5 Places Every Teen in Rockford, Illinois Hung Out at During Weekends in the 90s

If you were a teen living in Rockford, Illinois during the 1990s, get ready for an awesome blast from the past.

Growing Up in Rockford, Illinois

I have lived in the Rockford area my entire life, and I LOVE looking through old photos and playing the "remember this" game with family and friends. ( FYI, the "remember this" game involves saying to someone "remember this place" or "remember when we did this"...you get my point).

Of all the wonderful memories I have collected during my years in Rockford, some stick out the most; the best times I spent with friends in high school and the places we loved to hang out at.

If you too were a teen living in Rockford during the 1990s, I'm willing to bet you hung out at one, or all of these places every weekend like I did...

Popular Hangouts For Rockford, Illinois Teens in the 1990s

1. The Mall

I vividly remember spending hours every weekend walking around the CherryVale Mall in my JHS Poms jacket thinking I was so cool and buying Clearly Canadian from the Walgreens on the Lower Level and eating cheddar fries at Arby's. If we had extra cash to spend we would always go watch a movie at the theatre that was INSIDE the mall too.

2. Roller Skating Rink

This was more of a preteen hangout for me, but I spent more hours than I can count skating around to Madonna and New Kids On The Block music at Skateland. It was also one my favorite places to have a birthday party too, and I still love when my kids get invited to a party there!

3. The Movie Theatre

Do you remember going to see a movie at CherryVale Theatres that was located OUTSIDE of the mall? I should have had a frequent flyer pass for this place when I was in high school. It was also THE place to go on a date too.

4. Beef a Roo

My love affair with Beef a Roo cheddar fries began when I was in middle school, but the Beef a Roo on S Alpine was the place we went at least once a week for lunch in high school.

5. The Bowling Alley

Whether it was the Cherry Bowl on Saturday or Rock-N-Bowl at Don Carter Lanes on Friday night, I really should be an expert bowler for the amount of time I've spent knocking down pins in my life. (I'm still a terrible bowler, btw).

Where did YOU hang out as a teen in Rockford, Illinois? I would love to know what places needed to be added to the list...just send me an app message!

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Ready for more Rockford blasts from the past? Check these out...