Do you miss these places? These Rockford area businesses closed or moved away in 2023

Rockford's business landscape saw several changes in 2023.

Several merchants marked the end of their run while some chose to relocate.

Here's a look at what went down over the last year.

Crimson Ridge

After opening in 1995 and becoming a go-to spot for Rockfordians to get floral arrangements, luxury gifts and home decor, Crimson Ridge closed its doors in March. Months later, the floral designer at Crimson Ridge opened a new floral shop in Loves Park.

Rockford Speedway

The quarter-mile short track known as the Rockford Speedway since 1948 saw its final checkered flag on Oct. 28, ending its 76-year run. The announcement that 2023 would be the speedway's last season came in February, after the Deery family finalized the sale of the 50-acre site to a developer.

Alvarez Mexican Restaurant

Alvarez closed in March after 30 years at 1600 S. Bell School Road in Cherry Valley. The building is now home to Marquense's Mexican Bar & Grill.

Via Sofia's Italian Kitchen

Via Sofia's Italian Kitchen operated at 109 N. Show Place Drive in Rockford for less than a year. The restaurant closed on April 1.

Los Portales

A downtown Rockford tradition for Mexican cuisine for nearly 20 years, Los Portales closed July 2. Telling the Register Star "It's time to do something different," owners Sandy Diaz-Ruiz and her husband, Manuel Ruiz, continue to own the building at 805 E. State St., and are now leasing the restaurant space to Claudia Rodriguez, who owns Jalisco and Tequila.

The Bubble Hive

With its main location at the corner of North Alpine and Windsor roads in Loves Park, The Bubble Hive opened in 2022 at 412 E. State St., next to Wired Cafe in downtown Rockford. The cannabis-product retailer and art gallery closed its downtown store this summer. Former manager Chris Hare now owns 662 Collective, offering many of the same CBD products, at 331 E. State St., Rockford, the former downtown home of Minglewood boutique.

J&K Lounge

J&K's Lounge quietly closed early this year, after opening in 2021, taking over Frank Calvanese's downtown Rockford Deli Italia, 505-507 E. State St. The building is now for sale. Deli Italia's second location at 3004 N. Main St. in Rockford remains open.

Vintage @ 501

Rockford restauranteur Matt Idzikowski opened Vintage @ 501 12 years ago at 501 E. State St., Rockford. After struggling through the pandemic, the restaurant closed permanently on Aug. 12. Idzikowski has since opened up Taco Libre in the same space, a restaurant featuring street tacos and tequila.

Camera Craft

April 8 was the last day in business for Camera Craft, the camera store owner Tom Brady's family started 108 years ago. Brady, who bought the business in 1979 from his father, decided to retire two years ago and put the business up for sale. He decided to shutter the operation when he couldn't find a buyer. Camera Craft had several homes over the years, the last being 3801 N. Perryville Road.

Irish Rose Saloon

After longtime owner Mike Leifheit fell ill earlier this year, his family announced on Feb. 28 that the Irish Rose, 519 E. State St., Rockford, was closing indefinitely. His son later reported that Leifheit was unable to continue operating the nearly 40-year-old restaurant.

510 Threads

Vintage boutique 510 Threads opened in 2015 at 510 E. State St. Owner Sandi Kohn closed the store in January to focus on MedicineMan Creative, the graphic design business she operates in the same building. Retail shop and estate sale business Salvaged by Sonya, which was previously at 330 E. State St., now occupies the 510 Threads space.

Velvet Robot Coffee Lab

Founded as a City Maret vendor, Velvet Robot opened in July 2020 inside the Rockford City Market building, 116 N. Madison St., downtown Rockford. Owner Justin Carner announced in November that he was moving the downtown shop to Roscoe while keeping his other Rockford location open at 1292 S. Alpine Road.

Bath & Body Fusion

Bath & Body Fusion, 324 E. State St., closed in April and moved to Byron after 12 years downtown Rockford. The business began as a City Market vendor, selling homemade creams, fragrances and soaps. The Bath & Body Fusion space is now occupied by Juju Rey's Art Clubhouse.

Capri

More than a year after a fire shuttered Capri, a downtown Rockford Italian restaurant for 60 years, the owners announced that they purchased the old Shell station at 6480 E. Riverside Blvd., and plan to move the operation to Loves Park. Renovations are underway at the new location. The fate of the downtown restaurant is unknown.

Shortline Sushi Bar

The Shortline Sushi Bar opened in 2018 and offered a variety of items, including salads, crab rangoon, edamame, spring rolls, egg rolls, Bahn Mi sandwiches and several different kinds of sushi rolls. The downtown Belvidere restaurant closed Aug. 15.

Firebox Restaurant & Pizzeria

The Firebox Restaurant & Pizzeria offered several items, including salads, Italian beef sandwiches, burgers, multiple types of macaroni and cheese and of course, pizza. The Buchanan Street restaurant in Belvidere closed last summer after five years in business.

Lung Fung Belvidere

The third Belvidere restaurant to close in a matter of weeks was Lung Fung, a Chinese restaurant at 118 N. State St., Belvidere. The eatery's owners, Kok Hwang, 67, of Belvidere, and his wife, retired after running the restaurant for more than 30 years.

Jim Hagerty covers business, growth and development and other general news topics for the Rockford Register Star. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford area businesses that closed or moved in 2023