11 Stores in the Rockford Area We Couldn’t Live Without as a Kid

Back in the day, running errands with Mom and Dad wasn't so bad if they included a stop at your favorite Rockford area store. These were the stores we loved.

How many glorious hours did you spend in a department store looking at all the toys you hoped you got for Christmas?

How many weekends did you spend in the record store listening to music? Dreaming about how great an athlete you'd be if you could just have all that brand-new gear in the sporting goods section.

So many different store brands are wrapped into some of our core childhood memories. We asked which stores were the ones you couldn't wait to visit when you were a child.

11 Stores in the Rockford Area We Couldn't Live Without as a Kid

Media Play

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One of the most popular stores to ever grace E. State Street in Rockford. Media Play was the store mentioned most often.

Union Hall

Union Hall opened at 423 East State Street in 1955. A year later they moved to a larger spot at 303 Kishwaukee Street, then in 1960, the store moved to 3720 East State Street. In 1978, Union Hall opened a 2 location at 6355 North Second Street in Loves Park.

Look at one of Union Hall's print ads featuring another Rockford icon, Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen.

It sure would be nice to see these prices in stores today.

In that photo above is Stuart Bagus in a Rockford Magazine photo, according to RockfordReminisce on Facebook.

Tomorrow Is Yesterday

The comic and gaming store was on North Second Street in Loves Park. It's now called Top Cut Comics and appears to provide the same types of products and entertainment.

K's Merchandise

On Mulford Road.

Wonderland Books

In Rockford's Edgebrook Shopping Center

Topps Discount Department Store

Topps opened at 5505 E. State Street in the late 60s. Years later that same building became another store from our childhood we couldn't live without.

Phar Mor

Insurance Liquidators

The store where you never knew what kind of treasure you'd find.

At 3925 E. State

Venture

Another of Rockford's many E. State Street department stores.

American TV & Appliance

6651 E. State Street Rockford

Don's Hobbies and Toys