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Articles by Eric Woods
Star Graphics & Media
621 E. Monroe St. Springfield 217-744-7225 Established: 1998 Owners: Robert and Sheri Koch Employees: Services: printing, signs, trade show displays Robert and Sheri Koch started Star Graphics & Media in 1998 as a home-based business. They quickly discovered they needed more space and moved the company to 1801 Laurel St., where they lasted for a decade before also outgrowing that building and moving downtown to 621 E. Monroe St., in 2011.
Scoop Du Jour - Springfield Business Journal
95 Plummer Boulevard, Chatham 217-697-8327 Established: 2015 Owners: Shannon McAuley and Fran Abbott Employees: 14 Services: restaurant Scoop Du Jour was founded in 2015 by Shannon McAuley and Fran Abbott after realizing Chatham needed an ice cream parlor. Both wanted to see the old-fashioned, hand-scooped ice cream shop make a comeback. The two had more than 50 years of combined experience in retail, so they decided to go for it.
Recon Techs Springfield
820 E. Black Ave. Springfield 217-670-1132 Established: 2012 Owners: Derek and Melissa Roberts Employees: 5 Services: detailing, painting and repairs Recon Techs Springfield opened its doors in 2012 under the name Luxury Detail. In July 2017, the company, which offers detailing on cars, boats, RVs and even aircrafts to customers throughout central Illinois, changed its name to Recon Techs.
Paul’s Paradise - Springfield Business Journal
2430 State Route 125, Pleasant Plains 217-891-8516 Established: 2021 Owner: Sherri Paul Employees: 3 Services: Wedding and event venue Paul’s Paradise is a family operated wedding and event venue located about 10 miles west of Springfield. Paul’s Paradise began as an extension of the Paul Tree Farms family business.
Luminary Counseling
3695 S. Sixth St. Frontage Road, Suite A Springfield 217-679-6344 Established: 2020 Owners: Lauren Henton and Katie Romang Employees: 6 Services: counseling Lauren Henton and Katie Romang, co-owners and practicing therapists, began Luminary Counseling and Solutions after seeing an opportunity to create something different.
Krekel’s Custard & Hamburgers
2121 N. Grand Avenue E. Springfield 217-525-4952 Established: 1949 Owner: Suzie Wichmann Employees: 15 Services: Restaurant William Krekel founded the Krekel’s brand back in 1949 on Eldorado Street in Decatur. His mission was simple – to provide delicious hamburgers and pair them with handmade milkshakes and French fries at family friendly prices. Krekel’s has now grown to seven locations throughout central Illinois. The current owner, Suzie Wichmann, is William Krekel’s granddaughter.
Greenie’s Grill - Springfield Business Journal
445 State St, Ste C, Rochester 217-498-1038 Established: 2024 Director: Kayla Webster, Adam Greenfield Employees: 8 Services: Restaurant and food trailer Greenie’s Grill began in July 2023 as a food trailer. The business is owned by Adam Greenfield, who serves as the owner-operator and chef, and Kayla Webster, who works behind the scenes overseeing the business side of the operation. Their first event was serving the volunteers shucking corn for the Chatham Sweet Corn Festival.
Floral Expressions
630 E. Jackson St., Auburn 217-438-3408 Established: 1990 Owner: Marlo Mohler Services: floral shop Marlo Mohler opened Floral Expressions in June of 1990, shortly after graduating from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture. “I had the opportunity to move back to my hometown and open a flower shop, which was always my plan since childhood,” she said.
Fed Kitchen - Springfield Business Journal
3290 W Iles Ave, Springfield 217-679-6044 Established: 2019 Owners: Celeste Malham Brennan Malham, Will Hoecker, Omar Romero, Anna Dent Employees: 5 Services: restaurant and meal prep Celeste Malham founded Fed Kitchen in 2019 with a mission to make healthy eating more convenient for the Springfield community. Malham brings more than 15 years of experience in both the food and wellness industries to the endeavor.
Downtown Springfield Inc.
3 W. Old Capitol Plaza, Suite 15 Springfield 217-544-1723 Established: 1961 Director: Jay Shanle Employees: 3 Services: nonprofit focused on downtown revitalization Downtown Springfield Inc. began in 1961 with the mission to preserve, promote and enhance Springfield’s historic central-business district and support a vibrant city center.
