Development plans, new Rockford restaurants dominate last month’s most-read stories list

October 2, 2023|By Rock River Current|In Belvidere, Local, Rockford, Trending, Loves Park, Machesney Park
Some of the most-read stories from September 2023 include (clockwise from top left) development of the former Rockford Watch Co. factory, the opening of Dirty Dough, plans for a new ramen restaurant and a new Indonesian restaurant. (Photos by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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The most-read story on RockRiverCurrent.com last month was about a local developer’s plans to bring new life to the former Rockford Watch Co. factory and the city’s first Walgreens.

Readers were also interested in new ramen and Indonesian restaurants, a new national cookie franchise and the plans the new owners of Rockford Plaza have for the business center.

More news: ‘Hanging on to every minute’: Rockford Speedway drivers relish final few races at local short track

We track readership on our stories to see what people are drawn to most. We share the 10 most-read stories each month to help you catch up on any stories you may have missed.

Here are the 10 most-read stories from September 2023:

Rockford’s next historic makeover: Former Watch Factory and city’s first Walgreens

Oliver Emerson Watch Factory
Oliver Emerson Sr. stands in front of the former Watch Factory, 325 S. Madison St., on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in downtown Rockford. He and his son, Oliver Emerson Jr., have plans to renovate the property into upscale apartments. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Local father-and-son real estate development team Oliver Emerson Development has put forward plans to redevelop the former Rockford Watch Co. factory on Madison Street and the city’s first Walgreens on Main and Mulberry streets.

Both facilities would be turned into apartments, with the former Walgreens also having commercial space on the ground floor.

Read the full story.

After location change, Rockford ramen restaurant to open inside former Five Guys

Scott Souvannasane plans to open Ryusei Ramen and Izakaya inside the former Five Guys at 611 Highgrove Place in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Scott Souvannasane is taking over the former Five Guys at 611 Highgrove Place off Perryville Road for his new restaurant specializing in ramen and Korean fried chicken.

The restaurant, called Ryusei Ramen and Izakaya, was initially planned for the former KFC on East State Street, but Souvannasane changed locations after a deal with the landlord fell through.

Read the full story.

Dangerously delicious Dirty Dough marks grand opening in Rockford

Dirty Dough cookies
The Reverse, bottom, and Raspberry Toaster Tart were part of a half-dozen cookies ordered by Kathleen McCoy of Roscoe on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, during the grand opening of Dirty Dough. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Dirty Dough, 5500 E. State St. in Rockford, marked its grand opening last month inside Flow Supreme Air Sports.

The national franchise specializes in super thick, gooey stuffed cookies. This is its first location in Rockford.

Read the full story.

New Rockford Plaza owners plan demolition to build new Starbucks

This 17,000-square-foot building at Charels Street and Hollister Avenue in Rockford would be demolished under a plan to build a new Starbucks in its place. Eyedeal Optical and City Nail will be relocated elsewhere in Rockford Plaza at no cost to the businesses. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The new owners of Rockford Plaza on Charles Street plan to demolish an under-leased outparcel and build a new freestanding Starbucks.

Real Estate Affiliates Inc., which purchased the plaza for $7.67 million in May, won City Council approval last month for a special-use permit to operate the drive-thru coffee shop at 602 Hollister Ave.

Read the full story.

Sisters open new Indonesian restaurant on South Alpine Road in Rockford

Juliawati Caudell, left, and Martha Susilawati plan to open their new restaurant, Bento & Bowl, 3206 S. Alpine Road, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Sisters Juliawati Caudell and Martha Susilawati opened Koo’s Bento & Bowl, 3206 S. Alpine Road, last month.

It is the first restaurant in the city specializing in authentic Indonesian cuisine.

Read the full story.

Real estate investment trust acquires land under Hard Rock

This rendering shows the future Hard Rock Casino Rockford entrance from the east side. (Image provided by Hard Rock Casino Rockford)

A publicly traded real estate investment trust purchased the land beneath the future Hard Rock Casino for $100 million.

The purchase provides Hard Rock with upfront capital to complete the construction of the casino while providing Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. (ticker symbol GLPI) and its shareholders long-term income through a triple-net lease agreement.

Read the full story here.

From Blue Thunder to Blue Devil: Keith Larson helps Duke climb national ranks

Keith Larson Duke
Keith Larson, left, is a 2010 Belvidere North High School graduate and coaching analyst for Duke with its special teams unit. Larson is pictured before a game against Pittsburgh in 2022. (Photo provided by Duke Athletics)

Keith Larson, a 2010 Belvidere North High School graduate, is a coaching analyst for Duke, working with the special teams unit.

He’s helped the team off to one of its best starts ever.

Read the full story here.

‘A dream come true’ for pickleball players

Members play pickleball on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at Victory Pickleball, 7003 N. Alpine Road, in Loves Park. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Victory Pickleball opened for business last month at 7003 N. Alpine Road in Loves Park.

The 54,000-square-foot former indoor soccer complex was remodeled to house 15 indoor courts and a new restaurant and tap wall.

Read the full story here.

A whitewater course in downtown Rockford? The idea is still floating around

A sign at the back of Rocktown Adventures, 313 N. Madison St., asks “whitewater in Rockford?” The idea was first posed in 2023 and Rocktown participated in conversations in 2015 while Chicago bid to host the 2016 Olympics. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The idea to bring a whitewater course to downtown Rockford was first floated more than two decades ago.

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau raised the idea again last month in part of its resident survey.

Read the full story.

Apollo Theatre in Belvidere reopens after repairs from tornado damage

People begin to gather for a private event on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, marking the reopening of The Apollo Theatre in downtown Belvidere. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The Apollo Theatre reopened in mid-September after undergoing months of renovations and repairs after a tornado struck the facility on March 31, injuring dozens and killing one man.

Read the full story.

Compiled by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas