To Tom Scheidel, the City of Rockford is the place to be. Friendly people. Authentic local businesses. Plenty of outdoor recreation. He says the community has all you could want in a place to live, work, and play. But two factors basically sealed the deal on his decision to move to the area with his wife, Mary, and their three kids in 1998.
“The number one reason was the schools,” says Scheidel, principal at the Scheidel Group, a media consulting company based in Rockford. “But it is also very easy to get to Grand Rapids from here. I think my quickest record to downtown GR is 12 minutes but it usually takes an average of 20 minutes.”
Some call the greater Rockford area sprawl. Located 10 miles north of Grand Rapids, there are plenty of car-dominated strip malls and look-alike residential subdivisions running roughshod over the landscape to support the argument.
But the City of Rockford also lays claim to one of the more vibrant, all be it small, proper downtowns in West Michigan. Within the cozy three-square mile city limits, there’s an old-fashioned main-street style business district surrounded by traditional neighborhood living. Get off the traffic jammed highway and mega roads that border the city and the scene is charming and slow paced.
Consider it’s all located within minutes of Michigan’s second largest city and you can see why Rockford has emerged as a choice destination for day trippers, business owners, and new residents, particularly families like the Scheidels.
Get Your Eat On
Rockford is the family town. A little more than 5,000 people live in the central city, according to a July 2005 census estimate. Nearly 60 percent of the population is married, and just about half of them have children. The median age in the town, however, hovers around 32 years old. So more kids are likely on the horizon.
As a result of its growing popularity among young families, Rockford’s central city is experiencing considerable restoration and new investment for its size. Sure there are plenty of well-known shops, boutiques, and restaurants. But the city is in the midst of a relative renaissance with new ventures coming in and established business renovating and expanding. The result is an increasingly energetic downtown area.
“When we travel we like to stay away from chains and find the local businesses and destinations,” Scheidel says. “Now we live in a community like that.”
Looking for a bite? Without hesitation Scheidel said the Corner Bar is a favorite stop for locals and visitors alike. Hotdogs are the house specialty. Eat 12 chili dogs in a four-hour sitting and you earn the honor of joining the 5,000 plus members in the bar’s Hotdog Hall of Fame. Eat 20 and the dogs are free. (The amateur record, in case you’re wondering, is 43 chili dogs in three hours 58 minutes.) Mary Scheidel, however, says the bar’s full-size wet burrito is underrated and provides good competition, too.
For more formal dining, another favorite stop is Reds on the River. The classy yet casual restaurant offers an extensive menu as well as a big city selection of wine, spirits, and cigars all set beside the rushing waters of the Rogue River. The deck offers the choice seats on a sunny summer day. Inside diners will find a cozy atmosphere and a unique circular fireplace for those chilly nights.
The Scheidels have yet to check out Grill One Eleven, the latest eatery on the culinary scene. But they eagerly anticipate their first visit. And they already have an idea where they’ll stop after the meal.
“After any place you go [for dinner] you have to go to Rocky’s for dessert,” says Mary Scheidel, hyping the Main Street ice cream stand.
Plenty of Room Outdoors
For the Scheidel family, Rocky’s is just a short bike from home down the White Pine Trail. Stretching nearly 100 miles, the paved trail is Michigan’s longest hiking and biking trail. The Scheidel’s find themselves on the trail two or three times a week, depending on the weather. But they say the trail, which passes directly through downtown Rockford, has become a wildly popular attraction for bikers, walkers, and inline skaters who not only use it for exercise but also to venture downtown for shopping and entertainment.
“The stretch between [the neighboring town of] Belmont and Rockford can be like rush hour on the East Beltline,” says Tom Scheidel, referring to the traffic congestion on a major local roadway. “It is so well used and enjoyed.”
Situated on the banks of the Rogue River, Rockford also offers ample outdoor opportunities for fisherman, kayakers, and canoers, something unique this close to a major metropolitan area.
Powers Outdoors, a sporting goods store located downtown on Main Street, rents canoes and kayaks for hourly, daily, or weekend use on the river. They will also retrieve customers downstream and bring them back to town. Call ahead to schedule a kayak or canoe trip at least a day in advance, especially in the summer months.
In addition to the trail and a nationally recognized steelhead fishing river, Rockford has 10 city parks and more than 30 acres of public green space, much of it on the waterfront.