Clean Slate Advocates
2105 E Cook St, Unit 21131, Springfield 217-610-5844 Established: 2023 Director: Robert Frazier Employees: 1 Services: Nonprofit providing laundry services Clean Slate Advocates was established in 2023 by executive director Robert Frazier. The goal was to provide free laundry services to individuals and families facing homelessness or financial hardship in Springfield.
Blue Coat Arms Co.
10001 Curran Rd, Chatham 217-416-5962 Established: 2017 Owners: Kevin and Lydia Cline Employees: 2 Services: Gunsmithing Blue Coat Arms Co. is a two-person enterprise run by Kevin and Lydia Cline. “My wife Lydia is basically the CEO of the business and manages a bulk of the operations while I take care of project development and fulfillment,” Cline said.
Bewitching Botanicals
415 W. Madison St., Auburn 217-705-4578 Established: 2019 Owner: Jessice Lance Employees: 5 Services: bath, body and home products Jessica Lance founded Bewitching Botanicals in October 2019, starting with handmade products assembled on a folding table in her home. Today, the company has grown into a brick-and-mortar retail store, production space and online business.
Better With Bubbli Boutique
3852 Wabash Ave, Springfield 217-679-1776 Established: 2020 Owner: Randi Pecka Employees: 4 Services: Women’s clothing boutique Established in July 2020, Better With Bubbli Boutique is a women’s clothing boutique curated for the girl-on-the-go. Owner Randi Pecka launched the company initially as an online boutique geared toward young, contemporary women. “I’d recently left my position at Illinois State University working as an assistant director of athletics communications,” she said.
AlignLife Chiropractic & Natural Health Center
2931 Montvale Dr, Springfield 217-860-0360 Established: 2013 Owners: Dr. Bryne Willey Employees: 8 Services: Chiropractic care Dr. Bryne Willey had a vision to help build a stronger, healthier community – naturally. So, in 2013, he began AlignLife Chiropractic & Natural Health Center. “We are mission driven, and we lead with heart,” said Staci Serena, chief operating officer and practice manager.
15 under Fifteen 2026
This is the 24th year that Springfield Business Journal has partnered with United Community Bank to recognize 15 outstanding small businesses in the local area. To qualify, a business must be located in Sangamon or Morgan county, have been open for at least two years and have 15 or fewer full-time employees. The recipients represent […]
Garret Moffett - Springfield Business Journal
Originally from Macomb, Illinois, Garret Moffett was an international tour guide for more than 20 years, having not only given tours throughout the Midwest but also Britain and Western Europe. With a never-ending love of history and a wealth of historical knowledge, Moffett used his storytelling skills and his experience as a tour guide to develop the first tour company of its kind in Springfield.
Springfield Clinic (alumni)
Founded in 1939, Springfield Clinic is one of the largest physician-led multi-specialty medical practices in Illinois. With more than 650 physicians and advanced-practice practitioners, Springfield Clinic delivers care across more than 80 specialties and subspecialties in approximately 70 locations. The clinic serves patients in more than 20 counties across central Illinois, and its mission is to improve health, provide value and serve the Springfield and central Illinois community.
Springfield Urban League - Springfield Business Journal
For nearly 100 years, the Springfield Urban League has stood as a pillar of advocacy, opportunity and empowerment for central Illinois. From the earliest days in the fall of 1926, the Springfield Urban League has been a steadfast companion to families navigating the tides of history. “We’ve stood strong through the civil rights movement and the fight for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Modern Countertops - Springfield Business Journal
T.J. Henderson started Modern Countertops in a single-car garage in 2012. The early years focused on learning the craft and building strong systems. Over time, the company has grown into a 25-person team that completes nearly 100 projects per month across Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana. “We’ve always believed that investing in equipment and systems should make work better for the people doing it,” Henderson said.
Best Places to Work 2026
Springfield Business Journal holds a variety of awards programs throughout the year, but Best Places to Work is unique because it requires employees to nominate their own company for recognition. Instead of simply trading their time for a paycheck, these employees realize that their work is serving a larger purpose and they feel valued and appreciated…
Springfield Plastics
In 1978, a group of local investors headed by Roy Baker, Wayne Baker and Glen Brandt began Springfield Plastics, Inc. With a background in agricultural drainage, Wayne insisted that the company produce products that would stand up to the demanding farm-drainage market. His experience from the early days of plastic drainage pipe also reinforced the idea that the products be consistent. The company has since become a leading manufacturer of plastic corrugated drainage piping in the Midwest.
