And Weissmann hasn't been contacted about running a clarification, correction or retraction.Ĭoppola's representatives didn't return several requests for comment. If Coppola's words to Travel Weekly were in jest, Weissmann said it wasn't apparent. He said, through his spokesman, that he found out about Coppola's plan just like the rest of Rockford and didn't have any other information. 'He certainly knew a lot about Rockford and liked Rockford,' Weissmann said. In the article, Coppola calls Rockford 'the cradle of baseball,' and references Cheap Trick frontman Rick Nielsen's long-term goal of opening a hotel here. He said Coppola was hesitant at first to share his latest goal as a hotelier - 'It's so bizarre I don't know if I can tell you,' Coppola told Weissmann, according to Weissmann's interview transcript.īut the celebrated director continued with the on-the-record interview, and brought up Rockford totally unprovoked, according to Weissmann, who is from Chicago and has no ties to this city. I reached out to Arnie Weissmann, the reporter and editor of Travel Weekly who broke the story following a conversation with Coppola at the World Travel & Tourism Council. Perhaps the better question is, 'How come?' And there couldn't be more smoke in this story if someone set off a napalm bomb (and I love the smell of napalm in the morning).īut we wonder - why Rockford? We're not questioning his decision a midsize Rust Belt city needs a Hollywood heavyweight to pump some glitz into the grit.

He's the talk of the town - his town, if things are true. Several people told me he moved here and provided the address of what's purported to be his new home.

People across the city have emailed me, asking if I've seen the Travel Weekly article. His interests include a literary magazine, a winery in northern California and a chain of upscale hotels in Belize, Guatemala, Italy and Argentina. With demolition of Clock Tower Resort complete, we have just the place for his next venture.Ĭoppola's holdings extend beyond his Oscars in one hand and Palm d'Ors in the other. In May, he told Travel Weekly he wants to open his next hotel here, citing the Rockford Peaches and Cheap Trick as major attractions for him and the rest of the world. Sletten said there was no business talk when Coppola stopped by for his lunch, but afterward they discussed the restaurant's hot sauce from Central America.Ĭoppola started spinning the rumor mill himself earlier this summer. ''Apocalypse Now' is one of my favorite movies, so it was pretty rad,' he said. He's also dined at Taco Betty's, owner Paul Sletten said. 'They're real down-to-earth people.'Īfter one of the conversations - and a bit of taste testing - Sabani agreed to add Coppola's wine to the menu, and 'it's been selling quite well,' Sabani said. 'They came in and introduced themselves,' Sabani said. This marks the first substantial evidence after months of speculation that the legendary director of 'The Godfather' and 'Apocalypse Now' - and successful hotelier and wine connoisseur - has an interest in the city. ROCKFORD - Hollywood icon Francis Ford Coppola likes to dine at Tavern on Clark, and he's even formed a business relationship with the owners, they say.Ĭoppola and his wife have been there several times over the past couple of months, restaurant co-owner Sam Sabani said.

Frank coppola wine