Vacant spaces in Belvidere have recently been reconstructed by the Shortline Cooperation to build new beginnings for the town.
“I have lived in Belvidere for about 35 years and found a lot of opportunities here,” said Russell Caldwell, part-owner of the Shortline Cooperation behind the development, “This is home.”
Caldwell stated this in an interview about the many companies he has helped open in the town of Belvidere. Belvidere is a town filled with an abundant amount of history, and Caldwell has made it his goal to bring some of that history back to life.
Many spaces in Downtown Belvidere have been vacant for decades. It’s been sad to see this because the spaces are beautiful and filled with endless opportunities. Caldwell took upon those opportunities with the Shortline Cooperation. The most recent business that this cooperation has opened up in the town of Belvidere is a restaurant called Firebox.
Firebox is located on Buchanan Street and is combined by an outside seating area with another restaurant, The Shortline. Both restaurants are owned by the Shortline Cooperation and are placed right along the path of the Old Elgin and Belvidere Electric Company Interurban Railway.
The Shortline was built before Firebox and brings remembrance to an era from long ago. The building tells a new story with twists from the past. The restaurant was purchased as an office building and was reconstructed in the summer of 2017. The sixteen-foot bar was refurbished from a desk left in the building by an insurance agent. The exterior shiplap was reused as interior finishing. The restaurant is now known for its modernized looks and incredible sushi.
Firebox was rebuilt in the location of an old blacksmiths shop. The walls were not touched since the year 1992, prior to the renovation. This is currentlyBelvidere’s only two-story restaurant and was built by renovating two nearly century-old buildings. The bar inside of Firebox was made from the original floorboards of an old building. Similar to the reason for the naming of The Shortline, the name Firebox came from a streamliner train that ran through the town years ago. Firebox is now known for its outstanding Italian food and delicious pizza.
Alongside these two restaurants, the Shortline Cooperation also owns the business Sips and Sprinkles. This is an ice cream and coffee shop also located in downtown Belvidere. The long dining table inside of the building was made from the original floorboards of The Shortline building. With that being said, the architecture of these buildings perfectly incorporate the past with the future.
When asked if the Shortline cooperation is involved with investing in other towns, Russell stated, “We do not do things like this any place else.”
Shortline Cooperation owns six businesses in all. These businesses, in order of construction, are Dog Wash Park, Locust Street Press, Shortline, Sips and Sprinkles, Hidden Erie, and Firebox. These hometown businesses are what help make Belvidere unique in its own way. Caldwell and his team have succeeded in modernizing a town while still involving its history.
“Belvidere. . . The people here are very nice they support the businesses very well,” Caldwell says. “It was time to have some new life brought back to some of the old buildings.”
Great things truly are happening in the town of Belvidere. Caldwell chose Belvidere due to the friendly atmosphere and hometown living. He sought out an opportunity to bring life back to some old buildings and accomplished his goal.
