A mother-daughter team has launched Harvest Kitchen + Bar, serving American classics with a twist, at 4241 Conestoga Drive. Odette Yobal, who co-owns the new venture with her mother, Vivian Dominguez, described it to SBJ as “an elevated aesthetic but still affordable and approachable for everybody.” Related The current menu includes breakfast staples such as pancakes, […]
Newsletter – Taste
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Kelsey Harms opening Café Amulet in Petersburg
Feb. 23 is the final day of operations for 1st and 3rd Boutique and Wine Bar in Petersburg, but the business will soon reopen with a new name and different focus. “We’ll be closing on the building the following week,” said Kelsey Harms, who is purchasing the property at 105 S. Seventh St. from Liz […]
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Japan House to replace Empire Korean Steakhouse
Empire Korean Steakhouse and Bar is preparing to close, but the space will promptly transition to a new restaurant concept operated by the same family. “My dad is taking over the business operations,” said Kevin Huang, who has been running Empire Korean Steakhouse since it opened in October 2022. Huang said the new restaurant, Japan […]
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Cozy Dog Drive In
I’ve never been a big fan of hot dogs. A few times a year when I’m at the ballpark or some other big venue I’ll opt for one, especially if brown mustard is available. Or late at night after a few beers, a Chicago dog might be called for – but not your general boiled […]
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Golden Hour Bake House opening Feb. 8
Golden Hour Bake House will open Feb. 8 at 11 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, and the business will now feature a breakfast and lunch menu in addition to baked goods. In 2023, Alli Donaldson launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund her dream of opening a brick-and-mortar location for her business. She had been […]
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Scooter’s Coffee expanding to Chatham
Scooter’s Coffee is expanding into Chatham with plans to build a new location this spring. Franchise owners Marcus and Lauryn McGlasson are Pleasant Plains residents who opened their first Scooter’s location in Taylorville in 2021, followed by a store at 2935 Clear Lake Ave. in December 2022 and a second Springfield location at 1740 Wabash […]
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Marco’s Pizza closes remaining Springfield store
Springfield’s first – and last – Marco’s Pizza location has closed with the shuttering of the store at 3201 W. Iles Ave. as of Dec. 9. In a Dec. 10 interview with The Pantagraph, McLain Hoogland, president of Hoogland Restaurant Group, cited the rising minimum wage in Illinois as the reason for closing the Springfield, […]
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17-year-old entrepreneur launches Nourish food truck
A young entrepreneur launched a new food truck in November that serves the Springfield area. Nourish is the brainchild of 17-year-old Camille Moorman, who said she uses family recipes for the menu. Moorman described her grandmother as a “huge inspiration” who mentored her. “I have three main items each time I open; I like to […]
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Delaney’s Smokehouse closes
Delaney’s Smokehouse reopened last year under new ownership following extensive renovations, but the north-end business has now closed. “The food was great, and business was picking up well,” said Stuart Hillyer, who co-owned the business along with Bill Tinsley. Tinsley also owns and operates Main Gate Bar & Grill and Kentucky Burn. However, Hillyer said a key […]
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Bloom Hospitality & Catering opens catering kitchen
Bloom Hospitality & Catering has opened a catering kitchen at 1012 W. Iles Ave., just off Macarthur Boulevard in Springfield. Owner Gabi Thompson purchased the building earlier this year, and she and business partner John Huffman have spent the past six months renovating it. The new building features a fully equipped prep kitchen, on-site parking […]
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Coffee shop planned for former Recycled Records building
Arrowroot Coffee Co. has been in business for five years butwill soon have its first brick-and-mortar retail location. Owner Jacob Dinardo said he is purchasing the building at 625 E. Adams St. that previously housed Recycled Records. “I jumped at the opportunity to have that building; the oldRecycled Records space really meant a lot to […]
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New owner discusses plans for Gabatoni’s reopening, menu
The meatloaf helped make a match. William “Bill” Pope said he was not a customer of Gabatoni’s, but got to know the owner, Rosalie Beck, because she came into his restaurant, Charlie Parker’s Diner, on a regular basis. “She was here every Wednesday and got meatloaf to take home with her,” Pope said. “I found […]