From the Ground Up: Huey Magoo’s

Owner: J and L Investments LLC
General contractor: TCI Construction LLC (Newberg)
Architect: James D. Smith, Architects (Centerville, Massachusetts)
Local project coordinator: Ireland Architects Inc.
Engineers: Garrett Engineering LLC (Buffalo, New York), civil; and NY Engineers (Miami, Florida), mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 2,650 square feet
Cost: Undisclosed
Lender: OakStar Bank
Estimated completion: March
Description: Nearing completion in the parking lot of The Heritage luxury apartment building at the corner of East Battlefield Road and South Fremont Avenue is a second Springfield Huey Magoo’s location, owned by James and Lisa Tillman through J and L Investments LLC. The first opened in April 2023. The planned restaurant is one of two installments of the franchise being built in the area, with a Republic store, owned by the Tillmans and Randy and Patricia Phelps, slated to open in June, said James Tillman. The Tillmans also own a location in Ozark that opened in 2023, and they have purchased a lot in Nixa for the next location, but a timeline is not yet available. Plans call for the new Springfield location to employ 50, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. “It’s going to be a good-looking building on a good corner,” Tillman said. Huey Magoo’s specializes in chicken tenders, according to its website, and is based in Florida. Each store has a franchise fee of $35,000 and royalty fees of 5% and marketing fees of 2%, its website states.