By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — At J&K’s Lounge in the city’s downtown, the stage is set for creators to showcase their craft.
You’ll find live stand-up comedy on Wednesday nights, an open stage for performers of all kinds on Thursday, karaoke nights, one-person shows and rotation of local bands on any given night. Next year, the owners plan to add live band karaoke to the mix.
“We want the local artist community to know they have a home here,” said owner Ky Rankin, who runs the lounge with her husband, John Jones.
The bar, restaurant and lounge quietly opened in mid-October, filling the former Deli Italia space at 505-507 E. State St. Rankin and Jones are friends of the family who owned Deli Italia, and Jones used to work at the pizzeria and sandwich shop.
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The lounge’s focus on music and performing arts is fitting. Rankin, who has performed in theater in Chicago and Rockford for decades, has a degree in classical theater from Columbia College in Chicago. The U.S. Air Force veteran is in the West Side Show Room’s current production of “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Jones, meanwhile, is a singer and the front man for the band Hilly Jones.
The couple hopes J&K will become not only a place for people to perform, but for ensembles to host cast parties and other events.
“Recently, we have heard so much discussion over the importance of free speech and we have this venue that not only allows artists to express ourselves, but encourages and rewards us for doing so,” said Marcos Lara, a comedian who hosts and produces the weekly stand-up show at J&K. “This is the American dream in action — freedom, community, and entrepreneurship.”
All the live entertainment at the lounge is provided free with no cover charge.
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The restaurant’s menu will continue to evolve as the owners find what customers like best. So far its Italian beef sandwiches and taco pizza have been customer favorites. It also serves pulled barbecue pork, grilled cheese, veggie melt sandwiches, paninis and soup, among other items.
“We sell out of our Italian beef sandwiches pretty much every day, and our taco pizza is a huge hit,” Rankin said.
Rankin said she takes pride in the lounge’s welcoming atmosphere, where a diverse cast of customers can strike up a conversation over a cup of soup.
“I love coming out here and seeing the owners of The Office hanging out with these old-school blue collar workers, hanging out with the goth kids,” Rykin said. “I really like seeing people of all different colors, genders, beliefs and everything just hanging out and having a cup of soup and a beer together.”
About | J&K Lounge
Where: 505-507 E. State St., Rockford
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday (closed Monday and Tuesday)
Phone: 779-210-7154
On the web: facebook.com/JandKsLounge
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.