Wildflower Soul, a new boutique aiming to bring “some soul back” to downtown Arcola, has opened its storefront. The shop, owned by lifelong Arcola resident Jade Garza, made its debut during the 2026 Broom Corn Festival, which took place from September 11-13. The opening marks a significant step in Arcola’s “Vacancy to Vibrancy” strategy, a downtown revitalization initiative developed by the city and Reader Area Development.
Garza, inspired by her father, Mayor Jesus Garza, who owns 3 J’s Transmission, started Wildflower Soul by selling clothing and accessories from her backyard shed. She initially sold items at various markets and online, building a following through social media. Her inventory has grown from 25-50 items to over 200 since she began.
The new Wildflower Soul location at 124 E. Main St. was formerly occupied by My Favorite Things, a gift shop and boutique that closed in December 2020. City officials identified this property as one of five Main Street locations targeted for revitalization efforts. Garza expressed her personal connection to the project, stating that opening a brick-and-mortar store in her hometown means “everything” to her and aims to demonstrate that “vacancy really can become vibrancy.”
Mayor Jesus Garza commented on his daughter’s venture, highlighting Arcola’s foundation in both family and business. He stated, “Wildflower Soul is proof of both. I’m proud of Jade as her father, and I’m just as proud of her as mayor, watching one more storefront open on Main Street.”
Wildflower Soul’s operating hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The business also maintains an online store.
In other local business news, Moss Bresnahan announced his retirement from the University of Illinois College of Media in December, concluding a 35-year career in public media. He plans to remain involved in public media and independent filmmaking. Bresnahan served as executive director of Illinois Public Media (IPM) from 2014 until November 2025, when he transitioned to an advisory role. IPM is a nonprofit public-media service of the College of Media.
Belinda De La Rosa, chair of the IPM Community Advisory Board, praised Bresnahan’s leadership, citing his oversight of new local programming, facility upgrades, budget management, fundraising increases, and award-winning work. Bresnahan was instrumental in establishing the IPM Newsroom and was involved in projects such as the Illinois Soul radio station and “The 21st Show.”
The Old Sipyard, an open-air bar located at 204 W. Main St. in downtown Urbana, has also reopened. The business, originally started by Matt Cho in 2015, now operates under Ronnette Chopp-Pryor, who also owns Olive & Orchard. The Old Sipyard will be open when the weather is favorable, with the space available for public use during the day, even when the bar is not operating.
Additionally, The CU Flower House by A. Hunt Design has moved to a new location at 307 S. Neil St. The business celebrated its grand re-opening party on Friday. Meanwhile, C-U Adventures in Time and Space in Urbana has been ranked third in the escape-room category of USA Today’s 2026 10Best Awards.
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center has appointed Michael Gramm Coffman as its first permanent, full-time executive director. Coffman began his role on October 1. His vision for the center includes expanding the IAHC Living History Farm and Amish Museum to attract a wider range of visitors interested in Amish and Mennonite history and culture. Coffman brings a background in history and museum studies, with prior experience at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village and Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park.
