most recent Public Policy Breakfast, “A Local Conversation on Tariffs” at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The discussion featured panelists Dr. Patricia Byrnes, a professor in the economics department at the University of Illinois Springfield; Mark Gebhards, executive director of government…
SIU explores new approaches to pain management
BY RACHEL JOHNSON American health care systems, doctors and doctors-in-training are looking for new ways to combat chronic pain and long-term health care issues besides prescribing pain medication. Southern Illinois Medical School in Springfield is on the forefront of new approaches to this challenge. Dr. Stacy Sattovia, an associate professor at SIU, developed an interest…






