Faced with rising costs and mounting legal fees, Magpie will close its downtown restaurant

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our news in your inbox

ROCKFORD — A downtown restaurant that specializes in breakfast and brunch will close its doors Sunday as it faces rising costs, mounting legal fees and changes in downtown business traffic, the owner said.

Magpie, 126 N. Madison St., will serve its last meals and drinks at the two-level restaurant space on Sunday, Oct. 13. A part of the restaurant — namely its house blend coffee and anti-aging mimosas — will live on at Wood & Brick Tavern, 315 S. Main St.

Magpie had operated in the brick building on Madison Street for the past five years, but its initial location opened across the river at 307 S. Main St. in 2015.

Magpie moved after its property was damaged June 25, 2017, by a massive fire that destroyed the former Hanley furniture building that stood next door.

That fire, and whether it forced Magpie to be unjustly removed from its South Main Street home, are the subject of a lawsuit that has dragged through the courts for the past seven years. After a three-day bench trial at the end of July, Judge Lisa Fabiano is slated to render a decision on the case on Oct. 31.

“I’m kind of in limbo until I hear the judgement on Oct. 31,” said Stephanie Caltagerone, president of 3 Magpies Inc., which operates Magpie. “We’re just going to try to regroup and see what we’re supposed to do next.” 

Caltagerone said she has tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees stemming from the case, but those fees aren’t the only reason for the closure.

The restaurant’s lease is up, and its rent is increasing. Caltagerone said the rates were already higher per square foot than other downtown businesses along East State Street. She also said foot traffic has decreased after the pandemic, with more people working remotely and many court hearings — which brought people downtown who would stop to eat while here — being held remotely.

“While our second location is a beautiful building, and I loved building it and I loved being Magpie in that space, realistically it’s not the best location,” she said.

Caltagerone is auctioning off equipment from the restaurant. She said liquidating the restaurant is an emotional decision.

“I held it all together with the auctioneer until he asked, ‘Are the giant spoon and fork going too,'” she said, referring to a piece of the restaurant’s recognizable decor.

There is also a GoFundMe to help cover legal costs.

On Sunday, Magpie announced on Facebook its plans to close and invited people to visit Wood & Brick Tavern, which is run by Jeff Lindquist, who is Caltagerone’s longtime partner.

At the tavern, you’ll be able to get Magpie’s house blend coffee to drink in-house or buy its small batch roast to take home. There will also be a variety of the restaurant’s syrups and its mimosas available.

“We have loved serving you fresh, tasty, local food,” Magpie posted on Facebook Sunday. “Words cannot express how much we will miss Magpie, our employees and our customers.”

Magpie | Final weeks

Closing: Sunday, Oct. 13

Location: 126 N. Madison St., Rockford

Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday

Online: magpierockford.com

Social: Facebook: magpie.rkfd

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