Irvey’s Ice Cream, made daily on-site at Kern's Food Hall, is 'new kind of experience' Original
Eric Woods Shopper News Every Fourth of July, Trent Sanders gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, with his family, who came in from Alaska. It was tradition for his grandfather to slow-churn vanilla ice cream, and they ate it after the fireworks show. The tradition sparked Sanders’ love for the frozen treat, and he eventually found his way back to ice cream professionally with Irvey’s Ice Cream. He wants his ice cream to become an ingredient of fond memories, for customers of any age.
Kern’s Food Hall expands its Caribbean options with Hemingway’s Cuban Kitchen
Kern’s Food Hall has added another international food option with Hemingway’s Cuban Kitchen. Becoming well known as a hub for diverse culinary offerings, the food hall has now entered the Caribbean sector. Though the Patel brothers are from India, they settled in Florida and found that Cuban food was a good business. However, they were still committed to making the food as authentic as possible, so they brought in a chef named Marco, who specializes in the Cuban sector.
Ooh Lala Indian Kitchen at Kern's Food Hall boasts 'authentic flavor' that 'was missing'
Eric Woods Shopper News Recently added to the list of international cuisine at Kern’s Food Hall is Ooh Lala Indian Kitchen. Ooh Lala was started by manager Raj Patel and his brother, who also own Hemingway Cuban Kitchen. Though their Cuban cuisine is authentic thanks to their chef, they found a lack of authentic food from their home country in Knoxville. Indian cuisine naturally has a lot of vegetarian options, and as a vegetarian, Patel was looking for options for himself.
Free Caribbean music and culture on tap June 15 at Baker Creek Bottoms in South Knoxville
Eric Woods Shopper News The Caribbean is more than a tourist destination, and East Tennesseans of Caribbean descent want to share that. To that end, they’ll be celebrating Caribbean Heritage Month with “Steelpan in the Park” on June 15 at Baker Creek Preserve. The free event, from 4 to 8 p.m., will show some of the vibrant aspects of Caribbean culture with live music, a fashion show, face painting and food.
Island Home leader saw people getting hurt at the river's edge. How he took action. Original
Eric Woods Shopper News Matthew Park looked at the riverbank at Island Home Park and saw it slowly fading away as the water from the Tennessee River eroded the land. Subsequently, he watched as people struggled to drop their kayaks and paddleboards into the water. Park, a decade-long resident of Island Home Park and president of the community’s neighborhood association, began to seek ways to tackle both issues. “The primary objective was to stabilize the bank,” Park said.
Kirby Smart delivers intense pregame comments prior to national title bout
It’s safe to say that Kirby Smart is ready to repeat his national championship win from last year. This team is hungry — perhaps more than last year’s team. In his pregame interview, Smart kept it short and simple. “Aggression,” he said. “That’s what we want to do. We’re going hunting tonight. We gonna do the best we can to hunt tonight.” The Bulldogs got off to an incredible start and took a 10-0 lead.
Antwane Wells, standout South Carolina WR, announces 2023 plans
Antwane Wells provided Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks with some huge news for the 2023 season. “Juice” announced his decision to return to the program for his senior season, posting a highlight real ending with “Juice is back.” Wells is an elite playmaker with track speed and provides a huge boost to the Gamecocks, who now ride even more momentum into 2023. He lead the team in both receiving yards (928) and receiving touchdowns (6) this past season.
Sonny Dykes provides pregame update on status of star TCU RB Kendre Miller
Sonny Dykes met with College GameDay to discuss his team’s upcoming matchup with Georgia in the National Championship. He spoke on the emotions surrounding a title game appearance in his first year as TCU’s head coach. ”A lot of different emotions. The big thing we gotta do today is focus on today and doing our job,” Dykes said. “I think we’ll have a chance to reflect on all of this after the season but we got a lot of work in store today.
College GameDay releases hype video as Georgia prepares to go for second-straight national title
With Georgia set to face off with TCU for this year’s national title on Monday night, College GameDay naturally dropped a hype video on the Bulldogs’ mission to repeat as national champs. The premise of the video was that Georgia isn’t satisfied with one title. The Bulldogs are looking to be the premier college football program and a dynasty like that of SEC foe Alabama. The only way to do that is to keep winning.
