Trent R. Nelson speaks with Michelle Ownbey, publisher of the Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times, about the latest happenings in the Springfield business community and all of the relevant bits fit for the greater community to learn about.

Topics Discussed In This Interview:

• 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. The Hoogland family is the largest franchisee for Marco's Pizza and previously had a partnership with Family Video, another family business.

   

• Pete Praia is calling it a wrap for his downtown restaurant, Di Piero's Sicilian Cucina.

   

• CarQuest of Springfield is closing, but franchisee Rob Wilburn said it wasn’t his decision.

   

• Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher wants to promote Amy Rasing, the city’s operations coordinator for state and federal grants, to head the Office of Planning and Economic Development.

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