PhysioTherapy Professionals opening second location downtown
PhysioTherapy Professionals is expanding again, this time with a satellite location in downtown Springfield. “We have always had a dream of having a little downtown clinic to service everyone who lives and works downtown,” said co-owner Kirsten Transue of the decision to open a second location in the lower level of the historic Kerasotes building.…
Adrienne Hood has been named the new general manager of White Oaks Mall
Simon has named Adrienne Hood as the new general manager for White Oaks Mall. Taking the helm of the largest enclosed shopping center in central Illinois, Hood brings to White Oaks Mall several years of experience in mixed-use and commercial property management, most recently serving as general manager for The Shops at Chestnut Hill in…
The Salted Lemon Market & Creamery opens in former CherryBerry space
The Salted Lemon Market & Creamery, the latest venture of Three Twigs Group, is having its grand opening on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The third venture for husband-and-wife team Emily and Tim Lewis, The Salted Lemon is located next to its sister business, Biscuits & Brunch by Three Twigs at the corner of Iles and Chatham…
Tacology 201 opening on west side, restaurant leaving downtown
Tacology 101 is closing its downtown Springfield location, effective Oct. 31, and will open a new, larger west-side restaurant in November known as Tacology 201. In July, SBJ reported that a space in the West Iles Business Center was currently undergoing renovations in preparation for a new tenant. At the time, James Hamilton, who co-owns…
Building permit roundup – Sept. 7-Sept. 13
John and Sandra Fulgenzi obtained a commercial accessory structure permit for 1168 E. Sangamon Ave. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $3,000. Springfield Clinic, LLP obtained a commercial remodel permit for 500 E. Cook St. O’Shea Builders is the contractor and the project is valued at $20,000. Springfield Clinic obtained…
Drive-thru health care: Springfield Clinic adapts to pandemic
By Holly Whisler A drive-up may not sound like a health care delivery model, but Springfield Clinic will soon have two drive-up lab locations for the convenience of its patients. COVID has caused many people to rethink necessary activities, and businesses have responded with innovative ways to help us collectively adapt. “Springfield Clinic set up…
Family Video closing all but one Springfield location
Family Video has notified employees that all Springfield locations will be closing this month, with the exception of the store at 1802 North Grand Ave. The locations at 1614 S. MacArthur, 2919 S. Sixth St. and 3201 W. Iles are slated to close on Sept. 19. Family Video is the last video rental chain in…
Li’l Willy’s Smokehouse BBQ has opened in the former Free Press Coffee location
Sept. 8 was the first day of business for Li’l Willy’s Smokehouse BBQ, a new venture from Conn’s Hospitality Group. The restaurant is occupying the former Free Press Coffee location at the corner of South Grand Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, which closed on July 3. The name Li’l Willy refers to the childhood nickname for…
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau launches its new SPI 7 in 7 competition
As businesses in the Springfield area continue to cope with ripple effects of the pandemic, including declines in tourism, the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a new program to encourage people to patronize businesses in the community. The SPI 7 in 7 competition consists of seven categories with seven activities each that can…
State of the City
The annual State of the City event will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., sponsored by the Commercial Real Estate Network of Capital Area REALTORS and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Jim Langfelder will review the accomplishments and challenges of the past year, outline priorities for the upcoming months…
Building permit roundup – Aug. 31-Sept. 6
Great Northern Partners, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 3105 W. Great Northern Drive. Joyner Construction Services, Inc. is the contractor and the project is valued at $47,000. CARE YBE Subsidiary, LLC in care of Bickford Master, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for work at 2417 S. West White Oaks Drive. The contractor…
Uprooted by Willow & Birch opening in Taylorville
In 2010, Willow & Birch opened in Springfield as a full-service salon and has grown over the years, adding additional spa services and a boutique. Owner Jessica Kocurek is now expanding again, this time with a second boutique location in Taylorville. “I’m from Edinburg, and in 2006 I started as a hairdresser in Taylorville, just…
Moxie Massage expanding, moving into Kerasotes building
The lower level of the historic Kerasotes building at the corner of Sixth and Washington streets has a new tenant. Moxie Massage has already been located downtown for more than a decade, but the move to 605 E. Washington St. represents a significant expansion from its previous location and owner Heather Fowler said she is…
Haley Fitzgerald joins Security Bank
Security Bank has hired Haley Fitzgerald as a consumer and mortgage lender. She will be working at the main branch, 510 E. Monroe in downtown Springfield. Fitzgerald is a Springfield native who graduated in May with a bachelor’s in business administration from Illinois State University. She is also a graduate of the Sangamon CEO program.…
