Best of Springfield

BEST LANDSCAPE COMPANYScooter’s Lawn Care BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGNERJacob Godar Jacob Godar and his staff must be doing something right. This year Illinois Times readers named Scooter’s Lawn Care best landscape company and recognized Jacob as the best landscape designer for the second year running. The business has garnered a growing list of accolades since opening […]

BEST WINDOWS, SIDING AND DOORSFeldco As the website states: “With over 400,000 homeowners served in the Midwest, it’s no wonder why Springfield homeowners can trust Feldco for quality windows, siding and doors.” Capital city homeowners agree. The Des Plaines-based business first opened its doors more than 40 years ago in Chicago and now has locations […]

BEST PLACE TO BUY HOME FURNISHINGSHendricks Home Furnishings Jeff Hendricks likes to say that Hendricks Home Furnishings in Virden is a destination store for furniture. Now celebrating its 70th year in business, the Hendricks family believes in building friendships with its customers. “Once you’re a customer, you’re a customer for life,” says Jeff, who notes […]

 BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUEGypsy Soul Looking for that one signature piece that defines your personal style? Savvy locals know that they need look no further than Gypsy Soul. Readers recently named Gypsy Soul the best clothing boutique for the unique, distinctive merchandise they’ve come to expect to find. Owner Sue Schwartz was looking for a new […]

 BEST RETAIL SHOP DOWNTOWNBEST GIFT STOREThe Cardologist As is painted on the storefront window at 229 S. Sixth St., if you are looking for “cards, socks, or other fun sh*t,” The Cardologist is the place to be. Owner Doug Mayol, a Springfield native, has been an entrepreneur even before he was of legal age to […]

BEST USED BOOKSTOREPrairie Archives Prairie Archives hasn’t been in Springfield forever, it just seems like it, and every town should be so lucky. Smells of paper and aging carpet help feed a sense of familiarity and purpose perfect for its downtown venue, where an alleged quarter-million volumes, give or take, wait for new owners. We’ve […]

 BEST NEW BUSINESS NOT DOWNTOWNSpringfield Beer Company Springfield Beer Company is a newcomer to the craft beer scene in Springfield, having just opened last summer. The owner, Ryan Kunken, said his interest in craft beer started with a brewing class taken at the local community college. That led to home brewing, and then several years […]

 BEST THRIFT STORELand of Lincoln Goodwill The question, really, isn’t whether Goodwill is the best thrift store in Springfield but rather which Goodwill is your favorite. There’s an outlet on Wabash Avenue and another on Dirksen Parkway and yet another in Chatham, on Plummer Boulevard. They all have their charms, but we prefer the Wabash […]

BEST DAY CAREPam Scattergood Day Care For new moms, finding day care can be challenging. Moms want someone who is going to look after their child as they would. Springfield-area parents have trusted their little ones’ care to Pam Scattergood Day Care in Chatham for more than two decades. The business started when Pam, who […]