The Rockford may have closed for good, but its legacy will not soon be forgotten.
When Michael D’Amelio opened The Rockford in 1994 as the first restaurant on Glenwood South, it was little more than a fancy sandwich shop with a bar. Fast-forward through multiple owners, menus and almost-closures, and the restaurant became a fixture in Downtown Raleigh, known for its intimate watering hole feel and tight-knit community of regulars (though, really, anyone and everyone felt welcome here)—NTM reliable food and drinks.
When The Rockford announced its permanent closure this January after nearly three decades in business, Raleighites—and even folks from out of town who had visited the restaurant—were rocked. Over the years, beyond being a go-to spot in the bustling Glenwood South neighborhood, it was also a haven of halcyon memories—from birthday dinners to engagements to time-tested menu items that gained a cult following (looking at you, ABC, a locally famous sandwich made up of apples, bacon, cheddar cheese and pancake syrup sandwiched between two slices of French toast).
Despite its unfortunate closing due to financial hardships, this gem hidden in plain sight will remain a core part of Raleigh’s history, with a legacy that is sure to live on for years to come. Many a Raleighite had their hand in the restaurant, from Jason Howard (of The Cardinal, Pink Boot and Atlantic Lounge, to name a few) to Cheetie Kumar (formerly of Neptune’s, Kings and also-shuttered Garland) to Joe Farmer (previous owner of Humble Pie). Even renowned rocker Bon Iver was a dishwasher at The Rockford once upon a time (!). Here, we take a climb up those magical stairs one last time to reflect on the memories left in its wake.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Michael D’Amelio, Original Owner 1994–2010
Fave memory: Not to sound sentimental, but I never had a bad day up there.
Jason Howard, Owner 2010–2014
Fave dish: The ABC sandwich
Fave memory: It just felt good when people would thank me for keeping the restaurant the same.
Fave memory: The vibe that began when it first opened (I was there partying in the early years) and the way people kept that same Raleigh-centric vibe going for so many years
Dylan Wicher, Executive Chef 2021–2022
Fave dish: Fried chicken
Woody Johnson, Owner 2020–2023
Fave dish: Breakfast burrito
Fave memory: There was a couple that came here for their first date years ago. They recently brought their kids in for dinner to see the place where it all started. Special things like that just happened here.
Cheetie Kumar, Prep Cook/Bartender ~2001–2010
Fave dish: The post-shift ‘mashups’ from stuff in the kitchen. I feel like I ate a lot of black bean quesadillas!
Fave memory: Just the camaraderie among the team and having all the local folks come through on a regular basis
Kevin Ruiz, Executive Chef 2020–2021
Fave dish: Burrata salad
Fave memory: Being a part of the bringing back of The Rockford post-pandemic
Standing the Test of Time
1994
Michael D’Amelio purchases the building at 320 1/2 Glenwood Ave. and opens The Rockford as the first restaurant on Glenwood South.
1996
Second-floor restaurant conversion approved
2010
Jason Howard purchases the restaurant, planning to change the concept, but after community pushback kept it as The Rockford.
2011–2015
Chef Jason Tran helms the kitchen.
2013–2014
Howard sells The Rockford to his partner J. Wellons.
2015–2017
Chef Howard McDonald runs the kitchen.
2018
Wellons is the first to change The Rockford menu—the ABC sandwich comes off.
2020–2021
Upon reopening post-pandemic closure, the cult-classic ABC sandwich returned for brunch, but didn’t hit and fell off the menu at the end of 2020.
Kevin Ruiz hired as executive chef.
Woody Johnson takes over ownership, along with Tony and Bill Coulter (the Coulters depart in 2021). Kitchen renovations ensue.
2021
Ruiz departs; chef Dylan Wicher is hired to lead back-of-house.
Management made updates that honored the character, ushering in a consistent, quality and “vibey” restaurant by Jermaine Caldwell.
2023
The restaurant announced its permanent closure in January.
