Closures, openings impact C-Street

A half-dozen store closures and openings are shaping Commercial Street as the historic street prepares to welcome visitors in 2025.

Closures
Bees Knees Roller Skate Shop, Hakaar's Bazaar, Soozeezbeez Honey Beetique and Sunset Home and Lifestyle recently announced they were going out of business.

Bees Knees, a 301 E. Commercial St. venture launched in August 2021 by businessperson Kelsey Baker, announced closure plans late last month on its Facebook page.

"It's bittersweet but we've enjoyed every second of the time we spent here," the Nov. 23 post reads.

A Dec. 6 post indicated the store was in its final days, and a Dec. 23 post stated inventory was continuing to be sold after the doors had closed.

At 217 W. Commercial St., Hakaar's Bazaar announced in a Dec. 19 Facebook post that "the end of an era is among us."

"It’s been a fun 10 years, but next year brings something new," the post reads.

The new plans have not yet been announced.

Soozeezbeez Honey Beetique, 320 E. Commercial St., closed Dec. 28, according to a Facebook post.

Susi Caregnato, who opened the bee-themed boutique, died Aug. 13 "after a brave battle with cancer," according to past reporting. A longtime vendor at area farmers markets, Caregnato in 2021 launched Soozeezbeez, selling raw honey and other items.

"We love you all and are so appreciative of the incredible journey we all took together. Susi gave us a wonderful, wonderful handful of years at Soozeezbeez," the store announced late last month on Facebook.

Furniture and home store Sunset Home and Lifestyle, 303 E. Commercial St., announced its closure in a Dec. 29 Facebook post. The store has operated on C-Street for two years.

"As a family that cherishes home and time together, this change allows us to focus on what matters most – more time with our family and more time creating beautiful spaces in your homes," the post signed by the Freeman family, owners of the store, reads. "We’ll be moving our curated home collection to an online platform and will be taking our favorite pieces to select markets and pop-ups throughout the year. Our boutique design and cabinetry company is growing and we are excited about the full pursuit of crafting our solid wood custom cabinetry and designing spaces that inspire connection and warmth."

Openings
LeDoux’s Furniture and Whatnots and a new era for Ruthie's bar are among new openings in the C-Street area.

LeDoux’s, a furniture and home decore venture opened by the Fruge family in November at 422 W. Commercial St., is scheduled to host a Jan. 4 grand opening event.

“It’s a variety store with a focus on vintage, reclaimed and upcycled furniture, as well as home decor. So, it’s certainly a focus on home items,” co-owner Adrian Fruge told Springfield Business Journal earlier this month.

Ruthie's held a Dec. 8 grand reopening at 1611 N. Campbell Ave., just south of C-Street, after previously operating at 504 E. Commercial St. The venture is now operating as Ruthie's Off C-Street.

The bar has a 40-year history on the historic street.