Community Development Director Jody Greco says the recently renovated Peppler Park, located downtown next to the Rogue River dam, is a popular destination. Visitors can take in picturesque views of the wild and wooded Rogue River while enjoying a treat from Custards by the Dam, another dessert stop located just a few steps from the park. And the Garden Club Park, also nestled on the rive banks, is the place to be on Tuesday nights in the summer for the Rogue River Blues series.
What’s In Store
The city boasts a growing number of one-of-a-kind shops that provide a great place to shop for clothing, jewelry and, of course, one-of-a-kind gifts. Open Mind features specialty herbs and incense to cleanse the spirit. And Guild the Lily offers quality goods on consignment.
Jade, a hip women’s clothing store, opened its doors four years ago. But, due to popularity, the business recently expanded. The addition was completed in August 2006 and cemented Jade’s reputation as one of the more popular places to find top designers along with unique accessories and handbags.
Owner Julie Cronkright says the success of her boutique is due, in part, to its prime location. “Being on Squire Street is good for business,” she notes. “The building is charming plus we’re right on the river.”
Right at Home, The Old-Fashioned Smokehouse, and other rehabbed and new businesses illustrate the recent growth in downtown Rockford. The Downtown Development Authority also is taking a more active role in dressing up the area. The agency played a financial role in the $450,000 renovation of Peppler Park and recently invested in new decorative lamp posts and downtown banners. DDA officials also plan to fix up downtown parking lots and add additional lights to the bridge spanning the Rogue River.
Motivated and Committed
It’s those kind of spending decisions that enhance the community’s quality of life and help attract the new residents and families. Schools are another big draw. Rockford has 12 elementary and secondary public schools within their district and, because they draw from a broad geographic area, approximately 7,500 students.
Despite the relatively large school system, the Scheidels say the district maintains a traditional atmosphere that reflects the small, tight-knit community values. They should know. As one of the early birds of the young family movement into the city, the Scheidels currently have one child in middle school, another in high school, and a third graduated from Rockford Public attending Central Michigan University.
“The size of the school offers them so many opportunities,” Mary Scheidel says. “They have so many options you may not find at a smaller school.”
For all the amenities and attractive aspects, Rockford remains a relatively affordable place to live. The estimated average home value in 2005 was approximately $148,000. But it was closer to $116,000 in 2000, reflecting the rising popularity of the area. Homes in the more sprawling suburbanized parts of the area typically range from $250,000 to $350,000 but it’s not unusual to see an asking price approach $750,000.
Still, the area is defined predominately by hardworking and ambitious professional types. The estimated annual median household income is approximately $51,000. And the city continues to attract young doctors, lawyers, financiers, and entrepreneurs. Just as it did when Tom Scheidel came to town.
“You see a lot of folks who have their own business here,” he says. “The people here are very motivated. And we live in a nice area and the people here want to keep it that way.”
Directions to Rockford
From the North:
Take US-131 S toward GD RAPIDS. Take the 10 MILE RD exit- EXIT 97- toward ROCKFORD. Turn LEFT onto 10 MILE RD NE. 10 MILE RD NE becomes W DIVISION ST NE. Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST. Arrive in Downtown Rockford.
From the East:
Take I-96 W toward GD RAPIDS. Merge onto US-131 N via EXIT 31B toward BIG RAPIDS / CADILLAC. Take the 10 MILE RD exit- EXIT 97- toward ROCKFORD. Turn RIGHT onto 10 MILE RD NE. 10 MILE RD NE becomes W DIVISION ST NE. Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST. Arrive in Downtown Rockford.
From the South:
Take US-131 N toward GD RAPIDS. Take the 10 MILE RD exit- EXIT 97- toward ROCKFORD. Turn RIGHT onto 10 MILE RD NE. 10 MILE RD NE becomes W DIVISION ST NE. Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST. Arrive in Downtown Rockford.
From the West:
Take I-196 N. Merge onto US-131 N via EXIT 77A on the LEFT toward CADILLAC. Take the 10 MILE RD exit- EXIT 97- toward ROCKFORD. Turn RIGHT onto 10 MILE RD NE. 10 MILE RD NE becomes W DIVISION ST NE. Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST. Arrive in Downtown Rockford.
Liz Klimas is a freelance writer and a Grand Rapids native. She last wrote about the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market for
Rapid Growth Media.
Photos:
Executive Chef Glenn Forgie of Reds on the River
Runners on a stretch of the White Pine Trail that passes right through Rockford's historic downtown
The legendary Corner Bar in downtown Rockford
Flyfishing the Rouge River
Kayaks sit outside Powers Outdoors on Main St.
Custard by the Dam ice cream shop
Kayak near a small boat launch by the dam
Photographs by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved