Open for Business

After more than a year of renovations, Bruno’s Restaurant opened Jan. 19 at 416 South Ave. Italian-born owner and chef Bruno Gargiulo bought the building in mid-2003 for $160,000 from Reliable Rubber Stamp owner David Ellis. Gargiulo spent nearly $400,000 converting the space into an Italian restaurant with an upstairs wine bar. He said the house specialties are fresh seafood – swordfish, shrimp, clams and mussels – and pizza and pasta. The restaurant features an open kitchen and seats 80. When the wine bar opens in February, it will seat 50, Gargiulo said. Bruno’s Restaurant, which employs 10, is open 5-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are suggested.

Family owned and operated Book Castle opened for business Jan. 10 at 930 N. Glenstone Ave., Ste. 104. The Arnett family trust owns the store that is managed by Jon Arnett, son of Central Bible College professor David Arnett and David’s wife, Kathy, a Realtor. Jon, his wife, Calah, and two siblings run the store, which buys, sells and trades books, the majority of which are used. Book Castle is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Arnetts also operate an online store, www.bookcastleonline.com that allows book searches by author and title.

All-Year Heating & Air Conditioning moved Dec. 15 to 655 E. Mt. Vernon Blvd. in Mt. Vernon. The company also is operating under new ownership since Al and Carol Spencer bought the business for an undisclosed amount Jan. 1 from Scott Kalbraugh, who operated it at 128 W. Patterson in Mt. Vernon before the move. Carol Spencer said the four-employee business performs heating and air conditioning service and installation. It sells York and Ruud brands. All-Year Heating & Air Conditioning is open 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with emergency service available on weekends.

Springfield-based Russell Cellular and Satellite opened a third Springfield location Jan. 17 at 1545 W. Battlefield. A week later, the company opened its first Louisiana location in Spring Hill, giving Russell Cellular 44 stores in five Midwestern states, said Randy Dale, marketing coordinator. A second Louisiana store is slated to open Feb. 2. President Jeff Russell started the company in 1993 and a decade later built sales to $10 million, selling Alltel and Dish Network products. Despite setting a company record in cell phone sales in December, Dale said 2004 sales fell short of the $15 million projected. The store is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

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