Josef Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, 6860 Spring Creek Road in Rockford, will close Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, the restaurant announced. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Josef’s Steakhouse & Oyster Bar will close its doors at the end of the week after more than 17 years in business.

The restaurant at 6860 Spring Creek Road specializes in fresh seafood, aged Angus steaks and other “vintage menu items with a modern twist.” The restaurant will be open through Friday. It opens at 4 p.m. Friday for its final day in business.

“We want to thank all of our loyal customers, friends and family for making Josef’s part of your home and traditions,” the restaurant posted on social media and on the front door of the business. “This was not an easy decision to make because of all the great memories we have here.”

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The restaurant opened in 2005 as Josef Barbados under the ownership of chef Josef Schwaiger and his wife, Cherri Rittenhouse. In 2019, ownership was transferred to longtime employee Lola Renner, who also owns the nearby Hemp Center of Northern Illinois in the same strip center.

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“Please come support our last week open and make one more memory at Josef’s in Rockford,” the restaurant’s post reads. “Say goodbye to your favorite longtime waiters, Enrique and Mark, as they will be dearly missed.”

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