Nick Saban explains why he doesn't like to watch football games for fun
While the rest of us will be on our couch watching Georgia and TCU battle it out for a National Championship, Nick Sabin will not be joining. Though Saban is usually on the sidelines for it, jealousy is not the reason he won’t be watching. It’s simply because all he would be thinking about is how he’d be scheming up the two teams. “I don’t even like to watch games, to be honest with you, because it just feels like work,” Saban said.
Mike Leach tributes pour in on social media after Mississippi State's dramatic win over Illinois
College football fans around the country honored Mike Leach after Mississippi State defeated Illinois in the Reliaquest Bowl on Monday 19-10 in its first game with out its beloved head coach, who recently passed a way from a heart condition. In MSU’s first play, they took a delay of game to honor their coach. Bret Bielema and the Illini declined the penalty. It wasn’t necessarily a Leach-style of game. It was low scoring and a dogfight throughout, but the Bulldogs honored him with a win.
Boomer Esiason eviscerates Mac Jones, lists several things about ex-Alabama QB that piss him off
Following a solid rookie campaign where he finished with 3,800 yards and led the New England Patriots to a playoff berth, Mac Jones has taken quite the step back in 2022. While the Patriots are still in the playoff hunt, Jones has been a middle of the pack starter at best. Currently, he has 2,753 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 8 interceptions — a leap back from the type of borderline star numbers that were expected out of him this season.
Jim Harbaugh will reportedly leave Michigan if NFL opportunity is offered to him
Following the resurgence of Michigan football, but the disappointment of two straight College Football Playoff semifinal losses, Jim Harbaugh is once again surrounded by rumors of a return to the NFL, according to The Athletic. After parting ways with the San Francisco 49ers and taking the Michigan job shortly after, Harbaugh was seemingly stuck in a cycle of mediocre seasons — by Michigan standards — ending with a loss to Ohio State.
South Carolina sees defensive back enter the transfer portal, per report
No, the transfer portal madness continues and it will not stop. It is affecting every program in the country as players look elsewhere for better opportunity. The latest SEC team to get hit is South Carolina. Defensive back Tyrese Ross has entered his name into the portal, according to a report from On3 Sports. Wherever Ross chooses to go next will be the third that he has been on.
Joel Klatt blasts Heisman Trophy voters, names 10 alternatives to Stetson Bennett
Many people are unhappy with how the Heisman Trophy finalists turned out. Perhaps no one is as unhappy as FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt. The 4 finalists were Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, Max Duggan and Stetson Bennett. However, Klatt went all in on protesting Stetson Bennett’s case via a Twitter thread. First, he came up with 6 alternative finalists, which may be a little much, but definitely made his point. He didn’t stop there and instead came up with 4 more.
Devon Achane, Texas A&M star, announces plans for 2023 season
Devon Achane has announced his decision to enter the 2023 NFL Draft via Instagram following his junior year. As one of the lone bright spots on a rocky season for Texas A&M, the running back has decided to test his talents at the next level. Achane is coming off 2 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from scrimmage. In his junior year, he racked up 1,298 yards to go with 11 touchdowns. In his final game, he led his team to an upset over No. 5 LSU in his first game back from an injury.
Dan Mullen, Rick Neuheisel evaluate Heisman Trophy finalists
There has been much controversy over this year’s Heisman Trophy finalists. Whether the controversy has been that some of the finalists don’t deserve to be there, someone else deserved it more, or they’re only there because of — fill in the blank — everyone is talking about it. Former coaches Dan Mullen and Rick Neuheisel joined Childers Radio to discuss the results of the voting, and their opinion was much of the same — the Heisman voting is flawed.
LSU reportedly sees defensive back enter name in NCAA transfer portal
The transfer portal opened up roughly 41 hours ago. Since then, it has been madness, taking victims by the minute. As the rules on transferring become more relaxed and the NIL era is in its cage stages, more players begin to search for better opportunities. The latest victim is LSU, which sees redshirt sophomore defensive back Damarius McGhee put his name into the portal, per On3’s Matt Zenitz. McGhee was part of the Tigers’ 2021 class and still has 3 years of eligibility left.
