10th Ward Alderman Frank Beach with a map of his ward. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

“If you want to correct something, control it; if you want to control something, buy it.”

This business philosophy of John Mecklenburg, has served as a mantra for many of the 490 businesses located along the Miracle Mile section of East State Street in Rockford. Mecklenburg, president of Miracle Mile Rockford Corporation has been working with business owners in this southeast section of the city to continue and expand revitalization efforts.

The Miracle Mile Rockford Corporation began as a grassroots organization in 2005 whose aim was to renew the business climate of East State Street between Alpine Road and Fairview Boulevard. Shortly after the group’s formation, a tax increment financing (TIF) district was established in the area and Miracle Mile merchants began using TIF funds to repair and renovate their businesses.

“Historically, the Miracle Mile has been a great retail area of Rockford and we don’t want to see that fall,” Mecklenburg said. “As long as shoppers feel safe and businessmen can make a reasonable profit, it will stay a strong retail area.” Mecklenburg credits the business owners along the Miracle Mile for working together on ways to improve the area as a whole.

At the board meeting of Miracle Mile Rockford (from left) Arne Jacobson, John Mecklenburg and Paula Olson. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

“One of the biggest things that we are developing is a total security camera system,” he said. Mecklenburg noted that a network of security cameras along the Miracle Mile will help reduce the instances of crime and will aid police in apprehending law breakers who are caught on security footage.

Improving the aesthetics along the Miracle Mile has prompted several businesses in the area including Alpine Inn, Mary’s Restaurant, Don Carter Lanes, Family Dollar and Shooters Bar & Grill to renovate and upgrade their storefronts. The addition of sidewalks, along each side of East State Street from Alpine Road to Fairview Boulevard has made businesses more accessible to pedestrian traffic. New construction on the Miracle Mile has added a Subway Restaurant, Domino’s Pizza and Cricket Wireless to the area’s business roster. Mecklenburg said that a future project for the Miracle Mile includes upgraded decorative lighting.

Attention to the type of businesses opening along the Miracle Mile is also important to existing retail owners. “There are some tattoo parlors, vape stores and fast cash places along the Mile but what we don’t want to see is a proliferation of these kinds of businesses,” Mecklenburg said. “When the cash store came into the area, we worked with them and said, ‘OK, how can we make this look like it fits in the neighborhood and how can you be a good partner to your business neighbors?’” he said.

Many businesses along the Miracle Mile utilize social media to advertise upcoming events and special promotions. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

Mecklenburg cites the Alpine Inn Motel as an example of a business that has made a turnaround in recent years.

“When Tom Baudhuin bought the old Albert Pick Motel, it was a place where hookers were turning tricks. He believes in my philosophy, if you want to correct something, control it and if you want to control something, buy it. So he bought it and turned it around to where it’s now a decent, nice economy hotel,” he said.

Tom Baudhuin may just be the best thing that ever happened to the Alpine Inn Motel. When he and his business partner decided to buy the facility eight years ago, the motel had fallen into disrepair and was a hangout for prostitutes and drug dealers. In the time since, the Alpine Inn has undergone a renovation and revitalization and now serves as one of the east-end anchors of the Miracle Mile.

“In buying this property we saw a way to add value to the neighborhood. We thought that the Alpine Inn was centrally located in Rockford and we could see that by just sprucing the place up, we could have a viable and necessary business,” Baudhuin said. “With the help of the city and a few TIF dollars we’ve done a major renovation on the property and business is good,” he said. The “head-to-toe” renovation of Alpine Inn has included: a new blacktop parking lot; a new roof; new furnishings, beds and TVs in each guest room and an overhaul of the lobby and breakfast area to resemble a French country inn. The Alpine Inn also has several security cameras around the outside of the property to deter criminal activity.

Tom Baudhuin, owner of the Alpine Inn Motel poses in the lobby of his establishment with the guest library behind him. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

Since the Alpine Inn’s renovation, Baudhuin has seen a positive change in the type of guests who stay at the motel.

“We have two very distinct type of guests. The first type of people are those coming into town to work at Sundstrand or Woodward. We have some rooms reserved for people coming in for a short time to work at Rockford University,” he said. “We also have people staying with us who are in town for sports tournaments and guests staying on a weekly basis for about three to four weeks. This would include people coming into town for a job or those who are moving and need somewhere to stay until their home or apartment is ready. Realtors in the area know that we are a great option for a short term stay and that … the Alpine Inn is very affordable.”

