Ownership and location changes, and new small businesses top our list of November’s most-read stories
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — News about local businesses has topped our most-read lists each month this year, and November is no different.
The relocation of Capri Restaurant, a change in ownership at Gray’s Foods, a new family-run Rockford restaurant and a new downtown restaurant were among our top stories last month.
More news: Capri Restaurant buys Shell gas station for new location in Loves Park
We’ve been sharing a list of our 10-most read stories each month this year. We track that data to learn more about what stories interest our readers, and we share it with you so you can catch up on anything you may have missed.
Here are the 10 stories with the highest readership in November 2023:
Rockford staple Capri buys Shell station for new Loves Park restaurant
Capri Restaurant is preparing to move to a new home on Riverside Boulevard after six decades of service in downtown Rockford.
The owners of the Italian restaurant, which has been a staple in downtown since 1963, closed on the purchase Thursday of the former Shell gas station at 6480 E. Riverside Blvd.
Read the full story.
New ownership takes over independent grocery store Gray’s Foods in Rockford
Gray’s Foods, 1630 N. Alpine Road, was sold by the Gray family to Atlas Foods, a management company owned and operated by brothers Siddiq and Zeeshan Ahmed of suburban Chicago.
The sale of the Gray’s Foods store on North Alpine marks the first time in 55 years that the Gray family is out of the grocery business.
Read the full story here.
New Rockford restaurant focused on fast, affordable food with late-night hours
A new family-owned restaurant at 5811 Forest Hills Road in Rockford opened on Nov. 20.
Brothers Ruben Randle and Jesse Stapleton run Keebler Kitchen, which specializes in fast, affordable food and is open late.
Read the full story.
New restaurant with casual dining, rooftop views and electronic music vibe coming to downtown
Disco Chicken is set to fill the former Taco Betty’s space at 212 E. State St. by spring.
The three-level restaurant will be anchored by the casual, creative chicken sandwiches, loaded tater tots and tenders that have been served at the Disco Chicken food truck around town since May 2019. But you’ll also find Bad Humor ice cream treats and canned cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks similar to what’s at VeeDubs mobile cocktail bar.
Read the full story.
Velvet Robot to close downtown Rockford shop, open new location in Roscoe
Velvet Robot Coffee Lab will close its downtown Rockford shop on Dec. 16 and open a new location in the village of Roscoe.
The closure of the downtown location, 116 N. Madison St., comes after more than three years in business. The South Alpine location will continue to operate.
Read the full story here.
Carlyle Brewing Co.’s new owners keep the classics, add their own flavors to ‘a real Rockford original’
Joe and Anne D’Astice, who also run Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza, took over Carlyle Brewing Co., 215 E. State St., earlier this year.
We sat down with the couple last month to discuss the changes they’ve instituted at the 20-year-old business.
The last Sonic drive-in in the Rockford area has closed
The last remaining Sonic Drive-In in the Rockford area closed after 13 years in business.
The fast food chain quietly closed its doors at 1602 E. Riverside Blvd. this fall.
Read the full story.
Locally owned Lyfe Cannabis Dispensary opens in Rockford
Lyfe Dispensary, a new recreational marijuana business that boasts one of the largest cannabis spaces in the state, celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 15.
The state-licensed recreational cannabis dispensary has a local ownership team of Michael Hodges, Reed Sjostrom and Dustin Koch.
Read the full story.
Here’s the vision for The Music Box of Rockford
Musician Miles Nielsen and his wife, singer-songwriter Kelly Steward, and their friends and business partners Trea Mihalovich and Drew Gibson, are preparing to open a new downtown venue that pays homage to Ralph Nielsen’s Music Box Gift Shoppe while bringing its own unique vibe to the city.
The Music Box of Rockford, 218 E. State St., is designed to celebrate the city’s rich musical history while adding a more vibrant live music scene to downtown. The owners hope their creation is both original and nostalgic all at once.
As work begins, developer says Colman Yards will be built entirely by Illinois contractors
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
