Local First is hosting a workshop for small business owners, How to Succeed at the Hardest Part of Business: Employees. It will be held on Friday, July 13 at 9 a.m. at Engrained Brewery & Restaurant, located at 1120 W. Lincolnshire Boulevard in Springfield. One of the most challenging things about entrepreneurship is finding – […]
Business News
The Show Must Go On: Donnie B’s Reopens
Donnie B’s Comedy Club and the adjacent restaurant, Westside Pub and Grill, closed on June 9 and owner Don Bassford had originally announced the business would not be able to continue to operate. “We officially closed on Saturday night, I gave glasses away and when I walked out of the bar at 1:15 on Sunday […]
Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. buys second brewery
By Niko Robledo Buzz Bomb Brewing Co., a downtown Springfield brewery located at 406 E. Adams St., has purchased a second brewery in Illiopolis to meet their rising demand. Formerly known as Reinstone Brewery, the facility will contain a 10-barrel electric brewing system. Co-owners Bill Larson and Josh Flanders say this new facility will nearly […]
Local First to host a workshop for small business owners
Local First is hosting a workshop for small business owners, Business Management: Challenges, Growth, & Adaptation. It will be held on Tuesday, June 12 at 9 a.m. at Sangamon Reclaimed, located at 1315 Otis Street in Springfield. In 2013, Brian Frieze launched Sangamon Reclaimed after seeing a gap in the market for reclaimed wood and […]
33rd Annual Small Business Awards
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce will hold the 33rd annual Small Business Awards on Tuesday, June 19 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Springfield. The Chamber’s Small Business Awards, presented by Hickory Point Bank, recognizes area small business people for their outstanding achievement in five different business categories. Regular attendees include area business owners […]
Systemax’s continuing social media seminar series
Local marketing firm Systemax is offering a workshop on “Instagram vs. Snapchat for Businesses,” the fourth of a series of six social media seminars designed to address questions that business owners may have about how to best promote their products and services. This session will help people understand an overview of each platform as well […]
Underneath the Purple Rain
Break out your ruffled shirt and eyeliner and join Downtown Springfield, Inc. in celebrating what would have been Prince’s 60th birthday while supporting revitalization efforts in the heart of our city. On Thursday, June 7 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. DSI will host “Underneath the Purple Rain” at the Barker family farm, located at 4491 Old Chatham […]
New owner for No Agenda 321 in Chatham
No Agenda 321, a bar and tapas restaurant located at 321 N. Main Street in Chatham, has been sold to Jose Lopez, who also owns and operates the Casa Real and Tacos Pepe restaurants in Springfield. Jamie Loftus owns the retail center in Chatham where No Agenda is located, and he decided to open his […]
Carquest Auto Parts moving to S. MacArthur location
Carquest Auto Parts will soon be moving into the former Advance Auto Parts location at 2625 S. MacArthur Boulevard in Springfield. Meanwhile, Advance Auto Parts will consolidate their two local stores into one location at 2721 South Grand Avenue. In 2014, Advance Auto Parts, Inc. bought the parent company of Carquest, making the new combined […]
Here Today
Here Today, a discount store with an ever-changing inventory of items at closeout prices, is getting ready to open a Springfield location at 1774 West Wabash. Evans Construction is the general contractor for the $1,195,000 project currently under construction in the Chatham Square Shopping Center. An 8800 square foot addition is being built on to […]
Startup city
Innovation awards spotlight entrepreneur spirit By Zachary Roth There were some award categories at the inaugural Illinois Capital Innovation Awards that weren’t too surprising for those who appreciate this fair city. Government solutions, health care applications and medical device innovations can be expected in a town with a thriving medical industry and a bustling political […]
Systemax’s continuing social media seminar series
Local marketing firm Systemax is offering a workshop on “Facebook Ads Manager,” the third of a series of six social media seminars designed to address questions that business owners may have about how to best promote their products and services. This session will help people using Facebook for their business understand the steps to building […]

