Rockford’s Beef-a-Roo Comeback Just Got a Whole Lot More Real

If you have been following the Beef-a-Roo saga here in Rockford, you know we have been on quite the emotional roller coaster.

One minute we're mourning the permanent closure of our beloved local restaurants, then we hear a comeback is on the way. Next, our comeback hopes get crushed, followed by months of negotiations, more rumors, and a whole lot of Rockford people basically saying, "Please just give us our cheddar fries back."

READ MORE: Hundreds of Pumpkins Stolen For Northern IL Farm

Now, we finally have proof of good things ahead.

Beef-a-Roo is officially taking steps toward reopening its first Rockford location.

Google Street View

New Update About Rockford Beef-a-Roos

I am a born-and-raised Rockfordian who has loved Beef-a-Roo for as long as I can remember, so I am VERY happy to have more positive news to share.

By now you've probably heard that two Rockford-area business owners, Robert Grottke and Alex Edwards, have finally received permission to reopen and independently run the Beef-a-Roo locations in Rockford. (YAY!)

The new owners have also shared that the Beef-a-Roo at 1680 N. Alpine Road in the Highcrest Center will be the first location to reopen, but the big question now is: When will that happen?

While no official reopening date for the Highcrest location has been announced yet, work is underway now at the restaurant, AND "815 Beef-a-Roo" has officially made its debut on social media.

Obviously, there is still plenty of work to do. The restaurant needs to be cleaned up and refreshed, employees need to be hired (or rehired) and most importantly, they need to get back to the products and recipes that made us fall in love with Beef-a-Roo in the first place.

Honestly, I appreciate that they are taking this rebirth seriously.

Beef-a-Roo isn't just another fast-food restaurant to a lot of Rockford people. It is part of the city's history, and generations of local families have grown up eating those roast beef sandwiches, burgers, shakes and, of course, those glorious cheddar fries.

So, Rockford, we aren't quite at the point where we can yell, "WHO WANTS BEEF-A-ROO?" the next time we're grabbing fast food, BUT, we are getting closer, and that's a very good thing!