Comings & goings: Businesses that opened, closed in the Rockford area in 2022
Several new businesses opened or broke ground on expansion plans in the Rockford region in 2022 while a few others called it a day.
The following is a snapshot of some of the activity during the year in the retail, manufacturing and fitness industries
They opened
ABC Supply, Machesney Park
ABC Supply announced plans in July to open a sales and distribution warehouse near the intersection of Interstate 39-90 and Illinois 173.
The warehouse space will total 45,000-square-feet once the project is completed.
The sales and distribution center warehouse is expected to be operational beginning in the first quarter of 2023 with a total of 22 employees.
The Bricks of Cherry Valley, East State & Walnut streets, Cherry Valley
The main building features eight storefronts, each 1,200 to 1,400-square feet, ready to be occupied by small retailers and offices.
The Bricks ‘n’ Event Venue Center, a 6,500-square-foot building opened last spring. It hosts a monthly indoor and outdoor market and it can be rented for weddings, parties and company gatherings.
More:Comings & goings: A look at restaurants that opened, closed in the Rockford area in 2022
Rooted, 1408 N. Main St., Rockford
This locally owned business, which specializes in home goods, gifts and vintage furniture, held its official grand opening in June.
Business owner Liz Schaer purchased what was a vacant 3,600-square-foot storefront through the Region 1 Planning Council’s Land Bank and spent 18 months renovating the space.
Rooted is sharing space with Wonderland Sweets, which sells baked goods.
Maze Books, 117 S. 3rd St., Rockford
Rockford native Dave Pedersen opened an independent bookstore in the city's downtown in June.
The store has a collection of 15,000 mostly used books including poetry, fiction, non-fiction and classic horror titles.
Maze Books also hosts special events, including book signings by local authors.
Magari, 328 E. State St., Rockford
The footwear store opened in September in the space formerly occupied by the Fred VanVleet retail store.
Magari specializes in hard-to-find shoes and carries more than 20 brands of clothing.
The store is co-owned by Jordan Merkle and brothers Arturo and German Mendoza.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, 5830 E. State St., Rockford
This national discount chain made its Rockford debut in September.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet offers everything from housewares and sporting goods to clothing and food items at up to 70% below other stores prices on name-brand merchandise, according to the company’s website.
Aldi, Loves Park
Aldi opened a 20,000 square foot grocery store in March at the southwest corner of Forest Hills Road and E. Riverside Boulevard.
The new Aldi is on land owned and being developed by First Midwest Group.
In addition to its Loves Park location, Aldi has three stores in Rockford, one in Machesney Park, one in Roscoe and a store in Belvidere.
Beardsley's Barbershop, 10209 N. Second St., Machesney Park
Justin and Tiffany Frederick opened Beardsley's Barbershop in July.
Justin Frederick is a fourth-generation barber and said cutting hair is a family business. He joined more than 20 other family members who own and operate barber shops in the Chicago suburbs, the south and Midwest.
The couple previously owned and operated The Baking Grounds North, 8638 N. Second St., which closed in July.
Daily Threads, CherryVale Mall, Cherry Valley
Daily Threads opened in September on the mall’s lower level, across from Barnes & Noble.
The store sells casual, business casual and formal women’s clothing.
African Styles, King Joseph & Queen Mira Boutique, CherryVale Mall, Cherry Valley
Both businesses opened this fall and are owned and operated by Mbangana Maimomo.
African Styles, which is on the mall’s upper level, offers more traditional African clothing and designs while King Joseph & Queen Mira Boutique, on the mall’s lower level, offers more casual and special-occasion clothing. The store also sells accessories including shoes, belts, ties and purses.
Hickory Farms at The District at CherryVale Mall, Cherry Valley
Hickory Farms opened a storefront in 2022 next to Lane Bryant.
The store specializes in gift baskets and boxes, including wine, cheese and sausage.
The business also offers gourmet food, snacks, coffee, tea and cocoa.
((Bounce)) Rockford, 125 E. State St., Cherry Valley
This fitness studio in downtown Cherry Valley opened in October and provides high-intensity workouts on trampolines.
Training on a trampoline is easy on the joints, according to ((Bounce)) Rockford owner and fitness instructor Michelle Young.
Participants are encouraged to train at their own fitness level.
They closed in 2022
Broadway Florist, 4224 Maray Drive, Rockford
The business closed in October after nearly a century of adding beauty to countless weddings, anniversaries, homecoming dances and other special occasions.
Broadway Florist opened in the city’s Broadway business district in 1929 and moved to Maray Drive in 2014.
Business owner Michelle Stocker cited inflation and the expiration of her lease as factors in her decision to close.
Shosies Cyclery, 514 Windsor Road, Loves Park
Shosies Cyclery closed in September after 48 years in business.
The business sold mountain, hybrid and commuter bikes as well as apparel, accessories and components.
Petland, 7358 Mid-Mall Drive, Cherry Valley
Petland closed in March following the passage of a state law requiring retailers purchase pet inventory from rescues and shelters.
The Gymnastics Academy of Rockford South, 1949 S. Bell School Road, Cherry Valley
The Gymnastics Academy of Rockford closed its South Trampoline Park and Training Center on Sept. 1.
The business had occupied the space since 2014.
GAR's location on Spring Brook Road remains open.
Midwest Rustic, 218 E. State St., Rockford
The downtown retail store that functioned as an artist collective and showcased the works of more than 40 small businesses closed for good in September.
Midwest Rustic opened in April 2021 and sold home decor items, housewares, clothing, jewelry and other items.
London Avenue Designs, 214 E. State St., Rockford
Owner Lori Eickhoff closed her floral design, event planning and interior decor business in November to focus on her health and family.
Eickhoff launched London Avenue Designs out of her home in 2012 and opened the store's downtown location four years later.
McEachran Homestead Winery, Caledonia
The family-run business closed for good in November about two years after the passing of winery owner Herbert Greenlee.
His four adult children took over operations of the winery but announced it would close after Thanksgiving.
According to bestwineries.org, the McEachran Homestead was settled in 1857 by John McEachran, the great grandfather of Herbert Greenlee and is officially recognized by the State of Illinois as a Sesquicentennial Farm.
The original 160-acre farm was expanded to 285 acres mainly for corn and soybean crops. Eleven acres were dedicated to 19 varieties of grapes, raspberries and fruit trees to produce wine.
Ken DeCoster covers business news and features. Contact him at 815-987-1391, kdecoster@rrstar.com or @DeCosterKen.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Businesses that opened, closed in the Rockford area in 2022
