To round out 2023, the City of Galesburg and Knox County Area Partnership announced a redevelopment project that would give a local business a its own location. KCAP president Ken Springer said the project would take the former Moose Lodge building on 161 North Cherry Street and turn it to a new home for Smokin Willies’ BBQ.
“Smokin Willies’ has been looking for their own permanent location for a while. They’ve been recently most recently could have like a rented kitchen as part of Cedar Creek Hall, but its great project is going to involve city Revolving Loan, a [Tax Increment Financing] deal and a Facade program incentive,” said Springer. “It’s expected to get started here in the early part of 2024. It’s going to create four new full time equivalent jobs.”
Springer adds that the total cost of the renovation projects is just under $300,000.
