After more than six decades in the same family, Hall’s Harley-Davidson has been sold to another central Illinois family. The location at 2301 N. Dirksen Parkway will be rebranded as Simpson’s Harley-Davidson. New owners Rhett, Trent and Linn Simpson also own Andrae’s Harley-Davidson in Urbana. “I’m still physically in the building doing things and helping […]
Columns
Posted inPeople on the Move
New leadership for Growth Corp
Growth Corp, an SBA 504 lender for small and mid-sized businesses, has announced a leadership transition effective Jan. 1. After 35 years as president, Doug Kinley will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, while Sara Vanhala has been appointed president. Vanhala is a nearly 20-year veteran of the organization and current chair of the […]
Posted inComings & Goings
Food vendors announced for entertainment complex
Construction on Legends Entertainment in Legacy Pointe is underway, and the five local vendors for the food court have been finalized. In June, SBJ broke the news about the planned entertainment complex, which will include an indoor/outdoor food court, a 12-lane bowling alley and an 8,000-square-foot arcade with around 100 games for kids, plus adult […]
Posted inBuilding Permits
Building permits – Dec. 15 to Dec. 28
Legacy Park Sports LLC received a commercial accessory structure permit for 3751 Imagineer Drive. Contractor is Tardis Structures, LLC and the project is valued at $30,000. Legacy Park Sports LLC received a commercial accessory structure permit for 3751 Imagineer Drive. Contractor is Tardis Structures, LLC and the project is valued at $8,333.33. Legacy Park Sports […]
Posted inMedical News
Pritzker signs ‘medical aid in dying’ bill amid religious opposition
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law Dec. 12 that will allow terminally ill adults in Illinois to take life-ending medication prescribed by physicians. The controversial bill overcame strong opposition from religious groups and some disability rights advocates who feared it could endanger Illinoisians with disabilities. Critics call the practice “assisted suicide,” while those who support the law […]
Posted inRestaurant review
Gabatoni’s Italian Restaurant
I’ve been going to Gabatoni’s since I arrived in Springfield in 1999 and maybe even in 1992 while I was here for a judicial clerkship. I was saddened when the pandemic led the prior owners to shift to takeout only, which lasted even after the COVID-19 restrictions eased. But, with new ownership and a re-do […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Mylas Copeland on the importance of giving back
University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Janet Gooch and vice chancellor for student affairs Jamarco Clark put their heads together to create the UIS Chancellor’s Thinkers Series. Clark said this initiative “grew out of conversations between the chancellor and me about creating opportunities for people to engage constructively, even when perspectives differ. Too often, society struggles […]
Posted inAsk an Attorney
Big dilemmas for tiny houses
The recent passage of a moratorium on tiny houses in Ward 2 comes with some conditions, namely, that the city engage in a review of zoning and housing policies, hold at least two community engagement sessions, assess economic, environmental and social impacts of tiny homes in Ward 2, and make recommendations to the city council […]
Posted inProfessional Development
Best practices for performance reviews
Ah, the performance review… the human resources tool that everyone loves to hate. Managers and employees alike struggle to find value in reviews, but when done right, they guide career development and keep the organization moving forward. With turnover still high in many organizations, and with so many workers still in a remote or hybrid […]
Posted inQ & A
Q&A with Phil Martin
Phil Martin started working on job sites with his father, Russ Martin, at a young age and graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. After starting his career with Turner Construction Company in Chicago, he returned to Springfield in 1991 to work at Martin Engineering Company, […]
Posted inComings & Goings
Good Heart Tattoos relocating
Another downtown business is closing, but this time the owner says it’s because of a transition to a different business model rather than a lack of foot traffic. “I know there are a lot of other businesses leaving downtown, but mine is less about being downtown and more about life changes,” said Benny DeWitt, owner […]
Posted inComings & Goings
New boutique for west side
For Brittney Hinkle-Dura, being called “beige” is a compliment. “They call me ‘beige Brittney;’ I like that warm tone and feel,” she said. Now she is launching her own business, Beige Bee Boutique, to offer neutral, veritable wardrobe staples to other women. The boutique will be located at 3255 Ginger Creek Dr. in the last […]