Springfield Business Journal Illinois

12/12/2025

The city of Springfield has hired Suraksha Bhandari as its new professional planner, bringing a blend of international experience, architectural training and research-driven urban planning to city hall

The city of Springfield has hired Suraksha Bhandari as its new professional planner, bringing a blend of international experience, architectural training and research-driven urban planning to city hall.  Bhandari comes to Springfield from Salt Lake City, where she completed a master’s degree in c...

12/11/2025

The Barrel Head has been closed for more than two years, but those who are nostalgic about the longtime bar and grill now have a chance to own a piece of its history:

The Barrel Head has been closed for more than two years, but those who are nostalgic about the longtime bar and grill now have a chance to own a piece of its history. Aumann Auctions is conducting a liquidation sale of the bar and grill’s inventory, ranging from beer and spirit signs and assorted ...

12/10/2025

The number of Hardee’s restaurants in the Springfield area continues to decline, with two more locations closing permanently within the past week.

The number of Hardee’s restaurants in the Springfield area continues to decline, with two more locations closing permanently within the past week. The stores at 317 E. Clear Lake Ave. and 2501 Stevenson Dr. both have “permanently closed” signs on the front doors directing customers to visit th...

12/09/2025

A local couple is bringing a Korean convenience store concept to Springfield.

A local couple is bringing a Korean convenience store concept to Springfield. Jung and Julie Kim have signed a lease for space at 2637 Chatham Road to open Pop In Seoul Asian Market in the shopping center that also houses Café Moxo and Papa Murphy’s. “An Asian convenience store is a little diff...

12/08/2025

Jennifer Bettis has joined the Lincoln Land Community College Foundation as director of major gifts and development.

Jennifer Bettis has joined the Lincoln Land Community College Foundation as director of major gifts and development. She most recently spent four years as the director of development for University of Illinois Springfield, after 17 years as director of advancement for Sacred-Heart Griffin High Schoo...

12/08/2025

"The Amazon box symbolizes my struggle to uphold my values in a hyper-efficient, global marketplace," Chef Peter Glatz writes.

The new Salt Fork Food Works Springfield food hub sources goods from more than 40 local farms and businesses, making it easier to support family farms and sustainable agriculture:

I am a staunch supporter of family farms and sustainable agriculture, and I prefer shopping at small, local businesses over large corporations. This deeply held belief is why the sight of an Amazon package on my porch inevitably triggers a sense of guilt. The Amazon box symbolizes my struggle to uph...

12/05/2025

Doug Brown, chief utility engineer for City Water Light & Power, will retire from the city effective March 31.

Doug Brown, chief utility engineer for City Water Light & Power, will retire from the city effective March 31. He has worked for CWLP for 31 years, the past 11 at the helm of the municipal utility. Brown has led the city-owned utility through numerous projects and strategic initiatives over the year...

12/04/2025

Hundreds of people packed the BOS Center last night for a public forum on the data center proposed for southwestern Sangamon County.

Here are more details on the timing, projected tax revenue and jobs, and who owns the land that would be used to build the $500 million project:

The proposed $500 million data center that CyrusOne wants to build in southwestern Sangamon County would generate up to $6 million more each year in property taxes by the early 2030s, an official from the Dallas-based company told Illinois Times. “It would be a real asset to the county,” Bradd H...

12/03/2025

It’s only been a year since Alex Bogusz opened Happy Hour Pilates, but she already has a second location in the works.

It’s only been a year since Alex Bogusz opened Happy Hour Pilates, but she already has a second location in the works. “I didn’t anticipate it to take off the way that it did. We’re running out of room,” Bogusz said of the existing location at 455 N. Walnut St. Bogusz, who worked for a [.....

12/02/2025

A new group of owners has taken over the former Crows Mill Pub and reopened it as The Library Pizza and Sports Bar.

A new group of owners has taken over the former Crows Mill Pub and reopened it as The Library Pizza and Sports Bar. The building at 1220 Toronto Road has been a bar and music venue since 1976, although it has operated under various names and owners over the decades. “We’re rebranding, and we wil...

12/01/2025

A court hearing is scheduled Dec. 4 to finalize a $7.6 million settlement that would pay people whose personal information was seized by hackers in a targeted cyber attack that temporarily crippled Hospital Sisters Health System in 2023.

A court hearing is scheduled Dec. 4 to finalize a $7.6 million settlement that would pay people whose personal information was seized by hackers in a targeted cyber attack that temporarily crippled Hospital Sisters Health System in 2023. The nonprofit health system, based in rural Sangamon County ne...

12/01/2025

Join Illinois Women in Leadership for a holiday pop up social from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 5th Street Gem in downtown Springfield.

Members and guests welcome - no RSVP needed.

https://community.springfieldbusinessjournal.com/event/iwil-december-pop-up-social-15928213