Mount Pulaski, IL Lifestyle and More

New strip center for West Iles Avenue

A local nail salon owner is developing a five-unit strip center on Iles Avenue to be anchored by a beauty spa. Nathan Ta said Hermes Nail Spa will occupy three of the five units in the center to be built at 3015 W. Iles Ave., a now-vacant lot next to the Sonic Drive-In. Ta also owns Hana Nails and Spa, located at 3816 Octavus Via. He said the new Hermes spa will be larger than the Hana location and will offer additional services such as hair salon services and facial and skin treatment offerings.

The State Journal-Register

New grocery store aims to help fill food gaps in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Arriel Williams grew up on the east side of Springfield. He remembers as a child going to fetch groceries for his grandmother from Jewel-Osco on Ash Street, the one on the east side, not downtown. That was decades ago though, and the 50-year-old said he’s seen big box stores leave over the years. Their reasons tend to be "closing underperforming stores" and consolidating costs, but when new constructions are still going up and the city's population is only increasing, Williams says he wants to want it make sense. So, when Save-A-Lot at 2520 E. Clear Lake Ave. closed the day before Christmas last year, Williams took the plunge to invest in his future and own a local grocery store. More: Community helps Curve Inn rebuild after fire “I know it’s a food desert and the community needs it,” Williams said. “My grandmother used to run me down here when I was a kid; everyone on the block they’d call my grandmother’s and have me run … So, I know it’s a need in a community and I want to help the community. I used to work in grocery stores when I was younger, so it was exciting

takingthekids.com

The Secret Illinois Buffet That Locals Try To Hide From Outsiders

A truck stop restaurant that started in 1928 as a garage selling sandwiches is still serving an all-you-can-eat buffet today. That alone deserves a second look. The buffet starts at 6 AM. Breakfast favorites, comfort-food classics, and rotating dishes fill the line, with a soup and salad station waiting nearby.

Illinois · 6d

The State Journal-Register

Top business, restaurant news you may have missed in October

SPRINGFIELD, IL – There was not a lack of business news throughout the capital city in October. New business owners looked to take up space in burned shells of former historic sites, while ongoing bankruptcy filings and police reports show the Wyndham has not remained empty since its closure last year. Here's a look at some of the top business and restaurant news you may have missed last month. More: Community helps Curve Inn rebuild after fire Businesses that opened or announced openings Anthony Beltramea had interest in the Virgil Hickox Building before a February fire at the building and now has plans to bring new life into the 1830s building as apartments, a bed and breakfast or even as offices, as it was in Lincoln’s era. He told the SJ-R on Oct. 1 his plans following the sale of the building. Hiller Automotive Good Year has sat empty for almost a year, but Kenton Haverson Childs and his wife, Gwen Moore, who run the real estate company KGRE as well as previously operating 33 Midas automotive franchises, confirmed to The State Journal-Register on Oct. 6 that Hiller Automotive at 2595 S. MacArthur Blvd. was bought by the pair. The

wfiwradio.com

MOUNTAIN LION FOUND DEAD IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS; IDNR INVESTIGATING

A young male mountain lion that had been roaming Southern Illinois for approximately two months has been found dead in Jackson County near the Union County line. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a hunter discovered the animal’s remains and contacted conservation police. Conservation police officers and...

Jackson County, IL · 2d

The State Journal-Register

Recently opened restaurant serving up several types of chicken salad

Name: Side Chick Salad Co. Address: 115 N. Sixth St., Springfield Phone: None listed Website/Facebook: Side Chick Salad Co. on Facebook . Credit/debit cards accepted: Yes. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Entrée price range : $12-13. Children’s menu : No My order : This recently opened business operates within Wild Rose Artisans Gallery and Boutique and offers several themed chicken salads. I was steered to the checkout counter where a monitor and menu enabled me to place my order. I opted for The Green Flag with oyster mushrooms, mashed chickpeas, herbs, and pumpkins seeds on a croissant ($13). Diners may opt for a lettuce wrap instead of a croissant. My husband ordered La Toxica jalapeno chicken salad with sharp cheddar on a croissant ($13) along with Friendship Ender Kettle Chips ($3). Other side choices include potato salad, pasta salad and slaw. Likes : My choice was a vegan option. The earthy umami of the oyster mushrooms and chickpeas gave the salad a meaty taste and texture, and the pumpkin seeds made for a nice crunch. My husband enjoyed the jalapeno kick of his chicken salad. Dislikes: Parking can be challenging at times downtown, and I would’ve

