Downtown restaurant Brio changes name to Abreo

ABREO! Downtown restaurant owner Paul Sletten unveils the new name of one of his restaurants April 29. The restaurant formerly known as Brio is now Abreo. (Photo provided)

Staff Report

Downtown restaurant owner Paul Sletten announced April 29 that he has changed the name of one of his restaurants from Brio to Abreo.

Downtown restaurant owner Paul Sletten and his wife Karen (left) listen to Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen (right, with microphone) during a comedy roast of Brio and Sletten. Kryptonite owner Chris Wachowiak (far right) also participated in the roast of the restaurant owner. (Photo provided)

The announcement came after a comedy roast of Sletten and Brio that included barbs by downtown personalities such as Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey (I), Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen, Liz Dailing, The Office co-owner Mike Wright, Kryptonite owner Chris Wachowiak, First Friday Comedy founder Jeff Schroeder and Medicine Man Creative owner Sandi Kohn.

Sletten opened Brio, 515 E. State St., in January 2005 and Social Urban Bar & Restaurant, 509 E. State St., in May 2010.

Along with the name change, Abreo will have a new look as changes are made to the interior design of the building. Paul and his wife Karen will also be featuring a new spring menu.

For more about Abreo, call (815) 968-9463 or visit abreorockford.com, and for more about Social, call (815) 708-0877 or visit social509.com.