
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our free e-newsletter
LOVES PARK — A new tavern along North Second Street sets out to create a social club-like setting with a full kitchen, bar, deli and video gambling.
Country Club Tavern, 6125 N. Second St., unit 1A, is the first venture in the city for Oleg Kabachenko, but the Fox Lake resident has decades of experience in the food service industry, including running a popular Chicagoland deli and sandwich shops.
The tavern is open now for drinks and gaming. The kitchen and deli is expected to be added next week.
More Eat & Drink: New Korean and Japanese grill opens in former Prime Steakhouse space in Rockford
Kabachenko previously owned Koenemann’s in Volo, a nearly 80-year-old deli and sandwich shop he and his wife, Oxsana, bought from the son of the original founders about seven years ago.
County Club Tavern will also feature deli items, including a variety of cheeses, sausages, ham, corned beef, corned beef brisket, pastrami brisket, “you name it,” Kabachenko said. You can also build your own sandwich from the deli items and Turano bread.
Kabachenko also plans to offer an annual membership, which will come with a 10% discount.
“They will feel here like they’re at home,” he said. “It’s going to be like a social club. People can sit down here, talk, have a drink, play, take some food home, have a nice sandwich. I think it’s going to be a kind of unique place for the Rockford area.”

The native of Ukraine has more than 40 years in business, and has a long family history of sausage makers. His great-grandfather founded a sausage factory in their home country more than a century ago.
He also plans to have his own flat-bread style pizza, shrimp, fish and occasional specials such as Louisiana style baked oysters.
Also planned for the menu is lula kebab, served on a skewer with minced meat that is marinated in Kabachenko’s secret blend of spices.
He said he didn’t want to reveal too much more about the plans because he hopes people will come see it for themselves.
“I don’t want to tell anything,” he said. “I want people to come here, try it and after that people will tell it.”
The space had last been home to The Content Factory, a social-media focused business with all the backdrops for your selfies and online content.
Kabachenko completely overhauled the space with new flooring, a bar, a faux fireplace, kitchen, deli display, high top tables and a pair of lounge seats, as well as the video gaming machines.
He hopes it will become a regular gathering spot for people to have a sandwich, drink and conversation.
“I like my customers and if you like your customers, your customers will like you,” he said.
About | Country Club Tavern
Where: 6125 N. Second St., unit 1A, Loves Park
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday

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