Springfield, IL · 2d

The State Journal-Register

partner publisher · 45.5K followers

Springfield restaurants offer free Veterans Day meals

SPRINGFIELD, IL – To thank veterans for their service, local and national chains are giving veterans and active-duty persons a chance to score free meals and deals this Veterans Day. Veterans Day ties back to World War I. To commemorate Armistice Day between Germany and the Allies on Nov. 11, 1918, soldiers who fought overseas coming home weren’t recognized for their service through a national holiday until decades later. In 1938 Armistice Day became a federal holiday, before shifting names to better encompass all veterans in 1954. Over a century since the first war ended, veterans who served or served in conflicts in Korea to the Middle East, and anywhere in between can be recognized and treated in Springfield at these chain locations Nov. 11. More: UIS set to honor veterans with ceremony, open house Veterans Day meal deals Applebee’s Where: 2554 Sunrise Drive, Springfield Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Promotions: Applebee's is offering veterans, active-duty military, reservists and National Guard members a free full-size entrée from a special menu on Nov. 11, according to a news release emailed to USA TODAY. The offer is dine-in only, and proof of military service is required. Buffalo Wild Wings Where: 2808

Springfield, IL · 3d

Cheapism

23 Foods You’ve Probably Never Heard Of Unless You’re From the Midwest

These regional specialty dishes will probably throw you for a loop unless you're from the Midwest.

familydestinationsguide.com

Treat Yourself To The Best Meals In Illinois At These 7 Incredible Small Town Restaurants

Searching for the best meals in Illinois at incredible small town restaurants worth visiting?. These 7 restaurants serve amazing food and create memories that last long after the last bite!. 1. Moonshine Store (Martinsville) The sign out front says “Welcome to Moonshine, Population 3,” and if that doesn’t make you...

Illinois · 4d

takingthekids.com

We Ranked The Best Barbecue In Illinois And These 7 Smokehouses Made The Cut

Two of the best barbecue joints in Illinois sit inside old train depots. I love that. Brisket and railroad history might be the most Midwestern pairing ever invented. The surprises keep stacking up from there. One Chicago spot has been a South Side standard for over 70 years. A small...

Illinois · 1d

positivebloom.com

Quiet Hunter Is Prowling Illinois Backyards After Dark

A hungry hunter in your yard can hear a mouse squeak under the snow from roughly 100 feet away. Then it leaps high, arcs through the air, and lands front paws first right on dinner. I watched this happen once at the edge of my garden just after dusk. My...

Illinois · 19h

everafterinthewoods.com

Why Do People Drive Hours For A Horseshoe? These 7 Springfield, Illinois Spots Explain It

Fries were supposed to be the nails. Back in 1928, a hotel kitchen in Illinois built a sandwich where the ham looked like a horseshoe, the fries stood in for nails, and the hot plate played the anvil. I love that someone named a lunch after a blacksmith shop. Nearly...

fastfoodclub.com

Ask Your Grandparents About These 7 Small-Town Illinois Taverns Still Pouring Beer And Frying Tenderloins

Ask anyone who grew up in Illinois about the best tenderloin they ever had, and the answer usually points to a corner tavern in a small town. These are the places where the sandwich hangs off the bun, the booths have seen a few decades, and the bartender probably knows your uncle.

Illinois · 2d

capitolcitynow.com

Woo Hoo! ‘Simpsons’ writers to talk Saturday in Springfield — yes, THIS Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – “Is Springfield America?” The answer could be found this Saturday, in this Springfield, thanks to three of the writers of “The Simpsons” — one of whom is a presidential candidate. Writers Bill Odenkirk, Josh Weinstein, and Dan Greaney...

Springfield, IL · 2d

culturalcreatives.org

3 Illinois Places Where Going Alone Could Be Riskier Than You Expect

Illinois does not need a remote mountain range to present serious outdoor hazards. Sandstone bluffs, canyon trails, and Lake Michigan can all punish a decision that seemed minor a few minutes earlier. Going alone matters because there may be nobody beside you when a slip, sudden wave, or wrong turn occurs.

Illinois · 4h

fastfoodclub.com

These 6 Illinois Family Steakhouses Still Toss A Salad Bar In With Every Steak

Remember when a steak dinner came with a trip to the salad bar, and nobody had to pay extra for it? That tradition is still alive in a handful of Illinois towns, from Peoria to Pinckneyville. The six family-friendly steakhouses below pair real grilled steaks with salad bars you can...

Peoria, IL · 4d

fastfoodclub.com