While I should be writing about my first day of second semester, or moving back down to Champaign, or taking 21 credit hours, or staying up on my commitment to go to the gym, I’m not. As a college student, you never really end up doing what you should be doing. Really, I should be sleeping so I get up on time to go to class at 9am. But instead, here I am, writing about something that’s missing in Rockford.
What is it, you ask? Well it certainly could be some crime that was missing. That would be nice, but that’s besides the point because it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. On a lighter note, something that would benefit us all (okay, maybe not ALL) is missing from my dear home town. When I come home for the weekend or the holidays, my friends and I always seem to get together at Beef-A-Roo because it’s a local thing. As great as the cheese fries are, it’s no Portillo’s! Don’t get me wrong, I love “The Beef” as some of us call it, but lately it hasn’t been living up to what it used to be. The shakes are very syrupy, they no longer have whipped cream, they have a slew of fancy wraps and pretzel sandwiches, all the while, the roast beef sandwiches are becoming more and more skimpy. One thing that is always on point is the fancy salt, though!
My point is that Rockford really could use a Portillo’s. While my trips to Portillo’s are really trips to Barnelli’s for some mouth-watering, award-winning ribs, it doesn’t make a difference. Rockford is constantly seeing new, little restaurants opening up and closing down within a year, sometimes even within months. I can’t even count the number of restaurants that have been in some of the little “strip malls” on Riverside. With unprecedented success, Portillo’s has nothing to prove when it comes to being a well done, established restaurant.
Now, it’s a stretch to say that bringing Portillo’s to Rockford will provide more jobs (like a casino would), but think of the revenue. I’m no professional or anything, but if people from Rockford want it as much as they talk about it on the Internet, it appears the Portillo’s would have a packed house every night. Also, think of people who live further West than Rockford. They may be willing to drive thirty minutes to Rockford, where they would not be willing to drive over an hour to get to the nearest location currently available. Hello, tourists! Isn’t the big deal bringing people to Rockford? Well, let’s get something new. Something exciting. Not new body slides at the water park that charges an arm and a leg to get into, only to stand in line for half the day (disclaimer: I love the RPD and worked there for three years. I just don’t always agree with their decisions.). People want Portillo’s and Rockford wants people. It all makes sense to me!
I know that a post about food is doing nothing for my pact to keep a healthy lifestyle and all that. So tomorrow, it’s off to the gym I’ll go!
My wife is waiting for a White Castle to come to Rockford, and we would both enjoy a Portillo’s.
While I’m not really a fan of White Castle, I know so many people who are. The food scene in Rockford doesn’t need to be replaced, just enhanced.