BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Dec. 2 and Dec. 8, 2019. Mahnee Lesa and Somsavink obtained a commercial parking lot permit for 1308 S. 2nd St. Win Mannee is the contractor and the project is valued at $21,000. Wal-Mart Business Trust in care of MS […]
Comings & Goings
Kevin Sullivan to open The Barn
Kevin Sullivan started his food service career washing dishes at King Pin Lanes at the age of 16 and most recently worked for 5 Flavors Catering, where he served as the executive chef for Governor J.B. Pritzker’s inauguration dinner. In between, he’s worked for a variety of corporate chains and local restaurants, but is now […]
6th St. Café to open downtown
After operating the Cookie Dough Factory for the past year at 214 S. Sixth St. in downtown Springfield, owner Sasha Brinson is switching her business model. The space will now be home to 6 St. Café, which already has signage promoting “breakfast, lunch and cocktails,” and Brinson said she hopes to be open within the […]
Curate is now open
Curate, a small plate restaurant and wine bar offering various ethnic cuisines, has opened at 2930 Plaza Drive in The Gables shopping center. Curate is located in the building formerly occupied by McCormick’s Smokehouse, which closed at the end of 2018. Owners Dan and Nickey Sperry, along with co-owner and executive chef Justin Richardson, also […]
Building permit roundup Nov. 18 Dec. 1
BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1, 2019. JJ4 Properties, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 215 S. Lewis St. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $10,000. ARCP MT Springfield IL, LLC in care of Ryan, […]
Taqueria el Paisa is now open
After working in Mexican restaurants for more than 20 years, Oscar Alvarado has now opened his own restaurant. Taqueria el Paisa is located at 1827 North Peoria Rd. in the building that originally housed Java Express, and more recently, Taste of Windy City. Alvarado was the general manager of Los Agaves, which closed in 2017. […]
Building permit roundup Nov. 11 Nov. 17
BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Nov. 11 and Nov. 17, 2019. Siciliano, Inc. obtained a commercial remodel permit for an interior demolition at 3501 Winchester Rd. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $7,500. Central Illinois Trade Services, LLC obtained a […]
HIP Advertising to close
HIP Advertising, a full-service marketing agency, will close at the end of the year when owner Myra Hoffman retires after 27 years. Hoffman founded HIP Advertising in 1993, along with Barb Pape, and has been the sole owner since 2007. The agency, located at 2809 Mansion Road in Piper Glen, represents a variety of Springfield-area […]
Jose Lopez restructures, focuses on Casa Real
After simultaneously owning and operating multiple restaurants over the last few years, Jose Lopez, Jr. says he’s decided take the focus back to Casa Real, his original concept. “I thought I could do it — my mind told me I could do it — but when I tried, the right elements of management weren’t there,” […]
Building permit roundup Oct. 28 Nov. 3
BY STACIE LEWIS Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3, 2019. Arec 34, LLC obtained a commercial permit for phase one of a remodel at 3250 E. Clear Lake Ave. valued at $150,000. A commercial permit for the same address was obtained for phase two […]
Great House BBQ opens in former Tasty City Seafood space
Great House BBQ has opened at 4233 W. Wabash in the former Tasty City Seafood & Trio space that went dark in June after less than a year in business. Kurtis Mitchell, who co-owns Great House BBQ along with his sister, Dianna Mitchell, said it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. “The […]
Rigney’s School of Archery opens
Following the closure of Springfield Archery in August, Kim and Gary Rigney have opened Rigney’s School of Archery (RSA) in Chatham. The couple founded the school in 2013 and previously rented space inside Springfield Archery, located at 1550 Recreation Dr., with Kim teaching classes and Gary serving as the store manager. “We felt it was […]

