New Businesses Bring Variety, Increased Sales Tax to County
New businesses and industry, from large-scale retailers, Midwest favorites and locally owned small businesses, opened in McDonough County in 2025, bringing different options and additional sales tax revenue to boost the county's coffers, while some established businesses underwent renovations and/or management changes.
McDonough District Hospital's new Community Pharmacy opened Jan. 15. The facility, which offers a drive-thru service and a coffee shop Monday-Friday owned and operated by Bold Brew House of Macomb, provides prescription services, free home delivery, immunizations, medication therapy management/ counseling, compounding, veterinary prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, long-term care services, among other offerings.
In early Spring 2025, Seven Hills Craft N’ Creations, opened in Bushnell at 495 Water Street. The business, owned by Tera and John Shriver, provides unique signs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, cups, mugs and other items.
In March, the Macomb Area Economic Development Corp. announced that Shoe Sensation would be returning to Macomb in the former Lex Buffet/ Check into Cash space in between Dollar Tree and TJ Maxx. MAEDCO and Shoe Sensation staff held an official ribbon cutting in late July to celebrate the return of the mass retailer. Originally located just a few doors down from its new location, the shoe store closed several years ago.
Also in March, the Macomb City Council Committee of the Whole discussed the possible creation of a multi-million dollar indoor sports complex. City Administrator Scott Coker said, 'This is a big project that's being proposed, but it could be a game changer.'
Mayor Inman agreed and also added that the only way the city would consider this proposed complex is if it DID NOT increase property tax to raise funds. More discussion and planning would continue throughout the year and the positive economic development benefits a complex this size would bring to Macomb.
Ryan and Nicole Taylor now call Macomb home after purchasing the 125-year-old former St. George’s Anglican Church in Macomb, and relocating from Denver last year. They renovated the building to become a toymaker's workshop, an artist's gallery and their home. Ryan's 'Red Dragon Toys' business is ensconced within the walls of the Macomb landmark as he makes a specific type of traditional Japanese toy, Sofubi, which are similar to the original Godzilla toys from the 60s and 70s. His toys are now handmade in Macomb, and he's one of the few Sofubi toymakers in the country that do this kind of work on the handcrafted plastic toys.
In April, two new major retailers opened on the east side of Macomb: Hobby Lobby opened its doors April 7, and about a week later, its neighbor, T.J.Maxx, opened its front doors to shoppers in what's known as the Prairie Crossing Shopping Center.
The Carrington Company of Eureka, CA purchased the 91,980-square-foot building for $1 million at a public auction in September 2023.
The building, which housed K-Mart for several years, had sat empty since August 2016. The firm, which is a privately-held commercial real estate investment and management firm, also purchased the former Macomb Pizza Hut at 1435 E. Jackson St., and the former Marine Bank on East Jackson Street. In May, The Breakfast House opened at 118 S. Lafayette St., while Chipotle opened to a crowd on May 28 at its new Macomb location on East Jackson Street.
In June, Archie's restaurant opened in the former Dairy Queen in Bushnell featuring fresh pulled pork and brisket, sandwiches, tacos and ice cream favorites. In July, Aly Sturgis, director of the Macomb Farmers Market, took over Sullivan Taylor Coffeehouse, re-naming the longtime downtown coffee shop, Sullivan Taylor Uptown. Sturgis took possession of the keys from Dan Lewis and Ruth Kelly of Macomb and has revamped the coffee house into more than 'just coffee.' The shop, which is open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Saturday, continues to feature its signature coffees and other brews, but now has new, healthier graband- go options for breakfast, lunch and snacks; baked goods (including whole loaves of bread) for sale, and other unique offerings.
In July, Steph's Spin 'N Win Laundromat and Gaming opened in Bushnell bringing full laundry service back to the Bushnell community and also offering a gaming parlor in the back of the building.
