Archive for June, 2009
June 25th, 2009
Register Star file photo
SCOTT MORGAN | ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
A selection of 50’s-, 60’s- and 70’s-style furniture for sale at the new store NEST seen Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008 at 218 E. State St. in Rockford.
NEST, 218 E. State St., has reopened after a yearlong absence.
The furniture and unique home decor store opened in December 2007. Owner Chris Furney was passionate about the project but passed away suddenly in May 2008.
His parents, Cyndi and Vern Furney, own the building and tried to sell it. But Cyndi said the down economy made them reconsider that plan because the space was still able to be used.
“We just kind of fell into this new type of store,” Cyndi said. “It’s nice to have some more activity downtown.”
NEST will feature mid-century and modern furniture, a nod to Chris’s original business plan, but also will accept consignment furniture and home decor from estates for resale.
Vern is running the store because Cyndi and business partner Sharon Hendricks still own Eclectic, a gift store just up the street at 308 E. State St. Cyndi said Eclectic will carry more gifts like china and crystal stemware because of their new venture into consignment and estate sales.
Eclectic is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
NEST will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
June 25th, 2009
There’s a new dining spot near Illinois 173, and the owner’s name is sure to be familiar.
Olive Kitchen and Cocktails, 1001 W. Lane Road, in Machesney Park had a soft opening last week and a busy first weekend, said Mike Muzzarelli, one of the restaurant’s managers. Muzzarelli is also the food and beverage director at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center.
High-profile businessman Sunil Puri, president of First Rockford Group, owns Olive, which is his first dining venture outside of the Radisson, which houses the Forest City Pub.
Olive’s restaurant features mostly American fare, like sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, pasta dishes and steaks. Muzzarelli said a special breaded olive appetizer, club sandwich and Friday night prime rib special have been the most popular dishes so far.
The restaurant does have a banquet room that can hold about 90 people, so Muzzarelli said Olive will be available for small parties and do catering.
Check out more about Olive at oliveat173.com or call 815-316-3333.
June 5th, 2009
The region is getting another English-style pub with the opening of Red Lion Ale House, 501 E. State St., in the former space occupied by Vinny’s on Block 5 in downtown Rockford.
Co-partner Larry Shernaman hopes to open the business this Saturday, June 6. He is an ex-partner with Hope & Anchor English Pub, 5040 N. Second St., in Loves Park.
Hope & Anchor opened in March in the space that housed the Mayflower restaurant for nearly 70 years. Restaurant partner John Nuttall said Red Lion has no connection to Hope & Anchor.
Shernaman said Vinny’s closed a few weeks ago, and the old owners are still involved. He said they are “redefining” the business and will serve British beers and pub grub that will include English and American food.
The business will also have dart leagues playing Sunday through Wednesday.
Red Lion plans to be open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 815-963-0099 for more information.
June 5th, 2009
The former Cheers of Rockford location at 3207 N. Main St. is reopening as Whiskey’s Roadhouse Bar and Grill later this month with motorcycle decor and a new diner-style menu.
Doyle Haynes first opened Cheers in 1993, and his daughters Jill Bosselman and Kristie Haynes-Frye are in charge of this new incarnation. Haynes passed away in 2007, and the family leased the business to new managers after that.
Despite Cheers having been open for 14 years, the managers ran into legal troubles starting in 2007 with CBS Studios Inc., who sued them in federal court for improperly using the Cheers name and copying the distinctive logo. The bar closed in July 2008, and the sign was taken down.
Haynes’ family took over the property again about a year ago.
“This is our family business - it means a lot to us,” Haynes-Frye said. “This was a big decision for us. We’re not just walking in and opening a bar. We never wanted it to be closed or sold.”
The sisters are honoring their father in the business name: Haynes’ favorite drink was whiskey.
They’ve decorated the bar with vintage Harley-Davidson parts and added more restaurant seating with 1950s-style posters and signs.
The food menu will include appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. There will be daily food and drink specials, and specialty dishes include a Cuban sandwich and a “hillbilly reuben” sandwich that features coleslaw instead of sauerkraut.
“We want to offer good food at a great price,” Haynes-Frye said. “We’re a neighborhood place.”
The sisters hope to open Whiskey’s by the week of June 15 and schedule a grand opening a few weeks after that. Their liquor license still needs approval by City Council.
Bosselman said they will host a benefit for longtime friend Ruth Alejon starting in the afternoon on June 27. She said they hope to host more events like benefits and poker runs.
Whiskey’s Roadhouse will be open from 11 a.m. 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Call 815-877-8007 for more information.
June 4th, 2009
A barbecue franchise is moving into the former Tumbleweed Restaurant location on East State Street.
Bandana’s Bar-B-Q, 5494 E. State St., tentatively plans to open on July 14, according to the St. Louis-based company. Tumbleweed closed in November.
The chain has 27 other locations in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois listed on its Web site, with more coming in Kansas and Indiana. Bandana’s menu includes platters of barbecued pork, beef, chicken and turkey with sides of corn on the cob, coleslaw and baked beans.
Bandana’s application has passed through the city’s Liquor Advisory Board and Codes and Regulations Committee. The plan is likely to be read at City Council next week.
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, according to the application. Visit bandanasbbq.com for more information.
June 4th, 2009
Brenda Delehanty is venturing into the restaurant business solo for the first time, opening Sugar & Spice in downtown Rockford.
The restaurant, 414 E. State St., will feature breakfast and lunch, and some catering. Delehanty describes it as a “homestyle bistro,” and she’s hoping to open the restaurant by June 16.
“It’s going to be what downtown needs,” Delehanty said. “Our goal is to bring a taste of home to downtown Rockford. When people come here, they’re going to get a taste of grandma’s house or mom’s house with homemade food.”
Delehanty most recently managed the nCAFE at the nearby nCENTER. She said Sugar & Spice will serve specialty coffees, breakfast and lunch specials every day and sandwiches, soups, pastries, cakes, candies, hot dogs, hamburgers and brats.
The facility has meeting space for about 30 people, too. The decor will be an antique, eclectic look, Delehanty said.
Sugar & Spice will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The business does not have a phone number set up yet, but we’ll update you when it does.