If you like big beads and you cannot lie… you’re gonna wanna post up at these New Orleans-inspired spots and celebrations around Raleigh. Eat, drink and dance the night away, but don’t you worry—what happens on the float, stays on the float.
Our very own Nawlins nugget in Raleigh, The Big Easy is obv here for Mardi Gras. Head to DTR and down some bevs while grooving to live music. And up the authentic factor with some bites from Big Easy’s Cajun-inspired menu (think alligator bites, shrimp and gouda grits, and Bourbon Street chicken) that promise to put you in the Fat Tuesday spirit.
Hola, NOLA. A Mardi Gras celebration at one of Raleigh’s most esteemed Nawlins-inspired restaurants is a no-brainer. Swing by for faves like oysters, crawfish hushpuppies, gumbo, fried seafood and more. Beignet, done that.
Fill your soul (and stomach!) with New Orleans -inspired eats from chef-owner Colleen Speaks—from gumbo to fried chicken livers to po’boys and more. (Note: Hummingbird is closed on Tuesdays but will be open Wednesday for anyone who’s craving a late Mardi Gras celebration!)
Calling all kings and queens! Feast your eyes on a one-of-a-kind riff on the classic Mardi Gras king cake feat. brioche dough, cinnamon chips, decadent icing and colorful candy. Let’s eat!
Canes fans love a pregame—and this official NHL tailgate party of the Stadium Series is pregame #goals. The free fam-friendly pregame hockey fest feats live music, special appearances, interactive games and attractions, photo ops with the Stanley Cup and more. It promises to be a “Truly” unforgettable game-day experience. Here, everything you need to know.
Where: PNC Arena’s East 1000 Parking Lot in Raleigh
When: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2–7:30pm
Cost: This event is free, but a 2023 NHL Stadium Series game ticket is required for admission.
Activities:
Take photos with the iconic Stanley Cup, which will be on display from 2–7pm. Do it for the ’Gram!
Explore the United by Hockey Mobile Museum, which aims to raise awareness of and educate fans about diverse individuals within the game of hockey.
Jam out to musical performances from the NC State Marching Band (Drumline) and Justin Trawick & The Common Good.
Face-off in a Bubble Hockey Game to see which Truly pack reigns supreme; take a pic in the interactive Truly photo booth; meet an NHL legend; and test your hockey skills through Truly’s Accuracy Challenge, Bullseye Battle and Target Practice games.
Participate in BioSteel’s stick handling and trick shot challenges, plus sample BioSteel flavors and take home a branded towel.
Hang with Stormy and the Canes Crew
Get in on the fun with inflatable favorites like a giant Stormy bounce house, obstacle course and snapshot booth.
Deck yourself out in 2023 Stadium Series apparel, headwear and collectibles at the NHL Official Merchandise trailer – A Fanatics Experience.
Visit Honda in the Fan Zone to try your luck at the Honda Puck Drop Game or showcase your hockey skills via Goalie Power Play and Precision Passing for a chance to win fun prizes.
Operate autonomous CAT equipment, shoot for prizes and learn about CAT services.
Visit the Navy Federal Credit Union Hockey Puck Shot Challenge to test your range and accuracy to receive a hockey-themed prize. Plus, snap a photo and show off what you’d look like all suited up for the game via the photo opp.
The inaugural EA SPORTS NHL 23 Stadium Series Open will feature top NHL gamers from 2:30–6pm. These gamers will compete for cash prizes aboard the Allied eSports Truck, a versatile tractor trailer that has built in gaming consoles and LED screens for fans to follow the action live.
Test your shooting skills with NHL Network’s target inflatable.
Get your own personalized NHL Stadium Series trading card from Upper Deck, the exclusive trading card partner of the NHL. Upper Deck is also giving fans an opportunity to win fun prizes by playing exciting games such as Pack Wars, Box Hockey and more.
99.9 The Fan, the flagship station for the Canes, is giving attendees the opportunity to enter for a chance to win the ultimate fan prize pack.