In early August, Bushnell Locker Plant held its grand re-opening under new owner Joel Hisey. Former owners Deb and Mason were on hand to give a hand to Hisey as he welcomed customers to the Bushnell mainstay. The Bushnell Locker, located along Rt. 41 on the south end of Bushnell, is open 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday- Friday, and 8 a.m.-noon, Saturdays.
Just in time for the Fall 2025 semester, Spoon River College (SRC) opened its newly renovated, expanded Macomb campus at 2500 E. Jackson St. after completing renovations to the former Value Village building. The $17 million project, funded partly by a Rebuild Illinois grant, significantly expanded space for nursing, welding, new HVAC/robotics programs and more. The community college's former campus on South Johnson Street in Macomb officially closed in late summer, with classes beginning in the new building Aug. 25. Nearly 50 workers were on the job site in the 12+ months of construction, with most of the contracted employees hailing from the SRC service region.
Since 1983, Spoon River College (SRC), with its main campus located in Canton, has called the old 'Macomb High' home. Prior to the Johnson Street campus, the first SRC-Macomb branch campus was located downtown 10 years prior after voters of the Macomb-Adair-Bardolph Common School Districts approved joining the SRC district.
SRC serves approximately 1,200 students between its Macomb and Canton campuses. Nearly 300 students attend the branch campus in Macomb. The Johnson Street campus is currently listed at $695,000 through Century 21 Purdum-Epperson, Inc.
Another Macomb transplant, Amanda Dean, has transformed a suite at 133 N. Randolph Street, Ste. 210 (aka the Masonic Building) into her creative-based nonprofit, Art House Folk School, into a community- centered space. Dean is the creative director behind the Macomb Creative Collab (MC2), of which The Arthouse Folk School is one 'prong.' The licensed social worker took her love for the arts and all things collaborative and began MC². The collab has a four-pronged approach, which includes 'No Place Like Macomb' and the 'Macomb Love Letters Project' within; the Macomb Arthouse Project (MAP); The Macomb Artisans Guild, and the Macomb Arthouse Café & Folk School. Dean and Creative Collab supporters are working to make Macomb an art destination, not just for artists, but for residents and guests.
In October, The Community News Brief shared a story about Marshalltown Hammer investing over $5 million to upgrade the Bushnell hammer factory, including a powder coating booth, extensive equipment repairs and purchases, a new roof and major facility improvement, including upgraded restrooms (and adding a women's restroom as previously female employees had to cross the street to use the facilities in another building). Marshalltown employs just over 100 people in Bushnell. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the State of Illinois provided assistance for Marshalltown to keep the 155-year-old company, which was plagued formerly by financial mismanagement, alive.
In late fall, The Penny, a new event venue in Macomb owned by Eric Mansfield, opened in the former JCPenney building, after extensive renovations. The nearly 4,500-square-foot facility will provide a space for weddings, meetings, reunions, conferences and other special events. The newly-renovated building features a main seating area up to 200, a prep kitchen, conference room and bar.
The original tin ceilings and original wood floors were restored during the renovations. The building has been around since the early 1900s and has had many different occupants, but the space is best known as the old JCPenney, hence the name 'The Penny.' In November, Cool Bliss Popped Bliss (CBPB) opened, after a setback with the original retail space.
The new Macomb retailer, located next to Subway at 528 W. Jackson St., offers 19 popcorn flavors, shaved ice, old fashioned candy and other treats. Alven Allison first started Cool Bliss as a shaved ice business in Champaign in Summer 2009 when he got tired of driving to Decatur to get his favorite treat. Cool Bliss first called a mobile trailer home, and a few months later, Allison had ventured into the world of popcorn when he realized that most people wanted shaved ice in the warmer months. Isis Griffin joined Cool Bliss Popped Bliss (CBPB) three years later, and with that, the popcorn joint really got to popping.
The pair met Mayor Mike Inman last year, and with that chance meeting, decided to open a new location in Macomb.
The new 309 Marketplace in the former Nostalgia Decor and Gifts, 129 N Randolph St., led by Paul and Courtni Runser, Seth and Jami Minter, with store manager Katie Conlin, opened in late November.
