A longtime staple of Virden’s downtown business scene is expanding to Springfield. Books on the Square opened in Virden in 1992 and will soon open its second location at 427 E. Washington St. in downtown Springfield. Co-owners John and Jeannie Alexander of Virden started Books on the Square together. John Alexander says he was a […]
Comings & Goings
Posted inArticles
Former Goodwill building to house different nonprofit – Building permit roundup
By Patrick Yeagle The former Goodwill building on North 11th Street in Springfield is slated to become the new headquarters for a different nonprofit. Capitol Reuse Center Inc. purchased the building at 815 N. 11th St. earlier this year for $15,000 and obtained a permit this week from the City of Springfield to remodel the […]
Posted inArticles
Building permit roundup – Aug. 16, 2017
The City of Springfield recently issued the following permits: Capitol Reuse Center LLC obtained a permit for non-structural demolition at 815 N. 11th St. Mark Iversen is the contractor. The project is valued at $3,000. The City of Springfield obtained a permit for remodeling, tuck pointing and sealant work at 800 E. Monroe. The project […]
Posted inArticles
Oak Ridge Cemetery seeks new tourism signage – Zoning board roundup
The Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission is slated to consider a zoning reclassification for 101 W. North Grand Ave. to allow for new signage directing visitors to Oak Ridge Cemetery. The request by Cooney Clan LLC and Oak Ridge Cemetery Foundation would allow new signage directing people to the cemetery, Lincoln’s Tomb and the African […]
Posted inArticles
Express brings Clydesdales to State Fair
By Patrick Yeagle They weigh as much as a ton. Their feet are as big as dinner plates, and their shoes weigh three pounds each. A man of average height barely reaches to tops of their shoulders. They are the revered Clydesdale horses, and they’re coming to Springfield for the Illinois State Fair, thanks to […]
Posted inArticles
Dragon Fire Pizza making Springfield debut at State Fair
By Patrick Yeagle What do you get when you put a wood-fired brick oven burning at 1,000 degrees inside a trailer? Besides a very warm trailer, you get Dragon Fire Pizza, a food truck expanding to Springfield from Champaign. The truck will debut here during the Illinois State Fair and then establish a weekly route […]
Posted inArticles
City demolishes former Ridgely village hall after legal battle – Building permit roundup
By Patrick Yeagle The City of Springfield this week began demolishing a north-end building constructed in 1885. A demolition permit was issued this week following a two-year legal battle, during which the building’s owner attempted to establish a hydroponic garden and community center at the site. The Ponics Project owned 1901 Elizabeth St., a 132-year-old […]
Posted inArticles
Building permit roundup – Aug. 2, 2017
By Patrick Yeagle The City of Springfield Building and Zoning department has approved the following building permits: Cell phone carriers Verizon and AT&T obtained permits for a cell tower “collocation” at 2723 W. Monroe St. The work on the $98,000 project is being done by Effective Electric, Inc. and Communication Builders, Inc. Meanwhile, cell phone […]
Posted inArticles
Jan-Pro targets medical field in Springfield expansion
By Patrick Yeagle A commercial cleaning service with franchises around the globe is planning an expansion to Springfield. Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems, based in Georgia, expects to establish a location here and is seeking franchise candidates. The company serves a variety of industries, including medical, retail, fitness and real estate. Scott Thompson, chief development officer for Jan-Pro, […]
Posted inArticles
Fehr Graham opens new Springfield office
Engineering firm Fehr Graham opened its new office in Springfield this month after moving from its former location on South Grand Avenue West. The new office, located at 2060 W. Iles Ave., officially opened July 14. “Fehr Graham continues to grow in the Springfield market, and we are excited about our new space,” said Mary […]
Posted inArticles
Traffic up at Springfield airport as larger planes introduced
About 1,600 more passengers used Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in the first half of 2017, compared with the same time frame last year. The boost in traffic comes as the airport prepares to host larger airplanes. From the start of 2017 through June 30, a total of 99,076 passengers flew through the Springfield airport, […]
Posted inArticles
Instacart launches in Springfield as retail delivery grows
By Patrick Yeagle Delivery of groceries and other retail products is growing in Springfield, with San Francisco company Instacart the latest to launch delivery service here. Geared toward convenience, the nationwide trend is attracting both retailers and consumers. David Osborne, general manager of Instacart in Springfield, says the company started about five years ago when […]