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September 25th, 2009
A second Dog ‘N Suds restaurant is opening on North Main Street in Rockford.
The first opened in 2006 at 1421 Harlem Road near Alpine Road in Loves Park. It’s the same site of the original Dog ‘N Suds restaurant that opened in 1968.
A “coming soon” sign hangs in the 3000 block of North Main near a restaurant painted bright yellow, a signature color of the institution known for its hot dogs and root beer.
The space used to be a McDonald’s restaurant, according to city zoning reports.
September 25th, 2009
Register Star file photo by Scott Morgan
Wicked Brew co-owner David Palmer talks about Chrysler in May at the restaurant and coffee shop.
The Wicked Brew restaurant in downtown Belvidere is closing its doors for a second time at the end of business on Wednesday.
David and Linda Palmer reopened the cafe, 506 S. State St., in August 2008. It opened in November 2006 under the ownership of Sarah Jane Gamble and Sarah Jane Bruneau, but the women closed Wicked Brew on July 1, 2008, saying they couldn’t weather the rest of a tough economy.
Linda Palmer keyed in on some of the same issues, saying the restaurant wasn’t seeing enough traffic even though their “regular customers are amazing.”
The Palmers also own the nearby Buchanan Street Pie Co., 107 Buchanan St. Linda Palmer said business there is booming, and they’re looking to open a second location in Rockford.
Developer Ed Marx, who renovated and owns the building where the Wicked Brew space is located, said he hopes the cafe will reopen, and said he might partner with another person to reopen the business if need be. Anyone interested in the cafe should call Marx at 815-243-4094. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.
September 25th, 2009
A new Physicians Immediate Care clinic is set to open in November at 6585 E. State St. in Rockford
The new 5,200-square-foot walk-in clinic will feature eight exam rooms, two trauma rooms and on-site X-ray and pharmacy services.
This is the third Physicians Immediate Care location in Rockford. The group, founded in 1987 in Rockford, also has locations in Loves Park, Machesney Park and Belvidere.
There are also Physicians Immediate Care clinics in Chicago, Elgin, Joliet, Niles, Bolingbrook and Oklahoma.
August 31st, 2009
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.
July 20th, 2009
Register Star file photo/Georgette Braun
The Breeze Sports Bar & Grill, 3801 N. Perryville Road, has closed and is up for sale.
The business opened in July 2007 and closed a few weeks ago. Owner Chad Misslich wanted to move on to other projects, said Doris Weir, a real estate broker and consultant with Commercial Associates of Illinois LLC representing the landlord.
Weir said she has several prospects for the space, which will be sold and/or leased out with all of the kitchen equipment in place.
Call Weir at 815-986-9092 for inquires about the space.
And just for fun, here’s a 2007 video of former Register Star reporter Nate Legue trying The Breeze’s huge BLT sandwich:
July 17th, 2009
A new Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches restaurant is being built near Alpine and Sandy Hollow roads.
The store, 3416 S. Alpine Road, will be the first Jimmy John’s in the area with a drive-thru, said Brad Kemp, one of the partners involved with the project. The region has three other Jimmy John’s locations: two off of Perryville Road and one near Illinois 173.
Kemp said the partners involved with the project hope to open the restaurant within the next month or so.
July 17th, 2009
Garrett’s Cafe, Grill and Drink is expanding its brand by opening a breakfast and lunch spot across from its current location at the former Cannoli Caffe space.
Owner Todd Polivka said he hopes to open Garrett’s Cafe and Bakehouse in the next two or three weeks, offering breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Cannoli Caffe, 1620 N. Bell School Road, closed last fall after about three years in business.
The Bakehouse will have pastries, desserts, bread, rolls, box lunches and a “coffeehouse” feel. The flagship Garrett’s space has a Sunday breakfast offering that will now be served at the new location. Because of that change, Polivka said Garrett’s will now be open for dinner until 9 p.m.
“Our goal is to have two operations that work together,” Polivka said. “The new place will have breakfast and a light lunch, catering, retail and grab-and-go stuff, whereas Garrett’s will still offer sit-down lunch and dinner and alcohol. What we’re really doing is taking our name and expanding the concept of the restaurant and bar.”
Polivka said he purchased the gelato equipment from Cannoli’s owners, so he’s hoping that will be offered soon.
The tentative hours for Garrett’s Cafe and Bakehouse are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Check back for more information about an opening date.
July 17th, 2009
A new Taco Bell restaurant is under construction near Riverside Boulevard and McFarland Road in Loves Park.
Construction started on the building, 4197 McFarland Road, this month and company officials say it’s slated for an October opening. The region has at least eight Taco Bell stores between Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park and Belvidere.
The company is also rebuilding a combination Taco Bell/Pizza Hut location at 6161 E. State St. That one should open later this month or by early August.
July 17th, 2009
Players Golf Cars, 3485 Brick Drive, is open under new ownership.
Matt Pozzi bought the company from former owner Tom Crawford and reopened the business in May. Pozzi has experience in heavy equipment and rental sales, so this is his first foray into the golf industry and owning his own business.
Players Golf Cars sells and leases golf cars for residential and business needs. Pozzi said they’re busy this summer leasing vehicles to officials with the Boone County Fair, On the Waterfront, Festa Italiana and AirFest 2009.
The business also works with local golf courses, and Pozzi has made a point to expand the sales region. He recently sold a car to a buyer in Florida.
Visit www.playersgolfcars.com or call 815-874-8787 for more information.
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.
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