Loukinens' on 4th is closing again, this time for good. Co-owner and chef Keith Loukinen has announced Saturday, May 3, will be the last day of operations.
“With the changes that have occurred in the dynamic of downtown Springfield these past few years, coupled with the skyrocketing cost of doing business, he has deemed it no longer financially sustainable to continue with the business,” an April 23 social media post read in part.
Loukinens’ opened in 2017 at 517 S. Fourth St., across from the Executive Mansion, and featured casual, upscale dining using local, seasonal ingredients.
In December 2023, the Chicago-based law firm of Noonan & Lieberman, Ltd. filed for foreclosure against the property on behalf of Community Loan Servicing. The restaurant closed suddenly in February 2024 but reopened the following month.
A GoFundMe that was created immediately following the closure raised more than $1,500 before being taken down. Numerous comments were posted on Loukinens’ Facebook page criticizing the GoFundMe campaign and questioning whether the closure would be temporary or permanent, given that the property was listed for sale.
Jay Clark, a broker with The Real Estate Group, initially listed the property for sale in March 2023 at an asking price of $1,750,000. The listing price was lowered to $1,500,000 on Feb. 12, a day before the restaurant closed, and then withdrawn from the market on Feb. 20.
The posts regarding the closure and GoFundMe were later removed from the business’ Facebook page. The April 23 post stated, “Effective immediately, the building is for sale to preapproved buyers. Licensed brokers who bring a buyer that culminates in a sale will be compensated” and directed buyers and brokers to contact Keith Loukinen directly.
The post also stated that “all inventory, including the art collection, will be liquidated on a cash and carry basis in order to pay all debts owned against the business.”
According to Sangamon County court records, the initial foreclosure was dismissed in May 2024. Community Loan Servicing filed for foreclosure again in November 2024, this time listing additional defendants in addition to Keith and Laurie Loukinen, but the case was dismissed later that month.
According to Sangamon County tax records, the property was purchased in February 2017 for $150,000 by KALL Restaurants, an LLC controlled by the couple.
Prior to that, Augie Mrozowski operated it as August Restaurant, along with Augie’s Front Burner downtown.
