ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — For a stretch of time beginning in the late 1990s, a single block of East State Street quietly became the center of downtown Rockford nightlife.
Known simply as “Block 5,” the 500 block of East State Street emerged as a cluster of bars and restaurants that drew crowds at a time when options elsewhere downtown were somewhat limited.
Long before large‑scale redevelopment reshaped the riverfront and the west side of downtown, Block 5 served as a social anchor for residents looking for dining, music and nightlife east of the Rock River…