Firehouse Subs is returning to Springfield after a four-year absence. The restaurant operated at 4151 W. Wabash Ave. from 2012-2018 and is now preparing to reopen in the same location. The new owner/operator, Larry Webb, is a U.S. Army veteran and longtime franchisee with the company. In addition to Springfield, Webb owns Firehouse Subs locations […]
News
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Taco John’s coming to Sangamon County
Taco John’s is coming to Sangamon County, with a location currently under construction in Riverton. The quick-service restaurant will occupy 2000 square feet in the Riverton Travel America truck stop complex at the Overpass Road exit on I-72, just east of Springfield. “This is our first Taco John’s project, so we are very excited to […]
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The Wakery, a late-night coffee shop and dry bar, planned for downtown Springfield.
The Wakery, a late-night coffee shop and dry bar, is in the works for downtown Springfield. “Everything to do downtown after 5 p.m. is a restaurant or bar,” said Elizabeth Wake, who envisions offering the downtown community other options. “We want to provide a positive nightlife atmosphere and build up an inclusive, non-alcoholic community.” While […]
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Keefner’s closes after no buyer is found
Keefner’s has closed a week earlier than planned after a buyer for the restaurant couldn’t be found. The final day of operations was Sunday, July 24. Owner Angie Keefner-Grieser told SBJ earlier this month the restaurant would close at the end of July if she hadn’t identified a buyer by then. The business was listed […]
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Big Sharks Fish & Chicken coming to Springfield
Big Sharks Fish and Chicken is coming to Springfield. Sajed Qattoum, a Decatur native, opened his first location in Decatur in November 2019, just a few months before COVID took a toll on the restaurant industry. “The takeout business really boomed at that time; we’ve been busy from the start,” Qattoum said. Now he’s signed […]
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Thompson Center sale finalized with Google to be building’s lone occupant
By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois After years of failed efforts that spanned multiple administrations, the state has finalized the sale of the controversial James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to a company that will make it the new Chicago home of tech giant Google. Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement during a news conference […]
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Sikich LLP relocates Springfield office
Sikich LLP is relocating its Springfield office, but the firm isn’t moving far. The company, which provides accounting, audit, tax, consulting and technology services, has been located at 3201 W. White Oaks Drive for the past 13 years. As of July 31, Sikich will be operating out of 3051 Hollis Drive, which is also home […]
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Shake This Eat That opening July 30
David and Tiffany Simmons are taking physical health to the next level. The couple, who own four Snap Fitness franchises in the Springfield area, are now expanding into nutrition with the opening of Shake This Eat That. Scheduled to open July 30 in the former Grateful Coffee location at 1370 Toronto Road, Shake This Eat […]
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Troxell Insurance hires Kyle Dyson as new COO
Troxell Insurance has named Kyle Dyson as the new chief operating officer, effective July 18. Since 1887, this is only the second time in the company’s history that a non-stakeholder will run the day-to-day operations of the agency, which is owned locally by six individuals and employs more 100 team members. In March, the agency […]
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Sonny and Parker Adams launch HuntCo Land Management
Sonny Adams, owner of Adams Pest Control, has launched a new business with his son, Parker Adams, at the helm. HuntCo Land Management is headquartered at 1550 Recreation Dr., the same location as the family’s pest control business, but has a very different focus. “We’re outdoors people; my kids have grown up in the outdoors,” […]
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Dr. Sameer Vohra to lead Illinois Department of Public Health
Governor JB Pritzker has appointed Dr. Sameer Vohra, a pediatrician and health care policy expert, to lead the Illinois Department of Public Health beginning Aug 1. Vohra, the founding chair of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Department of Population Science and Policy, follows Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who stepped down in March after leading […]
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Lynn Saputo starts position with the Illinois Sheriffs Association
Lynn Saputo is the membership marketing coordinator for the Illinois Sheriffs Association as of July 1. Prior to that, she spent 12 years with Springfield Park District, first as the general manager for Erin’s Pavilion and then as the director of recreation and marketing. “I was looking to scale back, retire a little if you […]