New event space in Rockford’s Midtown wins City Council approval

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council has given the green light for a new event space to open in the former Ellida Lodge in Midtown.

Aldermen voted 10-0 on Monday to approve a special-use permit and 9-1 to approve a liquor license for Spider on Quinta, 1111-1115 Fifth Ave. Alderman Frank Beach voted against the liquor license.

Owner Anahi Rubi, whose family has run Spider Sushi Bar for 17 years, plans to offer activities for people of all ages ranging from special celebrations to fitness activities, movie nights, Bingo, princess balls, brunch gatherings with live music, workshops and other educational programs, among other events.

That would take up half of the space while the other side would be dedicated to offices and a showroom for DRX, Danny’s Roofing Exteriors. The company is owned by Danny Palacios, Rubi’s husband.

The showroom will allow DRX’s customers to see the company’s products first-hand. Palacios also plans to offer hands-on workshops.

The space was previously owned by Miss Carly’s Inc., which served people who were homeless, battling addiction or otherwise needy.

Miss Carly’s closed at the end of 2024 as part of a deal with the city to cease operations in exchange for fines being forgiven on code violations. The nonprofit was also under scrutiny from past donors, who were calling for more financial transparency, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Bureau, which had demanded financial paperwork.

Rubi’s Kasa Rubi Development bought the property from Miss Carly’s for $125,000 on Nov. 5. Miss Carly’s previously sold the other part of its property — the former Pho Hien Buddist Temple space at 1125 Fifth Ave. — to a Racine, Wisconsin, man on Sept. 19 for $90,000.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas