Heavy equipment has been at work near the headquarters of SIU Medicine, but the medical institution says it’s part of an overall cleanup effort, rather than immediate plans for new construction. Demolition permits were filed at the beginning of February for single family homes at 529 and 539 Hay St., 700, 704, 714, 716 and […]
Columns
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Foreclosure sale for former restaurant
The location of the former Loukinens’ on 4th restaurant is set to go on the auction block at a foreclosure sale. The property at 517 S. Fourth St., across the street from the Executive Mansion, entered into foreclosure on Feb. 25, according to a public notice. The judgment amount is listed as $182,828. According to […]
Posted inBuilding Permits
Building permits – Feb. 23 to March 1
Goddard Early Childhood Development received a commercial accessory structure permit for 3411 Hedley Road. Contractor is GRP Wegman Electric and the project is valued at $120,000. Hoogland 2015 Children Prop LP received a commercial demolition permit for 924 North Grand Ave. W. Contractor is Lincoln Land Excavation Demolition Inc. and the project is valued at […]
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Fact or fiction: Is Golden Hour Bake House closed?
It appears the sun has set for Golden Hour Bake House, just over a year after the business opened a brick-and-mortar location. Customers of the downtown bakery and café discovered the doors locked on Saturday, Feb. 28, with no signage posted to explain the closure during regular business hours. While the business closed for a […]
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Aumann Auctions and Cory Craig Auctioneer to merge
Aumann Auctions and Cory Craig Auctioneer have announced a merger of the two Midwest auction companies. Founded in 1965, Cory Craig Auctioneer is a second-generation, full-service auction company serving clients throughout Illinois and surrounding states. Aumann Auctions has conducted auctions locally as well as across the U.S. and Europe since 1962. “Cory Craig has built […]
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Hiller Automotive closes
Hiller Automotive has closed its Springfield location. A representative from Hiller Automotive’s shop in Pekin confirmed that the auto repair shop at 2595 South MacArthur Blvd. closed at the end of 2025. There are no plans to reopen the Springfield location, according to the representative. The property, which includes an approximately 7,000-square-foot building with seven […]
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Compass receives $230K donation
Representatives from the Asian Indian Women’s Organization presented Compass for Kids with a $230,000 check, funds raised from the most recent India Night celebration. The Nov. 8 event at the Crowne Plaza featured cultural performances, an auction and bazaar. Dr. Richa Pandey, who served as AIWO president last year, told Springfield Business Journal prior to […]
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New Porsche Center opens
Isringhausen Imports has opened its new Porsche Center in downtown Springfield. Located at 100 E. Madison St., across from the existing BMW facility, the new facility is built to Porsche’s latest Generation 5 design standard and showcases the brand’s architectural vision. It features a panoramic glass showroom anchored by a 180‑inch LED video wall, an […]
Posted inBuilding Permits
Building permits – Feb. 16 to Feb. 22
Carriage House Plaza LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2715 W. Monroe St. Contractor is Larry Stocker and the project is valued at $210,000. Westgate SC LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 2851 S. Veterans Parkway. Contractor is RE Crawford Construction LLC and the project is valued at $820,467. Legacy Park Sports LLC […]
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Downtown building slated for renovation
One of only five buildings on the Old State Capitol Plaza that remains from Lincoln’s time may soon be getting a new owner and a makeover. The building at 518 E. Adams St. has been vacant since the last tenant, Di Piero’s Sicilan Cucina, closed at the end of 2024. Owner Pete Praia opened the […]
Posted inProfessional Development
Beyond shortcuts
In a world where we joke “there’s an app for that” every time we face an inconvenient task, it’s easy to slip into a mindset where technology exists to help us do less thinking. Need a summary? AI can do it. Need ideas? AI can brainstorm. Need the answer to a question your brain should know? […]
Posted inRestaurant review
Jo’s Place
One of my besties has been crowing to me about Jo’s Place in Virden and that I needed to do a review of it. Unfortunately, some timing issues meant that I was unable to do the review with him. Instead, I visited with my wife and mother-in-law – each a critic in their own right. […]