Capri Restaurant will open at 6480 E. Riverside Blvd. in Loves Park on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — After nearly two years away, Capri Restaurant is ready to make its return.
The Italian restaurant and pizzeria announced today that it will open its doors at 6480 E. Riverside Blvd. at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. It’s the first time since a fire damaged its longstanding downtown Rockford location in October 2022 that fans can get Capri’s pizza, pastas and salads.
The restaurant will be open for carryout and delivery as well as outdoor patio space. A future indoor restaurant is part of a second phase of construction.
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“It’s been a long time coming,” Capri wrote on social media Saturday. “While we are so grateful for all the years we had at our original State Street location we are beyond excited to be opening our new location in Loves Park.”
The Grisanzio family founded Capri at 313 E. State St. in downtown Rockford in 1963, and it was a staple in the community until the fire.
The family ultimately decided to buy a former Shell gas station in Loves Park and overhaul the property for its new restaurant rather than try to reopen the downtown Rockford spot. That decision, the owners previously said, was a combination of economics, timing and frustration with the process of trying to rebuild in downtown.
Now, it’s preparing to start a new chapter in Loves Park.
“You can order your favorite pizza, pastas, salads and more from our classic menu, with the best ingredients made fresh for you, in our new location,” Capri said on Facebook. “From our entire family to yours thank you for your support and we cannot wait to see you again soon.”
Capri will launch a new website in the coming days for you to see its menu, join its loyalty program and stay up to date on future progress at the Loves Park site.
The family remodeled a roughly 3,000-square-foot space for its carryout service and kitchen. Next up is building a 2,200-square-foot addition to serve as its main dining space.
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The future of the downtown Rockford property has not yet been decided, but one option is for it to serve as a venue and event space, the Grisanzio family previously told the Rock River Current.
The family will revisit what to do with the Rockford location after it completes its work to open in Loves Park.
Fast facts | Capri Restaurant
Where: 6480 E. Riversid Blvd., Loves Park
Opening date: 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28
Phone: 815-965-6341
Capri Restaurant is shown on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Loves Park. It will open Sept. 28, 2024, after two years away. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)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