The Irish Rose has been sold to a Rockford chef and restaurateur. Here are the plans for the space

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Irish Rose Saloon has been sold to a Rockford restaurateur who plans to open a casual and cozy neighborhood bar that keeps much of the same look as the decades-old establishment.

Chef and restaurateur Paul Sletten closed on the purchase of the building at 519 E. State St. on Wednesday. He plans to take on some minor remodeling but keep the character of The Irish Rose intact. The new establishment will be called Harvey Wallbangers after the popular mixed drink, and the goal is to open in approximately two months.

“I want to bring back a casual, neighborhood bar. Something that’s cozy and doesn’t feel super polished,” Sletten said. “Something that feels like it’s been here forever, and it has been here forever.”

The Irish Rose operated in downtown for more than 30 years, and before its run the space was home to The Stop Tap and Ma’s Cafe, according to newspaper archives kept by the Rockford Public Library local history room. The Irish Rose opened in January 1990 and closed in March 2023 after co-owner Michael Leifheit fell ill. Leifheit died in February 2024 at age 78. The restaurant was later put up for sale.

“It’s just part of the fabric of downtown and I couldn’t let it sit there,” Sletten said. “I sure as hell didn’t want to see somebody else come in here and turn it into a slot parlor or some other bulls***.”

The menu at Harvey Wallbangers, which Sletten expects people to colloquially shorten to Harvey’s, will focus on quality pub food and simple appetizers.

“It’s going to be simple, classic things that people love,” he  said. “We’re going to have a great burger. We’re going to have a great steak. We’re going to have a great pasta.”

Harvey’s will be Sletten’s fourth restaurant in downtown. He also owns Abreo, 515 E. State St., which is attached to the Irish Rose building, as well as Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, 509 E. State St., and Disco Chicken, which opened in July at 212 E. State St.

“I didn’t necessarily set out to open a restaurant a year after opening another restaurant,” Sletten said of Harvey’ opening a year after Disco Chicken. “I’m so committed to downtown and to Rockford, I just couldn’t let it sit any longer. It’s not good for my other businesses, it’s not good for the area.”

The purchase price of the property was $500,000, according to documents filed Thursday at the Winnebago County Clerk & Recorder’s Office. The building also has two upstairs apartments that will be leased.

“I’ve always loved this building,” Sletten said. “When Mike was alive, we always talked about, whenever you retire let me know, I’d love to have that building.”

He said they considered continuing to operate it as Irish Rose, “but I think the Rose was its own thing. That’s kind of too big of shoes to carry on.”

Sletten said the Irish Rose is an “iconic” spot downtown and one of the first restaurants visitors see when they enter downtown from the east. The building’s unique shape and large picture windows help set a welcoming scene for downtown. He recalled days when people would make Irish Rose their first stop, parking on the strip known as Block 5 to eat or drink before moving to other restaurants and bars.

“My hope is that Harvey’s reinvigorates Block 5 and creates some more energy and balance,” Sletten said.

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