Homer
Homer, IL · Local Life
The State Journal-Register
Springfield eatery permanently closes weeks after rebranding
SPRINGFIELD – After a tumultuous year of almost-sales, rebranding and staff changes, a Springfield business is closing up shop for good. On March 9, Karen Conn of Conn Hospitality Group posted to social media that Wm. Van's Cafe closed for good March 8. Staff at the restaurant confirmed to the SJ-R their final days of employment as Friday and Saturday. “Over the past few weeks we’ve had to take a very hard look at the realities of today’s economy and what it means for our small businesses,” Conn posted to social media. “Right now the focus has to be on stabilizing operations and making responsible choices that allow our other businesses to remain strong.” More: Award-winning Springfield coffee shop rebrands as British restaurant The coffee shop operated for nearly a decade serving tea and freshly brewed coffee before merged with Trish and Mary's Public House earlier this year , which is also operated by Conn Hospitality Group. The business was located at the Vinegar Hill Mall at 107 W. Cook St., kitty corner from the pub, which will also have some changes. “Trish and Mary’s Public House remains open during regular hours, though we will not be offering food service
Newsweek
Chick-fil-A Responds to Rumor After Burger King Closure
A manager at a closing Burger King in Springfield, Illinois, has said the restaurant is set to become a Chick-fil-A.
familydestinationsguide.com
You’ll Never Forget A Visit To This One-Of-A-Kind Illinois Microbrewery
Sometimes the best adventures are hiding in plain sight, and Obed & Isaac’s Microbrewery in Springfield, Illinois proves that theory with every perfectly poured pint. This isn’t your average brewpub stuffed into a strip mall between a nail salon and a tax preparer. When you pull up to...
familydestinationsguide.com
The Legendary Meal At This Tiny Illinois Diner Is Drowning In Gravy And We’re Here For It
There’s a peculiar building in Springfield that looks like it might have started life as something else entirely, and inside, they’re serving gravy like it’s going out of style. Charlie Parker’s Diner on South Grand Avenue has mastered the art of the gravy-laden meal, and if you’re...
everafterinthewoods.com
This Illinois Jungle-Themed Restaurant Feels Like Dining Inside A Rainforest
Imagine sitting down for dinner while animatronic elephants shift nearby and the sound of tropical rain rolls through the room. A gorilla suddenly stirs or lightning flickers across the ceiling. The dining room feels alive. This is not a quiet corner café. It is a full rainforest scene built...
everafterinthewoods.com
These Illinois Roadside Stands Serve Some Of The State’s Best Gyros
Illinois takes its gyros seriously and across the state, small counters and drive-ins keep the rotisserie spinning all day. Fast food, yes. Forgettable, never. These places skip the polish and focus on the payoff. You order at the counter, then watch the knife carve the meat. Soon you get a...
nprillinois.org
Amy Lynn gives history of National Scholastic Art Awards Mid-Central Illinois Region
For nearly four decades, the Scholastic Art Awards have spotlighted the imagination and talent of young artists across mid-central Illinois. What began in 1986, when Rod Buffington brought the national program to the Springfield area, has grown into a vibrant regional tradition spanning 33 counties and hundreds of student submissions each year.