Table 13 owner asking for liquor license at Ember

By Melissa Westphal

BusinessRockford.com

The owner of Table 13 restaurant is applying for a liquor license at Ember Restaurant & Bar, 6957 Olde Creek Road, which has been closed for several weeks.

Signs that were up two weeks ago telling Ember patrons that the establishment was closed for a family emergency are now gone.

Ember sits inside A Perryville Place plaza, and a public notice is now posted on one of the restaurant’s windows for a Liquor Advisory Board meeting taking place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Rockford City Hall, 425 E. State St.

Jeremy May Mattson Germano is listed as the applicant on the meeting agenda. Germano owned Table 13 restaurant, which closed recently at North Main and Auburn streets along with two other businesses to make room for a Walgreens.

On Friday, Germano declined further comment on the project until details have been finalized. He’s still selling furnishings — bars, an antique chandelier, mirrors, slate flooring, roofing, tables, chairs and mementos from the old Saddle & Cycle — from Table 13.

Superstore opens in Sept.
The Toys “R” Us/Babies “R” Us combo store at the former Media Play outlet, 6455 E. State St., is set to open Sept. 19.

The company recently opened superstores in New Jersey, California, Florida and Arizona. The existing Toys “R” Us store, 7150 N. Cherryvale Blvd., will close in conjunction with the grand opening.

Forest Plaza Shopping Center as a whole is getting a face-lift as part of the corporate renovation program of plaza owner Simon Property Group, spokesman Les Morris said. Those renovations should be finished by fall.

Morris said the company is actively prospecting for replacements for the former TJ Maxx space. TJ Maxx closed earlier this year and moved to Illinois 173 in Machesney Park.

Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at 815-987-1341 or mwestpha@rrstar.com.