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The owner of a motorcycle shop in downtown Rockford says robberies and other criminal activity have forced him to stay locked during business hours and get consumers by appointment only.
“I’ve had disorders with robberies and threats of violence,” said AJ Goff, owner of Subversive Cycling Company at 327 W. Jefferson St. , the former Adriatic Live Music Bar. “Kids with no adults would come in and knock down the store and disrespect me and the customers. “
Goff relocated to the corner of West Jefferson and North Church streets in 2022, hoping to thrive as the area’s only retail bike shop. His hopes were soon dashed.
“Vagrants and criminals roam aimlessly, (defecating) at doorways and throwing rocks at windows,” Goff said. “Every time I call, they call me a racist and threaten to kill me. “
The store was once in the old Chase Bank building at 614 E. Although there was no showroom, Goff never felt unsafe as he does on the west side of the Rock River.
“I can’t leave my doors open because I have everybody,” he said.
Goff said he moved to West Jefferson Street because the area is ripe for growth. But he now says that growth is taking longer to materialize, Meanwhile, he continues to have issues he did not have in his former location.
West Jefferson Street is also a one-way thoroughfare where traffic temporarily moves west, past its store and out of downtown, which Goff says is conducive to bike use or retail stores based on foot traffic.
Third District Councilmember Chad Tuneberg understood Goff’s struggle.
“There are still abandoned buildings,” Tuneberg said. And when this happens, it can attract vagrants and criminal activity. “
Some of the empty buildings include the Trekk Building, the former Elk’s Club, the Times Theatre and storefronts that have been difficult to fill, especially after the pandemic.
The Times is tabbed for a redux and is expected to bring new life to the North Main and West Jefferson corner.
Trekk is part of a plan involving the former Rockford Watch Factory, and the city’s new library will open this year. The theatrical project has yet to see the light of day and is still ongoing.
The fate of Elk’s Club and the nearby vacant company is unknown.
As for allowing two-way traffic on West Jefferson and other downtown streets, that would improve things, but it’s not that simple.
“That’s been part of our conversations,” Tuneberg said. It can happen. But it’s just a matter of when. I say that because many downtown streets are also under the Illinois Transportation Breakdown. So it’s not usArray as a municipality that can make this happen, and this puts a brake on the process.
Goff is in a position to hold on. But she says the longer the wait, the more she feels like she’s not part of the downtown community.
“It’s not the thriving shopping district that stands out on State Street,” he said.
Steve Jaycox, owner of Runner’s Image at 219 E. State St., said because of his location, he rarely deals with crime. He says he sympathizes with Goff and respects him for taking a chance in an area that’s still underdeveloped.
“I bank over there,” Jaycox said. “And he’s still on the frontier. It’s unfortunately not the same. We are kind of the whole restaurant district over here with some retail. But over there, you go a little farther toward the west side and unfortunately things change. But there are things happening on the west side, for sure.”
Goff, whose business is in C. A. Flatts, a historic mixed-use progression of Urban Equity Properties, expects more small businesses to set up shop in the area, but understands if they’ll settle for a pass.
“I want to be the change I want to see,” he said. “My contribution is to provide a bicycle service shop for the community.”
Jim Hagerty covers business, expansion and progress, as well as other general news topics for the Rockford Register Star. Email them at jhagerty@gannett. com.
This article was printed in the Rockford Register Star: Downtown Rockford Motorcycle Shop Moves To Date Only Due To Crime.
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