The Sandwich Spot brings ‘a fresh option’ to downtown Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new lunch spot offering home-style cooking centered on sandwiches, soups and a salad bar has opened at the corner of State and Wyman streets in downtown.
The Sandwich Spot celebrated its ribbon-cutting on Tuesday at 201 W. State St., a space that was the longtime home of Subway and most recently TNT Funnel Cakes. The opening marks a return to business for cafe’s owner Linda Derrickson, who previously ran The Spot Cafe and The Sandwich Spot at different locations in downtown but spent the past few years working for other local establishments.
“It’s what we were looking for — a lunch spot where you can get a diverse offering and great home cooking,” said Marge Bevers, who owns the building with her husband, Kyle, and their business partner Don Bissell. “We wanted somebody who would do a whole luncheon menu, and it would be healthy food. We got a bonus because she’s the best soup maker ever.”
Derrickson started The Sandwich Spot in 2008 at its first location on the ground-floor of the William Brown building at 226 S. Main St. in downtown. She then moved the business to the former Millennium Center, 220 S. Madison St., in November 2009 and changed the name to The Spot Cafe. The Spot Cafe operated for seven years before moving to Seventh Street in Midtown for roughly a year.
Derrickson said bringing it back to downtown fills a lunch need for the area.
“There’s no sandwich spot down here, and definitely nobody’s doing a salad bar. So it gives everybody a fresh option,” she said. “They can come in and just get it themselves and don’t have to wait on somebody to make it. They can build their own salad, and nobody’s doing that. I think that’s great for downtown.”
The Sandwich Spot offers grilled paninis such as a melty ham and mozzarella, breakfast sandwiches on bagels, a rotating variety of soups and a salad bar that lets you scoop your choice of fruits, vegetables and dressings. There is also a build-your-own sandwich option.
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The restaurant started with its soft opening on Feb. 28, and on Tuesday it celebrated the grand opening in a ceremony organized by alderman-elect Tamir Bell. He was joined by members of the River District Association, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, GoRockford and Ald. Jeff Bailey, who Bell will succeed in representing the 13th Ward after winning the Feb. 25 primary.
Bell said he was glad to see another business opening on the city’s west side and in the 13th Ward.
“The menu is affordable and it gives you a quick stop for lunch,” he said. “The Sandwich Spot is a Rockford staple, and I’m so glad to have it on the west side of the river.”
The space may be most familiar to Rockford residents as the longtime home of Subway, which operated for 32 years before closing in May 2022. TNT Funnel Cakes, a popular tent at Rockford City Market, then opened in the space in November 2022. It operated until Aug. 17 as the owners moved to North Carolina.
It was a few months later that Derrickson was contemplating going back into business for herself. That’s when she saw the sign in the building saying the space was available.
“In November I came across the bridge, saw this spot and I was like, there’s your sign,” she said.
It reopened after some minor remodeling, including fresh coats of paint and new hardwood high-top tables.
About | The Sandwich Spot
Where: 201 W. State St., Rockford
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 815-978-5989
On Facebook: Go HERE
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