A bit farther west of the Alpine Inn is one of the oldest businesses on the Miracle Mile, Don Carter Lanes. Built in 1959, this bowling facility has grown and evolved over the years to become the largest multi-age entertainment center on the Miracle Mile. John Sommer, the second generation of his family to own Don Carter Lanes recalls some improvements made over the years.

“We started with 24 bowling lanes and expanded to the east, adding an additional 18 lanes for a total of 42 lanes. We have progressed from manual scoring to electronic scoring to now having automatic scoring,” Sommer said.

Other improvements to Don Carter Lanes include a new facade covering the entire front of the building, a new pro shop, an arcade game room, a video poker and off track betting area and opening Shooters Bar adjacent to the bowling alley.

Tom Baudhuin outside of a guest room at the Alpine Inn Motel. Security cameras on the property provide peace of mind for guests and employees. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

“We had a lot of help from the Miracle Mile Rockford group in securing TIF funds for our renovations. We would not have been able to remodel the whole place without the TIF money or the guidance of other business owners,” Sommer said. “They are just a really good group of business men and women who are interested in improving and growing the area.” The expanded facilities at Don Carter have helped to grow the youth bowling program and bowling benefits for veterans, two programs that Sommer is passionate about.

Perhaps the biggest fan of the Miracle Mile is 10^th Ward Alderman Frank Beach. Throughout his tenure on Rockford’s City Council, Beach has been a tireless advocate and staunch backer of Miracle Mile business owners.

“We have a great alderman in Frank Beach,” Sommer said. “He’s always been there to help us with anything from a car show to a cruise night all the way up to answering questions on remodeling or expanding our businesses. He is a terrific alderman.”

For his part, Beach has been instrumental in securing TIF funds for Miracle Mile businesses and is always ready to voice the concerns of business owners at city council meetings.

“Before the Miracle Mile TIF district was even organized, we had already identified nearly $6 million of projects that would help jump-start the economy of that area,” Beach said.

The former Union Hall building on E. State Street in Rockford has had a facelift in recent years. Retail space is still available along the Miracle Mile. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

The vacant building left when Magna Grocery store went out of business some 20 years ago continues to be a thorn in the side for Beach and Miracle Mile business owners.

“The property is overpriced,” Beach said. “We spoke to them (the developers of Magna and CVS) over and over again to try and get them to lower their price. There have been other developers who want to buy the building, but until the price comes down; it just sits there. We have tried to push, but they hold the strings.” Beach said there has been interest in the Magna property from other businesses, but the price continues to be a deal breaker.

The clear success of businesses along the Miracle Mile gives Beach hope for the future.

“I think that Rockford has turned a corner. I see a lot of positive things brewing and new money being invested in our community … . The growth of the airport is creating jobs which only helps our city … . And we have come a long way in the Miracle Mile brand. I would like to get business owners to put, ‘on the Miracle Mile’ in their advertising and on their social media pages. Having a Miracle Mile brand helps to identify and grow these stores,” he said.

A mix of old and new — The original Don Carter sign points to a new facade on the nearly 60-year-old bowling alley. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

Though businesses of the past like the Ground Round, Union Hall, Godfather’s Pizza, Bally’s Health Club, Magna and Ponderosa Steakhouse are gone from East State Street; new and similar businesses are ensuring the continued renewal and revitalization of the Miracle Mile. Mecklenburg sums it up,

“Years of hard work by Alderman Beach and the dedicated Miracle Mile business owners have truly brought back a bit of downtown America to Rockford.”

The old CVS drugstore and Magna grocery store remain empty despite the best efforts of Alderman Frank Beach and Miracle Mile business owners. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

New retail space constructed along the Miracle Mile includes a Subway restaurant, Cricket Wireless and Domino’s Pizza. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

Interior of Don Carter Lanes. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

John Sommer, owner of Don Carter Lanes pictured at the Veterans Tribute Wall. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

John Sommer, owner of Don Carter Lanes at the Veterans Wall of Honor banner located at the west end of the bowling alley. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

John Sommer, owner of Don Carter Lanes with a replica of the bowling alley’s iconic sign. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

Hidden treasure — a Koi pond is located in front of Shooters Bar at Don Carter Lanes. (Photo by Lynne Conner/for Chronicle Media)

— Miracle Mile: revitalizing Rockford one business at a time —