The "Chevy on a stick," as it was once described in this newspaper, really is stuck up a pole this time.
A 1955 Chevy BEL-AIRE two-door hardtop has rested atop a three-story pole at 2412 Clear Lake Ave. through 17 years, two car dealerships and two trips to the ground for thorough refurbishings.
Now, it's out there on its own after the last car dealership relocated across Clear Lake Avenue last fall.
"I had a lot of fun doing that," said George Stelle, the man who topped the pole with the '55 Chevy in 1991. "I looked all over trying to find that thing, from Las Vegas to Springfield, and I found it about three blocks away,"
Stelle at the time was a partner in Young Motors LTD. He bought the car for $900, restored it and up it went.
The latest dealership to occupy the spot down below was Patriot Auto Sales, which moved in October to 2601 Clear Lake Ave. Taking the pole and the Chevy along was not an option, said owner Paul LeJeune.
"It was there when it was Young Motors, it was there when it was Patriot Motors, and it probably will be there for whoever comes next," LeJeune said.
According to newspaper accounts, the steel pole is set in a 6- by 6-foot hole. Steel rails at the top of the poll were clamped to the car frame. The car was last taken down for refurbishing in 2002.
Not that someone could drive off with the car if somehow they managed to get it down. There is no engine in it.
"I didn't want an engine up there," Stelle explained.
The "Chevy on a stick" has become an offbeat landmark, especially for Route 66 enthusiasts who often make their way into Springfield via Clear Lake Avenue, but also for the thousands of motorists who drive the street daily.
Stelle said he's had "plenty of offers," but hasn't decided what to do with the car. The property — and the car — are on the market for now. But Stelle points out the market for commercial real estate has been pretty slow of late.
"Maybe I'll just take it down and scrub it up," Stelle said.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL AIRPORT executive director Mark Hanna met last week with representatives of Delta Airlines to discuss the possibility of Springfield service now that a merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines is completed.
"We will continue our conversations with Delta and discuss what hub would make the best sense for Springfield once a decision is made to introduce service, and utilize the air-service development grant dollars," Hanna said in an e-mail to the newspaper.
The airport was awarded a $750,000 federal grant in September to help attract additional air service. The original target was a Northwest Airline connection to Memphis, Tenn., but airport representatives decided to expand the possibilities now that Delta and Northwest are one.
They are especially interested in a southbound connection to replace St. Louis service lost when AmericanConnection was switched to AmericanEagle to Chicago on Nov. 2. United Express also serves the Chicago route.
Speculation persists that wind-farm developers are looking at an area near NEW BERLIN for what would become the first commercial-scale wind farm in Sangamon County. New Berlin School Superintendent Valerie Carr said there have been some informal inquiries, but nothing specific yet.
It has been two years since Sangamon County created zoning rules in anticipation of the wind-farm boom eventually reaching the county. Up to now, the big farms in the immediate area have been confined to McLean, Peoria, Logan, DeWitt and Christian counties.
Music. When (it no longer seems much of an "if") BARNES & NOBLE BOOKSELLERS moves to White Oaks Mall, the biggest change would be the addition of a music section, CDs, DVDs and video games.
At least that has been the case in other areas of the country where Barnes & Noble has relocated or expanded.
Simon Property Group recently filed an application with the city to renovate the former White Oaks theater space to accommodate a Barnes & Noble in the Southwest Plaza shopping center. Indications are that the bookstore would take two floors.
MYERS & MYERS CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS of Beardstown now has an office at 3201 Old Jacksonville Road in Springfield. Brothers John Myers Jr. and Craig Myers operate the accounting firm. Their father, John Sr., continues to work for the business.
John Jr. said they decided to open a local office because the company already has a number of clients in Springfield.
The phone number for the Springfield office is 726-7091.
BARBECK COMMUNICATIONS INC. plans to add a Chatham store. Company president Matthew Beck said the site at 1138 Commercial Court, next to the former Starbucks location, should be open by Thanksgiving.
It will be Barbeck's 18th store in central Illinois. The Web site is www.barbeck.com.
Longtime Springfield developer Sam Nichols has a new venture, NAI TRUE, a commercial real-estate business that also includes consulting, project management, property valuation, design, tenant/owner representation and other services. Bianca Dugan is a licensed marketing specialist for the office.
The phone is 787-2800 and the Web site is www.naitrue.com.
IN GOD WE TRUST is preparing incorporation papers and scouting out sites along MacArthur Boulevard for a not-for-profit alternative to payday loans. Kevin Slot, owner of Tailored Printing Inc. of Springfield, has been working with The Ministerial Alliance of Springfield on the project.
He told members of the MacArthur Boulevard Business Association last week the group is looking for volunteer counselors for the storefront operation. The association has led the fight to limit the number of new payday loan outlets in Springfield.
If it weren't for bad luck? Or maybe just bad timing in this case. The Belleville News-Democrat reported last week on $3.89-per-gallon gasoline at the QUAYLE SERVICE CENTER in the unincorporated community of French Village, even as nearby prices were at $1.94-per-gallon.
Manager Daryl Denbow told the newspaper the store bought a supply of gas at $4 per gallon just before oil prices fell off the table. He said the higher-priced gas had to be sold before the station could cut prices.
Tim Landis is business editor of The State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tim.landis@sj-r.com or 788-1536.
This is cache, read story here
Posted in login to post comments
Submitted by admin on Sun, 2008-11-16 06:30.