Musical Acts Announced
Country music entertainer Jake Owen will be the featured performer during the Stadium Series game, while alt-rock group lovelytheband is rockin’ out at the official PreGame tailgate party.
It’s game time. Sports & Social’s highly anticipated Fenton location (as well as PBR Cary, located inside the hip sports bar and entertainment venue) is officially opening to the public on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 4pm—and it’s primed to be one of the coolest yet thanks to a slew of features unique to to this location.
Case in point: the 42-foot LED screen (around the same size as your standard movie theater screen!). Sports & Social’s largest media wall will only add to its exciting and intoxicating game day vibe. “Sports & Social is known for having a game experience that’s the next best thing to the stadium,” says Live! Hospitality & Entertainment SVP of Strategic Partnerships Judy Moore. “When you’re watching a game at Sports & Social and the home team scores a touchdown you’re getting cryo jets; smoke fills the air; you get the blow horns; local team chants; fan cams…” NTM activations like wing-eating contests during commercial breaks (!).
Come Super Bowl Sunday, the entertainment venue will surely be the place to be. And don’t miss a one-of-a-kind performance from Morgan Evans on Friday to kick off opening weekend—just one of many special events Sports & Social has planned for its Fenton location (see also: a UFC 284 watch party Feb. 11, an immersive Bourbon Street experience Feb. 18 in celebration of Mardi Gras, and brunch kicking off Feb. 19).
While Sports & Social is, naturally, known for its game day energy, there’s more to it than just that. The food program will especially stand out thanks to the company’s new James Beard-nominated executive chef John Suley, previously of Constellation Culinary Group, Royal Caribbean Cruises and now-closed Gotham Steak at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, to name just a few highlights of his résumé.
Suley is kicking up the social lounge’s popular sports bar fare with 24 new menu items debuting at the Fenton location. The menu covers all your snackable faves (nachos, wings, burgers), along with elevated dishes like cacio e pepe arancini, beef barbacoa tacos, fresh salads, a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, and a truffle and mushroom flatbread.
“Our approach was to think of Sports & Social as a really good restaurant,” says Suley. “Obviously you have the sports, the entertainment, all that energy—but we also have food that’s fun, imaginative, thoughtful and more creative. The space brings a lot of energy, and I think the food and beverage reflects that personality.”
When it comes to drinks, you’re gonna wanna sip on Sports & Social’s signature cocktail, the Crush. A Baltimore fave (where S&S is headquartered), the orange flavor features freshly squeezed OJ, vodka and crushed ice. The Cary location will have its own signature flavor, the Cary Crush, made with Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, fresh lemon juice, agave, Sprite and crushed ice. “They go down very easily, so I will pre-warn you on that,” laughs Moore. And it’s just as delish enjoyed while watching a game or during happy hour after work.
“Fenton’s got a lot of new residential development, new people moving in and a lot of great businesses,” adds Moore, “so we really want people to come out after work and enjoy what we have.”
Additional highlights of Sports & Social Cary include a second-floor stage providing an intimate concert experience (live music will be another huge draw); Crush It Tuesdays, when all Crush drinks are half-off; a year-round outdoor patio with its own Crush bar; and an area within the sports bar called the Tavern (not found at any other S&S location!), featuring lounge seating and its own bar with specialty bevs, making it perfect for birthday parties and the like.
“This is our 11th location, and this one is very special,” says Moore. “There’s a lot of elements to it that aren’t necessarily all sports. That’s what we do very well, but it’s definitely a place for everybody to come and hang out—and we hope that everyone gives it a try.”
Chef’s Take
Top menu items you should come nibble on
Cacio e pepe arancini – Like cacio e pepe wrapped up into a fun rice-based bite
Quesabirria egg rolls – If quesabirria tacos and egg rolls had a baby
Spicy tuna bites – Think what you’d get at a sushi restaurant
French onion grilled cheese – French onion soup in grilled cheese form, aka the best of both worlds
Rack Daddy – Sports & Social’s (more delicious) take on the McRib
S&S signature sundae – Presented like it was bottle service, sparklers and all (!)
