Mike Leifheit

Nuggets of History, Summer 2017 – Rockford Remarkable Restaurants

Andrew

Source:  Nuggets of History [Rockford Historical Society]; Summer 2017 issue, Vol. 56, Number 2; cover shown. Article by Amanda Becker.

Nine page article mentions the following restaurants and restaurateurs:  The Irish Rose, Stockholm Inn, Der Rathskeller, Capri and Linos, The Smokehouse Barbeque and Alvarez Restaurant, Mike Leifheit p. 4, Eklund Brothers Café p 4, Sweden House Restaurant p. 4, The Stockholm Inn p 4, The Brad-Lynn Restaurant p 4, Gus and Maxine Peterson p 4, Jim and Vera Osborn p. 4, John and Elaine Bilka, p 4, The Lingonberry Group, p. 4, Der Rathskeller Restaurant p 5, Fred Goetz p 5, Betty Giesen, p 5, Dick Giesen, p 5, Michael DuPre, p 5, Dom’s Restaurant p 5, Leonardi’s Restaurant p 5, Maria’s Restaurant, p 5, Capri Restaurant p 6, Vito Grisanzio p 6, Domenic Grasanzio p 6, Michael and Pat Battista p 6, Lino’s Restaurant, p 6, Joe Battista p 6, Frank Zammuto, p 6, Zina Horton p 6, El Dorado Club p 6, Archie “Papa” Hawkes, p 6, BB’s Soul Food Restaurant, p 7, Boria Blankenship p 7, Box’s Barbeque p 7, Smokehouse Authentic Bar-B-Que p 7, Gail and Stanley Fort, p 7, Wong S. Fong, p 8, Mandarin Gardens p 8, Lung Fung, p 8, Imperial Palace p 8, Kuma’s p 8, Wong’s p 8, Peking Restaurant p 8, Victor Yu, p 8, Great Wall Restaurant, p 8, Paul Wang, p 8, Gene and Suzy Wang, p 9, Yen Ching, p 9, Wen “Alex” Zeng, p 9, Alvarez Restaurant, p 9, Frank Alvarez, p. 9, Olympic Tavern p. 9, Guy Mutimer, p 9, Anthony Rotello, p 9, Town Hall Tavern, p 9, Chicken Charlie’s, p 10, The Feather Club, p 10, Ross’s, Piano Players, p 10, Gibby Anderson and Vern Ott, p 10, The Little King, p 10; Ten Stop-It, p 10, The Saddle and Cycle, p 10, Welch’s, p 10, Jacks or Better, p 10, Lee Pizzuto, p 10, Mike Pizzuto, p 10, Hick, Hickey’s,  Johnson’s and Erwin’s, Little Italy, p 10, North Main Manor p. 10, The Blackhawk, p 10, The Grotto, p 10, D’Augostine’s, p 10, Jim Cantrore, p 10, Jimmy Vitale, p 10, Jungle Jim’s, p 10, Stone Eagle, p 10.The Branding Iron, p 11, The Last Straw, p 11, The Mayflower Restaurant, cover.

Rockford Magazine – February 1995, Vol. 10, No. 2

Andrew

Source: Rockford Magazine, February 1995, Vol. 10, No. 2, cover above, contents below

Standing: Mike Leifheit, owner and waiter (at least for this picture), Irish Rose Saloon. page 16

Jeffrey Primm, owner Primm and Proper gym, Mr. World of 1983.  Graduate of Auburn High School.  Page 44.

Old Rock River Café and Deli, menu – 1989-90 menu, Mike Leifheit

Andrew

Menu circa 1989-90    –     Café in business 1982 – 1989, 301 East State St.    Mike Leifheit, owner

Lettering/Calligraphy by Mr. Barrie.  Berry?  sp-

 

 

MetroCentre-Mayflower

Andrew

MetroCentre-Mayflower 3

“Restaurateurs protest Logan’s downtown plan”  from Rockford register Star June 23, 1984

“Disgruntled restaurateurs told MetroCentre general Manager Douglas Logan Friday that a new downtown restaurant will take money from their pockets and wipe out as many jobs as it creates.”

“Local restaurateurs are complaining because The Mayflower was chosen without a competitive bidding process.  They say Salamone will have the unfair advantage of support from public funds.”   “If a restaurant fails, the 7,000 suare first floor space could become parking space.”

Source: Rockford Register Star June 23, 1984

MetroCentre-Mayflower pact

Andrew

MetroCentre-Mayflower [t 1

Location 102 N. Main St./301 W. State St. (same location, both addresses)

Defined by RockfordTownshipAssessor.net as “Urban Mixed-Use Parking Garage”  January 1986 a building permit was issued for a restaurant, $222,000.  No occupant 1984, 1985,

“Centre-Mayflower pact angers restaurateurs” from Rockford Register Star June 20, 1984

“Downtown restaurateurs started a slow burn Tuesday after learning the MetroCentre Authority plans to spend $500,000 to entice the Mayflower Restaurant into opening a downtown business.”

“The restaurant would be located on the first floor of the parking deck being constructed by the MetroCentre Authority at State and Main Sts.”

MetroCentre - Mayflower pt 2

“The MetroCentre money comes from Roy Fridh, a limited partner in the construction and ownership of the incomplete downtown parking deck. Fridh paying the MetroCentre so he in turn can receive the depreciation tax benefits from the building.”

“Logan said he opted to negotiate with the Mayflower and not seek bids from other restaurants because he wants to guarantee that the restaurant that opens in the parking deck is a well-known high-quality local business. The Mayflower has been in business in Loves Park for 50 years.”

“But downtown restaurateurs see the move as bringing a new competitor to the area and giving him an unfair advantage,”

Source: Rockford Register Star June 20, 1984