Taylorville native renovates multiple downtown businesses

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - Cindy Frisina has a family history of developing Taylorville's downtown square. Her great-grandfather purchased several buildings in the area in the early 1900s and helped develop them. Now, Frisina is doing the same thing.

"It's a very ambitious project and we think Taylorville is a great investment," said Frisina, President of Heartland Development Partners Inc. "Our model is to revitalize rural communities starting with Taylorville."

So far, Heartland has purchased five properties, with one already operational, two under construction, and two with plans for future development. Heartland Development did construction on West Side Tavern, which has been open for a year. It was originally opened in 1875.

"It is a really beautiful historic building," said Frisina. "The inside bar is all handcrafted and was imported from Italy in 1939. It has a really long history as a gathering spot in Taylorville."

In January, 123 S. Washington Street should open as Legendary Small Town Trading Company. The top floor will become a three-bedroom Airbnb, and the bottom floor will serve several purposes.

"It's going to be a combination of a coffee and wine bar, retail, including some local retailers and other specialty goods, and a pastry cafe that will have baked goods as well as soups and sandwiches and salads," said Frisina. "And then the back is going to be something called the tasting room which will be a little bit more higher end event space and bar for wine, bourbon, and whiskey."

That building was built in 1897 as a department store. The contractors were able to strip down over 100 years of renovation to find the original wood floors, tin ceiling, and exposed brick walls.

Heartland Development Partners also purchased Rene's Drugstore, which they are transforming into Jack's on Main. The building is named after Jack Mazzotti, the former owner of the building.

"It was one of the first drive up pharmacies in America, which is really cool, and we're going to keep that drive window as a walk up window," said Frisina. "It's going to be transformed into a restaurant and the first rooftop bar patio in Christian County. It's got a perfect view of the square."

Jack's on Main is set to open in March. Much of Frisina's work revolves around the square and helping Taylorville become a tourist destination.

"It's a great feeling that people want to invest in Taylorville and I just can't thank Cindy enough for coming back to her hometown and investing all this for us," said Bruce Barry, Mayor of Taylorville. "I can't wait for the next eight months to a year how our downtown is going to change."

Heartland Development Partners have for-profit and nonprofit operations. Much of the nonprofit works revolve around Lincoln Hall. This will be a performing arts center that seats 800 people.