Rockford's Former Water Street Cafe Is For Sale

Have you driven by the former Water Street Café at 115 N Water St. in downtown Rockford recently and thought, "Man, that's a great space for a business"? Well, now you have the chance to own it.

What's Up With the Former Water Street Café in Rockford?

Anytime I'm driving on State Street in downtown Rockford or heading to the Rockford City Market space and I see the former Water Street Cafe building sitting there cute and unused, it boggles my mind a bit.

I've lived in the Rockford area my entire life, and I can't remember the last time I saw this café open.

The truth is, it's been closed for more than a decade, and it's quickly becoming one of those places that has been sitting there for so long that people stop noticing it.

According to longtime Rockford residents discussing the property on Reddit, the cafe was previously operated by local chef Gerlinde Sampson. In 2010 the owner of Uncle Nicks/Oasis bought it with hopes to reopen it as Nick's Water Street Cafe, and obviously that never happened. The little building has remained largely unused, and thankfully, that could finally be changing.

Water Street Café is For Sale

The former Water Street Cafe at 115 N. Water Street now has a for-sale sign in the window and naturally, Rockford residents already have plenty of opinions about what should take its place.

This is a small building in an interesting downtown location, especially with the activity that happens around Rockford City Market. To me, it feels like the kind of place that's perfect for something small, fun and locally owned.

A coffee shop?

Ice cream?

A breakfast spot?

A little bakery or dessert shop?

Now I'm curious what you think.

If you could choose what moves into the former Water Street Café building, what would you put there?