An old Rockford favorite could see a growth spurt.

CNBC - Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants said on Monday it would by Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen for $780 million in an all-cash transaction....

Cheddar's, which has 165 locations across 28 states, would add a casual dining chain to Darden's portfolio, which currently includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Yard House.

If you're a long-ish time Rockford resident you definitely remember this restaurant where The Stone Eagle currently resides. Right now if you want to visit a Cheddar's you have at least an hours dive to either Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin or Bollingbrook. Cheddar's was good but probably not 60+ minutes away good.

Speaking as someone who has no insight into the situation I have to say that the odds of a store coming to town has to be better than 50/50. The group that bought Cheddar's already has two restaurants in the market, Olive Garden and LongHorn so they are already familiar with the territory.

I will have to come clean. I know this was a town favorite but it never really did anything for me. I probably went there more than 20 times (it was a favorite of my grandma's) but I couldn't tell you one thing that I remember about the menu. The only thing I remember at all about the place was the big ceiling "fan" made up of long paddles that hung above the main dining room. Other than that I think they had soup. Not sure.

My feelings aside it's always nice to see things open up in town rather than shut it's doors so let's hope we see a Cheddar's pop up in town. Maybe right across the street from it's old location in the old LoneStar building. Makes too much sense.

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