The collective boutique features a variety of vendors offering clothing, accessories, jewelry, home decor, candles, skincare, special pet treats/items, children’s items and assorted gift items.
Beef-a-Roo opened in Macomb to a crowd Dec. 10. Beef-a-Roo, which was founded in 1967, turned the old Hardee's on West Jackson Street, which had sat vacant for more than 10 years, into a new latest Beefa- Roo location. According to the Beef-a-Roo website, 'our famously delicious, fast-casual restaurants offer classic roast beef, wraps, specialty sandwiches, burgers, chicken & turkey sandwiches, soups & salads, and a selection of heart-healthy goods. Our famous cheese fries are smothered in liquid gold and are a local favorite.'
Celebrating Milestones For more than six decades, Arnold Brothers Heating and Cooling, 1729 E. Jackson St., have been ensuring that area homes and businesses are comfortable and cozy, no matter the weather.
Brian Waller, who runs the business with his son-in-law Brian Kinman, who is married to Brian's daughter, Carissa, recently celebrated the family-owned business' 65th anniversary.
Brian's father, Keith, was a service tech for the business, starting right out of high school in the late 1950s, working for the three Arnold brothers, who started their aptly-named HVAC business in the 1940s after World War II. When Keith was in his mid-20s, he and his father, Orville, bought the business from the Arnolds in 1960. Since that time, a Waller (and now along with a Waller/Kinman), has been running Macomb's oldest heating and cooling business that's still in business today. The Kinmans' two children, ages nine and six, are waiting in the wings to take over the business that their great-great-grandfather took over.
Mr. Sweeper, owned by Lowell and Jan Armstrong, celebrated 40 years in business as the region's sole vacuum cleaner repair person and authorized vacuum dealer. The Armstrongs, who took over the business in 1985, on Lowell's 40th birthday, from his brother and sister-in-law, who ran a Mr. Sweeper in Canton, and they expanded into Macomb, and Jan's and Lowell's son, Neil, ran the shop after school and on weekends. Lowell's brother and sister-in-law weren't able to be in Macomb much, so Lowell and Jan bought the business and Jan was going to take over, while Lowell continued selling insurance for a major company. Lowell estimates he's repaired 10,000-plus machines in 30 years.
Wesley Village in Macomb celebrated its 45th anniversary this year. The retirement center and care facility opened in February 1980.
In 1975, a group of parishioners at Wesley Village Church in Macomb set forth to establish a retirement and care center in Macomb, and the Central Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church approved the proposal. However, due to funding issues that dream was delayed by a few years, with the facility finally breaking ground in 1978 and opening in February 1980 to offer independent living apartments, followed by a nursing care unit in April 1980. Forty-five years later, the campus of Wesley Village in Macomb has expanded exponentially under the leadership of its third CEO Shelly Martin, who has been with the organization for 26 years.
Gone but Not Forgotten While several businesses opened or reinvented themselves, McDonough County said ‘goodbye’ to a few local favorites in 2025.
On Valentine’s Day, Springdale Farmhouse closed after four years.. The shop opened on East Jackson Street in June 2021. The local boutique specialized in women's clothing, gifts, home decor and accessories.
On Feb. 28, Nostalgia Gifts & Decor, owned by Lara Dively, closed its doors on the east side of the Macomb Square after Lara Dively, owner of Nostalgia Décor & Gifts on the downtown Macomb Square, decided to retire following a successful 12-year run.
The original Nostalgia was owned by the late Marilyn Kling, which she opened in 1984 at 9 E. Side Square, now the home of Ultimate Image. Dively took over the longstanding store, which had since been moved to its present location at 129 N. Randolph St., in 2012 from Jane Reynolds.
In April, Pawn Plus, owned by Bob and Lori McCullough, closed after 34 years in business. The business has been taken over by Pawn Central, which is operating out of the same location at 324 W. Jackson St., continuing the pawn shop services.
