Joey Mclaughin talks with Michelle Ownbey at the Springfield Business Journal (SBJ) about the biggest business stories the SBJ is following this week.

Matto: Pies + Pints, a new concept from the team behind Vele, Curate and Soleil Café, is scheduled to open today.

Raising Cane’s is planning a March 7 opening for the Springfield location and is in the process of hiring 120 employees for multiple positions, ranging from crew to management level.

Illinois Times’ 217 Burger Week runs through Feb. 8. Enjoy specially crafted burgers for $8 over 10 days and Jack Daniel’s drink specials at most locations. Visit 217foodweek.com for locations, the burgers and location hours.

Parking downtown has been free since the beginning of the pandemic. Mayor Jim Langfelder favors keeping the meters and taking a wait-and-see approach, while mayoral candidate Misty Buscher says she would do away with meters. Both agree there needs to be some type of enforcement to insure people who live and work downtown are not using all the spaces available for visitors and tourists.