City Council strikes down proposal to turn Applebee’s into car wash in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council members this week struck down a proposal to turn the Applebee’s restaurant on East State Street into a new car wash.

Developers had pitched a plan to demolish the chain restaurant and construct a new, automated Tommy’s Express car wash on the site at 6845 E. State St. But City Council members voted 14-0 to deny a special-use permit required for the car wash.

The matter came before the council on Monday with both city staff and members of a City Council committee recommending denial.

“Staff wants to continue to support redevelopment and new development that has the potential to be a good destination and financial boost for the East State Street corridor but believes that the subject property is not an appropriate location for the development and would not be consistent with the existing surrounding uses,” a staff report presented to council members reads.

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The restaurant is next to a Storming Crab sea food restaurant, and it’s on the south side of State Street from the future Mission BBQ, Five Guys and a Valvoline oil change business that previously received a special-use permit to operate.

City staff also raised issue with the potential environmental impact of construction of the 5,241-square-foot car wash.

“Soil disturbance will occur as a result of developing the site, which is slightly sloping and may be susceptible to erosion,” the report said. “Erosion from construction sites is a leading cause of water quality problems in Illinois.”

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In an email response to the Rock River Current, Appleebee’s said it planned to continue serving Rockford for years to come.

“The Applebee’s on State Street in Rockford has been a proud resident of the neighborhood since 1992 and we look forward to serving our neighbors for years to come,” said Kevin Allardice, principle of The Bloomin’ Apple and Applebee’s Franchisee.

Tommy’s Express is building at another location in Loves Park.

The national car wash franchise, which offers unlimited washes for a monthly membership fee, is building behind the Sonic Drive-In at the corner of Riverside Boulevard and Forest Hills Road in Loves Park. It is the chain’s first location in the region.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.