Greg McElroy blasts Heisman Trophy voters for not having Bryce Young and Hendon Hooker as finalists
The Heisman Trophy finalists have been announced, which means that everyone is talking about it. The finalists are CJ Stroud, Caleb Williams, Stetson Bennett and Max Duggan. It also means that there are going to be many people who disagree with the list. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy is one of those people. He feels that the Heisman voters are way too caught up in recency bias.
UT-Martin coach Jason Simpson shares impressions of Tennessee
UT-Martin head coach Jason Simpson was in Knoxville during his bye a week before the Skyhawks matchup with the Vols. No, it wasn’t to scout the Vols, but it was to support his son, Ty Simpson, a former 5-star quarterback who is now a freshman at Alabama. He did, however, get a good look at what Tennessee has to offer as its offense dismantled one of the best teams in the country.
Danny Kanell, noted SEC troll, throws cold water on possibility of 3 SEC teams in Playoff
Danny Kanell is not about the “SEC bias.” With the SEC having 3 undefeated teams: Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee as well as one-loss Alabama team heading into Week 8, the conversation around a playoff featuring more than 2 SEC teams is heating up. The basis is that outside of Ohio State, those SEC teams are miles ahead of anyone else. Kanell doesn’t think so. He became heated on Sirius XM when the possibility of a 3-plus SEC team in the playoff came up in the script that his producer gave him.
Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo calls out Nick Saban's coaching: 'That was a pretty awful job'
Awful is not a word used often to describe Nick Saban’s coaching. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo did. In an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith, Russo got fired up when speaking on Alabama’s 17 penalties and more in its loss to Tennessee. “17 penalties, 17,” Russo said.
Greg McElroy pumps the brakes on Alabama concerns: 'The world is not coming to an end'
Every time that Alabama loses, you hear people all around saying that the Alabama dynasty is nearing an end. It is quite the same after the Tide lost 52-49 to Tennessee. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, in his experience in and around the program, said not so fast. “We’ll be fine, the world is not coming to an end,” McElroy said on “The Paul Finebaum Show.” “We have seen teams struggle in the past.
Kirby Smart updates Georgia's injuries, offers latest comments on Jacksonville
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are preparing for The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party against Florida following this week’s bye. Given Tennessee’s recent success and Florida’s woes this season, people are already looking toward Georgia’s matchup with the Vols that will seemingly decide the SEC East. However, just because Georgia’s matchup with the Gators won’t be the decider in the East, Smart is not taking it lightly. “It’s the Georgia-Florida matchup.
NFL announces newly scheduled 'Black Friday' game for 2023
The NFL has announced that its first ever ‘Black Friday’ game will air on Amazon on Nov. 23, 2023. The featured teams will be announced at the same time as the schedule for the regular season. “Thanksgiving is synonymous with football and we’re excited to give our fans another day of NFL action during this holiday weekend,” Chief Operating Officer for NFL Media Hans Schroeder said.
Vanderbilt announces contract extension for men's basketball coach Jerry Stackhouse
Vanderbilt announced Tuesday that it is extending fourth-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse. Stackhouse has made tremendous strides in a program that hasn’t experienced much success. Being a former NBA player can do that for a program and is a big advantage in recruiting. Stackhouse’s triumphs as a coach include sending Aaron Nesmith, Saben Lee and Scotty Pippen Jr. to the NBA. He also reached an NIT quarterfinal and now looks to bigger goals as a coach.
LSU releases awesome highlight video showcasing Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase's return to Superdome
LSU welcomed Joe Burrow—or as he’s known in the streets of Louisiana, Joe Burreaux—by way of a hype video as he made his return to Louisiana to face the New Orleans Saints along with star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The video showed Burrow running out on the field in Caesar’s Superdome, shifting back and forth between then and when he ran out in his “Burreaux” jersey in Death Valley. It then cut to Burrow and Chase’s highlights from the game. It was reminiscent of their time in Baton Rouge.
Dan Mullen evaluates the difference in Anthony Richardson since the Utah win
Anthony Richardson is one of the most physically gifted players in college football, standing at 6-4 and 240 pounds while having 4.4 40-yard dash speeds. Perhaps nobody knows that as well as former Florida head coach Dan Mullen, the man who recruited him. When Richardson played against Utah, he looked like a legitimate Heisman candidate. However, he has since been unable to replicate that success.
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