Capri’s big move, new businesses and more: Rock River Current’s 10 most-read stories in 2023
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Capri Restaurant’s big move from downtown, where it spent six decades, to a new home in Loves Park topped our list of most-read stories in 2023.
Capri actually made our list twice. The follow-up story detailing more about why the family decided to move and what Rockford did to try to convince them to stay landed at No. 3 on our most-read list.
More year in review: Rockford-area restaurant recap: New places to eat and other food news from 2023
Capri wasn’t the only business to make our Top 10 most-read list twice. So did QuikTrip, not to be confused with the Wisconsin-based KwikTrip, which had two developments that caught readers’ interest in the past year.
Stories about local businesses and restaurants are often our most-read articles, and that held true throughout 2023. Here’s a breakdown of our 10 most-read stories, and head to the end of the article for the final 10 that round out the top 20.
Rockford staple Capri buys former Shell for move to Loves Park
Capri Restaurant, a staple in downtown Rockford for six decades, closed on the purchase of a former Shell gas station at 6480 E. Riverside Blvd. in Loves Park on Nov. 30 for its future home.
The family-owned Italian restaurant plans to open quickly in 2024 for carryout service before building out the full restaurant for dining in.
The future of the downtown Rockford restaurant is undetermined, but family members said it could be used as a venue and event space in the future.
Full story: Rockford staple Capri buys former Shell as it prepares to open new restaurant in Loves Park
Belvidere couple reinvents RBI Brunch Bar in Rockford
Belvidere couple Dave and Toby Prochnicki took over ownership of RBI Brunch Bar in late April and revamped it into RBI Brunch and Dinner | Bourbon Street Lounge.
RBI Bar and Gril, 3870 N. Perryville Road, opened in November 2005 and was the first of several local restaurant and pub ventures owned by hospitality entrepreneurs Andy Roiniotis and Denny Trakas. They opened it in the space that was Varsity Diner, which closed six months after opening in 2004.
The Prochnickis expanded on the brunch menu and added the new bourbon-themed dinner menu upon taking over the restaurant.
Full story: Belvidere couple reinvents RBI Brunch Bar in Rockford as original owners ship focus to Rock’n Vodka
Why Capri decided to relocate to Loves Park, and what Rockford did to try to keep them
Our third most-read story of 2023 was a follow-up on Capri’s decision to relocate to Loves Park.
The decision was a combination of economics, timing and months of frustration for Capri as the family tried to rebuild in downtown.
The move to Loves Park came despite an effort from the city of Rockford to offer incentives worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to convince the family to stay at 313 E. State St., where it has been a cherished staple since 1963.
If you missed the story the first time around, you can see the full breakdown on the link below.
Full story: Why Capri decided to relocate to Loves Park, and how Rockford tried to convince them to stay
Here’s what’s being built across from the future Hard Rock Casino
By now you can see that a QuikTrip, not to be confused with the Wisconsin-based KwikTrip, was built at 8070 E. State St. across from the future Hard Rock Casino.
But when earth first started moving in June the question of what’s coming was of high interest to readers. The story landed in the No. 4 spot on our most-read list.
Full story: Here’s what’s being built across from the future Hard Rock Casino in Rockford
Rockford man aims to create nostalgic joy with his new downtown vintage toy shop
Ethan Lundquist opened S’mores Collectibles & Vintage on Oct. 6 at 328 E. State St. in downtown Rockford.
The store, which is like stepping foot inside a ’90s kid’s dream playroom, sells a variety of retro toys and other nostalgia-sparking collectibles.
Lundquist decided to go into business after he was laid off in April from the Belvidere Assembly Plant, where he had worked as an environmental specialist.
Full story: Rockford man aims to create nostalgic joy with his new downtown vintage and collectibles business
New Rockford antique and collectibles shop celebrates the creepy and weird
Scavenged Parts opened Dec. 7 at 1001 Charles St. between Midtown and downtown Rockford.
The locally owned shop run by Sarah Thistle and Tim Prince curates an uncommon collection of antiques and oddities as well as natural art created from mummification, animal bones and wet specimens encased in glass globes.
Full story: New Rockford antique and oddities shop Scavenged Parts celebrates the creepy and weird
New gas station and truck stop with full-service kitchen coming to south Rockford
QuikTrip plans to bring a new gas station and truck stop with a full-service kitchen to a vacant parking lot at the southwest corner of 11th Street and Sandy Hollow Road.
Rockford City Council members approved the special-use permit for the development at 1509 Sandy Hollow Road on Oct. 3, but it’s unclear when work will commence.
Full story: New gas station and truck stop with full-service kitchen to fill vacant parking lot in south Rockford
New ownership takes over independent grocery story Gray’s Foods in Rockford
Gray’s Foods, 1630 N. Alpine Road, was sold by the Gray family in late October to Atlas Foods, a management company owned and operated by brothers Siddiq and Zeeshan Ahmed of suburban Chicago.
Full story: New ownership takes over independent grocery store Gray’s Foods in Rockford
New Rockford restaurant focused on fast, affordable food with late-night hours
Brothers Ruben Randle and Jesse Stapleton opened Keebler Kitchen, 5811 Forest Hills Road in Rockford, on Nov. 20 in the space that was previously Taqueria Azteca Express. It has dine-in, carryout and drive-thru options with late-night hours.
Randle and Stapleton are both Chicago natives who have lived in Rockford for roughly a decade. They cut their teeth in the fast food industry, both holding management positions at KFC and Popeyes before they decided to go into business for themselves.
Full story: New Rockford restaurant focused on fast, affordable food with late-night hours
New Rockford restaurant aims to elevate the city’s ramen scene
Scott Souvannasane opened Ryusei Ramen and Izakaya on Black Friday inside the former Five Guys, 611 Highgrove Place, in Rockford.
When we first reported on Souvannasane’s plans – the story that landed in our No. 10 spot – he was prepared to move into the former KFC on East State Street. He changed locations after the agreement with the landlord fell through.
Full story: New Rockford restaurant aims to elevate the city’s ramen scene
The top 20
Here are the headlines, and links to the full story, of the next 10 stories that rounded out our 20 most-read articles of 2023.
- Here’s the new retailer moving between Office Max and Dick’s Sporting Goods in Rockford
- City plans to demolish nearly 130-year-old school in Rockford
- Boone County firefighter responded to The Apollo, then returned to devastation at the family farm
- Hoffman House in Rockford will expand its casual side, drop its salad bar next month
- The GOAT Pub and Grill aims to create new gathering place on Rockford’s North End
- Family-owned RBK Bakery expands with third Rockford-area location
- Rockford-area gum factory officially has new ownership
- New dual-brand restaurant Buona Beef and The Original Rainbow Cone coming to Loves Park
- New soup shop inside Dairy Depot in Loves Park aims to spread love through food
- The Canna Cafe in Rockford is ready to serve ‘high’ quality food
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
