A longtime local owner and operator of Midas franchises has acquired the former Hiller Automotive property on MacArthur Boulevard — with an eye toward opening a new Midas location on the site.
The property at 2595 S. MacArthur Blvd. has been vacant since Hiller Automotive closed at the end of 2025. Kenton Childs, who has owned and operated Midas franchises for many years, purchased the property in a deal that closed Sept. 30.
Throughout his career, Childs has owned as many as 33 Midas franchises. In recent years, he has sold off most of the stores and now owns just two Midas auto centers — in Rhode Island and Connecticut. However, he still owns the real estate where many of the other Midas franchises are located.
He currently is negotiating with the New Jersey-based company that acquired many of his franchises, including Springfield’s only other Midas on Stevenson Drive, about operating a new Midas on the MacArthur Boulevard property.
“They are very, very interested in the property,” Childs said. “I’m 99% sure there will be a Midas there.”
Childs and his wife, Gwen, purchased the property through an LLC for $217,500, according to Sangamon County tax records. The property originally was listed at an asking price of $490,000.
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The 7,000-square-foot building will provide ample space for the project as most Midas locations are closer to 5,000 square feet, Childs said. He already has started renovation work at the property, including replacing the parking lot and painting the building’s exterior.
“It has plenty of parking, plus it’s on the west side of town,” Childs said. He said he expects the proposed improvements along MacArthur Boulevard from Wabash to South Grand Avenue will prompt increased development along the corridor.
“I think there will be a lot more investment there after MacArthur has been widened,” he said. “We really want to see MacArthur succeed.”