Comings and Goings
Keep track of the latest business openings and closings. Whether it’s a new boutique popping up, a fast-food restaurant closing down or a progress report on a major development, you’ll find all the latest bits of information here. See something while you’re out and about? Leave a comment or send an e-mail to business@rrstar.com and we’ll check it out.

Archive for August, 2009

Bamboo opening soon

Add comment August 31st, 2009

bamboo-photo.jpg

KATY MULL | ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
Bamboo co-owners Amanda (from left), Vinay, and Lao Phommachanh are shown Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, in their restaurant at 514 E. State St. in Rockford.

Here’s a bit more about new restaurant Bamboo, which we featured in a Saturday story about the local restaurant industry.

Bamboo is scheduled to open Oct. 1 in the old Zambuca restaurant space, 514 E. State St.

It’s the project of Vinay Phommachanh, his wife, Amanda, and his mother, Lao. Vinay is a financial adviser, so he’s in charge of the paperwork. Amanda will manage the restaurant (she just graduated with her business degree) and Lao will be in the kitchen (she has experience catering for friends).

The inspiration for Bamboo came from Vinay and Amanda’s time living in Chicago for eight years. They loved dining at busy local restaurants that served authentic food portions for the right prices.

They moved back to Rockford two years ago and said they had trouble finding the same kind of places. So the idea for opening a restaurant was born.

The menu will feature Southeast Asian fare such as Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese dishes. Vinay listed examples of noodle and curry dishes, ingredients like mussels and smaller tapas-style entrees.

He said the goal is to offer inexpensive authentic foods, saying a family of four could nosh on tapas dishes for $20 to $25.

Planned hours for Bamboo are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.