What’s New and Coming Soon in Springfield

Photo: Rod Hatfield

Springfield is thriving and businesses are continuing to invest here, from building community one açaí bowl at a time to revitalizing the downtown area. 

Exciting things are happening in Springfield thanks to the community that loves it. Here are just two of the ways that residents are bringing new life to our city.

Building Community at Blended by J

The idea for Blended by J came from owners and Springfield natives Jillian and Tyler King, who enjoyed seeking out great açaí bowls on their trips to the beach. On one trip, they hatched a plan for an açaí shop on wheels. “We dove right in, thinking that it would be just a fun, weekend-only thing,” Jillian says. “Little did we know that it would turn into what it has!”

Both Jillian and Tyler love Springfield, which Jillian describes as “resilient, evolving, charming and full of opportunities.” Tyler works as a firefighter and paramedic for the city as well. So, it’s natural that Blended by J would be all about community. “Our entire business and following was built from strangers trusting and supporting us through all of the highs and lows, as cheesy as that sounds,” Jillian says. “It didn’t matter if it was 90 degrees and sunny, or 15 degrees and windy. We knew that we would always open up the truck window and see so many smiling faces.” 

That support — and the unwavering support of their own families — was what gave them the courage to grow so quickly. Now in addition to the original food truck, Jillian and Tyler have added a shop at 30 N. Fountain Ave., where açaí lovers can stop by Wednesdays through Sundays. “This community has really become a family to us, and that is so special,” Jillian says. “Springfield is growing and evolving, and we’re excited and thankful to be part of this movement.” 

A Downtown Wren-aissance

Every growing community needs a variety of housing options, and Springfield is no exception. “We believe there is a high demand for downtown housing, which Springfield greatly lacks,” says Daren Cotter, who is the chief financial officer of The Turner Foundation and a lifelong Springfield resident. 

The mission of The Turner Foundation is to improve quality of life in Springfield and Clark County, and it is especially focused on Springfield’s downtown, the core of the community. “Over the years we have purchased several vacant historic buildings and restored many of them for adaptive reuse,” Cotter says. One building in particular, the historic Wren Building, located at the intersection of High Street and Limestone Street, is an iconic Springfield structure. It’s been the site of many important businesses over the years, most notably the Edward Wren and Company department store in the early 20^th century. 

But the building was slated for demolition. “The former owner had already started internal demolition when we came to an agreement for The Turner Foundation to buy the building and cancel the demolition,” Cotter says.

Once the foundation bought the building, it took eight long years and four different developers to get the project off the ground. But, Cotter says, it will be transformational for Springfield’s downtown. The finished project will blend urban, loft-style living with a five-story addition that will provide modular constructed apartment space, as well as businesses on the street level. “It will combine a nod to the past and an expression of where we can go as a city,” Cotter says.

Cotter is optimistic about the Wren Building not just for its own sake, but for the inspiration it sparks in others. “The interest in other historic buildings downtown has increased dramatically this year,” Cotter notes. For him, this is the start of something big. “We believe this is the first ‘domino’ to fall in the renaissance of downtown Springfield living.” 

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