Exclusive first look: Stakeholders share their vision for development potential.
“I feel more optimistic about the street than I have in a while,” says Bill King—whose vantage point as Downtown Raleigh Alliance president and CEO is clearly in-the-know. “And I really do think you’re going to see Fayetteville Street start to look a bit different over the course of 2023 compared to 2022 and earlier.”
And major players like Fayetteville Street stakeholder Thomas “Skip” Hill are working tirelessly toward that goal. “We want to invest and make this the coolest street—certainly in North Carolina, but in the Southeast and beyond,” says the Highwoods Properties senior VP. “We’re all in soup to nuts, and we want to play a role in coordination with the City of Raleigh.”
Now, propelling that vision, a slew of concepts and activations are on deck—from signed leases to master plans. Here, 10 major updates coming to Raleigh’s Main Street.
Ink Is Dry
Chido Taco This colorful mercado-style taqueria ever so subtly announced its second location on Fayetteville Street by placing two ceramic Chido Taco mugs in the window of the former Living Kitchen space. The new 3,000-square-foot restaurant, slated to open toward the end of Q1, will feature the same menu as the original Chido Taco in McNeil Pointe—and, yes, you’ll be able to take drinks to-go.
HUBB Kitchens Partnership Giving minority and female food & beverage entrepreneurs a leg up is this new training program from HUBB Kitchens, Raleigh Founded and DRA. Expected to start up this summer in a restaurant space at Duke Energy Center before moving to the former Pizza La Stella location Downtown, the concept will train future business owners on cooking skills and the business of running a restaurant, as well as provide mentorship and financing help. It’s also a win-win for those who work/live Downtown, as it’ll add a new lunch option (!). “Being able to provide that, but also make it have an equity impact, is really important to us,” says King.
Mustang House After DTR’s Plaza Cafe owners announced its closure, two Triangle-transplant business partners out of California snatched up the space to open Nepalese concept Mustang House. Look for the spot to open any day now in a lightly refreshed space.
Mobile TV Screen Clearly, Raleighites dig live sports viewing—see the throngs of people who descended on Moore Square to watch the live FIFA World Cup Final via giant mobile TV screen. Now, the city has acquired that massive mobile screen and is evaluating the logistics of live City Plaza screenings of the NCAA tournament, ACC tournament, hockey games and the like.
Economic Development RFP The City of Raleigh is funding an RFP asking national firms to submit proposals for attractions and activations that would promote economic development Downtown (think: retail strategies, position of the DT office market, and supporting minority- and women-owned businesses)—to, in essence, “make Downtown, and Raleigh, great again,” says Hill.
In the Works
Sir Walter Coffee Owner Kevin Frazier confirmed Sir Walter Coffee is very close to signing a lease for the former B.GOOD space at Charter Square—one of four towers Highwoods owns on Fayetteville Street. In the “hip Panera,” as Frazier calls it, expect a slightly bigger breakfast and lunch menu of fresh salads, sandwiches & soups—plus a separate bar and potential for a light dinner menu. If signed, Frazier hopes to open this year.
Alexander Square Parking Deck In addition to the rollup garage doors and other upgrades Highwoods is making as part of the redevelopment of the deck’s ground-floor space we intro’d last summer, the company is also planning to upfit with outdoor dining and food concepts (think sushi, sandwiches, ice cream).
Wells Fargo Building Concept Hill says the lease is very close to being signed for the former Cafe Carolina space—closed since 2017—on a great full-service restaurant from a local hospitality group known for its collection of concepts.
Light Activations Visionary Hill’s, well, vision is to “have lights on every tree all the way down Fayetteville Street,” he says. “In fact, we’d love to have it so that the lighting is tied to a sound system and the lights go dancing on and off based on the music.”
Empire Properties Concept The now-defunct CVS space at 200 Fayetteville St. looks to be a big talker in the near future as Greg Hatem and co. revamp the space with a new concept. Stay tuned.