Nichole Sperry joins Jim Wilson Interiors
After more than a decade with BUNN, Nichole Sperry has a new job with Jim Wilson Interiors and is also growing her own business, Raven Design. “I worked at BUNN as creative director for over 12 years, and I was looking for a different challenge,” said Sperry. In addition, she is also a partner in…
Building permit roundup – Aug. 24 – Aug. 30
Umbrella Property Ventures, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 520 South Grand Ave. West. Ryan Becker is the contractor and the project is valued at $3,900. Eid Kattom obtained a commercial remodel permit for 100 W. Ash St. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $4,500. Don Curtis Unit 3157…
Vele to move into former American Harvest space
Vele, a restaurant with a modern coastal Italian menu and trendy vibe, opened in downtown Springfield in November 2017. It occupies the former Café Brio space on the lower level of 524 E. Monroe and served as the anchor tenant for the Ferguson-Booth building project that initially began in 2012. However, with the first developer…
Scooter’s Lawn Care acquired Lawn Perks
Scooter’s Lawn Care, a full-spectrum lawn and landscaping company, has acquired Lawn Perks, effective Sept. 1. Lawn Perks, based in Chatham, also provides both residential and commercial services. Jacob Godar, owner of Scooter’s Lawn Care, headquartered at 3805 N. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield, said the acquisition will allow the company to do “even more of…
A Q&A with Dr. W.G. Robinson-McNeese
By Lana Shovlin Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese has been a soldier and a student, a pastor and a physician. He grew up in East St. Louis and tried college after graduating high school, but ultimately joined the military and was sent to Vietnam. At the age of 30, he returned to college and then graduated from…
Hospitals cope with ripple effects from COVID – Few patients, but many changes for the health care industry
By David Blanchette The one constant for the health care industry has been change during the ongoing COVID pandemic, and Springfield hospitals are striving to stay one step ahead of the microscopic menace and the unprecedented disruption it has wrought to one of the area’s biggest and most vital industries. “We’ve had to change every…
Ask an attorney – COVID concerns at work
Q. Can I refuse to go to work because of COVID-19? A. Most employees are “at will” employees, which means that you could be fired for not showing up. This is true whether you are considered an essential worker or not. As always, the best approach is to explain your reasoning and try to work…
Healthy meals made easy
By Carey Smith Meal delivery systems were growing in popularity even before the pandemic, and with many more people eating primarily at home, this business niche is flourishing. National names such as Blue Apron or HelloFresh may have entered our local consciousness, but Springfield has been home to meal preparation and delivery systems for at…
15 Under Fifteen awards program nominations being accepted
Springfield Business Journal is now accepting nominations for the 2020 15 Under Fifteen awards program. Each year, Springfield Business Journal partners with United Community Bank to recognize 15 outstanding small businesses in the local area. To qualify, a business must be located in Sangamon or Morgan county, have been open for at least two years and have 15…
Whimsy Tea Company
While some small businesses are downsizing or even closing, Gordon Davis is preparing to open a brick-and-mortar location at 413 E. Adams in downtown Springfield for Whimsy Tea Company, the business he co-owns with his wife, Laura. “Even through the pandemic, our sales are up pretty significantly,” Davis said. In addition to selling 35 different…
Amber Kaylor is the new CEO for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois
The board of directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois (RMHCCI) has hired Amber Kaylor as the new CEO of the nonprofit organization, which spans 29 counties across central Illinois. Kaylor, who currently serves as CEO of Children’s Museum of Illinois, brings nearly 10 years of nonprofit experience to RMHCCI, including her background…
The Hair Studio relocates, expands after previous building destroyed by drunk driver
Jade Ebert is having an eventful year. While 2020 has been challenging for small business owners across the board, Ebert has endured some additional setbacks. She had to close her business, The Hair Studio, for 10 weeks during the governor’s stay-at-home orders. Then, she had only been back to work for a few weeks when…
Building permit roundup – Aug. 17 – Aug. 23
Islamic Society of Greater Springfield obtained a commercial remodel permit for work at 3255 Mathers Road. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $20,000. Genevieve Kelly obtained a commercial accessory structure permit for a detached garage at 44 Redwood Lane. The contractor is Fallingbrook Maintenance and the project is valued at…
LLCC to offer free truck driving training for veterans, active military and their spouses
Veterans, active military and their spouses will be eligible to receive free training at Lincoln Land Community College for a career in truck driving, thanks to a federal grant just announced. LLCC is one of 20 institutions in the nation and the only one in Illinois to be awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation Commercial…
