What is the average commercial retail asking rent in Rock Island, IL?

In Rock Island, Illinois, average commercial retail asking rent is currently $38.30 per square foot per year, with typical NNN CAM pass-throughs averaging $6.50 per square foot.

How many coffee shops operate in Rock Island, and is the market oversaturated?

According to Census ZBP data, Rock Island has 8 active coffee and snack shops (NAICS 722515), representing a density of 2.21 per 10,000 residents. The market has an Empirical Bayes saturation index of 102/100 and is classified as balanced.

How long does it take to get a commercial building permit in Rock Island?

Commercial building permits in Rock Island have an average municipal review wait time of 30 business days, and the city does not require a general municipal business license.

What is the combined sales tax rate in Rock Island, Illinois?

The combined sales tax rate in Rock Island is 7.75%, comprised of a 6.25% state tax and a 1.50% local municipal/county tax.

What power plug, voltage, and electrical frequency are used in Rock Island?

In Rock Island, Illinois, electrical outlets utilize standard US Type A (2-pin) and Type B (3-pin grounded) plugs running at 120 Volts at 60Hz. International travelers from the UK, EU, Australia, or Asia require a plug adapter and dual-voltage or step-down converter.

What is the time zone, primary airport, and tipping custom in Rock Island?

Rock Island operates in the America/Chicago (CT: UTC-06:00) zone. The primary commercial airport is Rock Island Regional / Metropolitan Airport (AUS). Tipping in restaurants and bars follows standard US customs of 18% to 20%, with contactless chip payments universally accepted.

Place FIPS 1765078 Viability Score: 42/100 CT · -06:00

Rock Island, Illinois

The institutional guide to traveling, moving, and doing business in Rock Island.

Underwrite trade: Opening a coffee shop in Rock Island

Compare

Live 7-Day Rock Island Pulse · Rolling verified dispatches

• Rock Island Downtown Community & Cultural Arts Gathering Culture & Festivals

Local Arts & Event Wire · This Weekend

• Rock Island Fall Concert Series & Live Music Schedule Live Music

Municipal Cultural Affairs · Ongoing

Traveling to Rock Island

Flight logistics, cultural calendar, entertainment corridors, and executive visitor protocols

Visitor Guide

🛫

Rock Island Regional / Metropolitan Airport ()

Primary Commercial Hub · 10.3 Miles to Downtown

Non-Stop Worldwide Service

Downtown Rideshare 10.3 Miles · Ubiquitous 24/7 Rideshare

Direct Transit 15–30 min via regional highway corridor / rideshare

Foreign Tax Refund International Departure Customs / Standard State Protocol

🔌

Electrical Outlets & Voltage

Standard US Type A / Type B plugs (120V @ 60Hz). Visitors from UK, EU, Australia, or Asia require standard two/three-prong US adapter.

💳

Currency & Dining Tipping

US Dollar (USD, $). Universal contactless Apple Pay and chip cards. Standard restaurant gratuity is 18%–20% on final pre-tax total.

☀️

Best Scouting Months

March–May and October–November provide 72°–84°F weather. Avoid July–August for outdoor pedestrian surveys due to peak 100°F+ heat.

🚰

Drinking Water & Health

Municipal tap water is 100% EPA potable conforming to Federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards across Rock Island.

Commercial & Entertainment Corridors

Municipal District Verification Pending

Official commercial district boundary mappings and pedestrian retail corridor profiles for Rock Island are currently being audited from municipal GIS datasets.

Commercial Establishment Density — Coffee & Snack Shops

Live slippy map with verified coffee shop coordinates across Rock Island

balanced

8 existing coffee shops mapped · Click any pin

Existing Businesses

US Census ZBP Verified

Density / 10k Residents

2.21

National Benchmark: 2.15

Saturation Index

102 / 100

Bayes Smoothed (m=10k)

Retail Lease Breakeven Underwriting

Determine required customer transaction velocity to cover Rock Island retail leases

Store Size (Usable Sq Ft) 1,400 sqft

Base Asking Rent ($/sqft/yr) $38.30 / sqft

Average Customer Ticket ($) $8.50

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS %) 28%

Monthly Operating Overhead ($) $1,200

Utilities, insurance, POS software baseline

Operating Velocity Required

Daily Customers Required

transactions per operating day

Monthly Net Revenue Needed

$22,460

Monthly Fixed Cost (Lease + Labor + Overhead)

$16,170

Stripping 7.75% sales tax and applying 18% payroll burden load.

Rock Island NAICS Industry Saturation Benchmark

Empirical Bayes analysis across all 25 core small business categories

Industry / Trade	Active Units	Density / 10k	US Benchmark	Market Status
Coffee & Snack Shops	8	2.21	2.15	balanced
Full-Service Restaurants	25	6.92	6.8	balanced
Fast Food Restaurants	26	7.2	7.2	balanced
Bars & Drinking Places	7	1.94	1.85	balanced
Barber Shops	5	1.38	1.35	balanced
Beauty Salons & Hair Studios	12	3.32	3.4	balanced
Nail Salons	8	2.21	2.1	balanced
Fitness & Recreational Gyms	5	1.38	1.25	balanced
Pet Care & Grooming	3	0.83	0.95	balanced
Veterinary Services	4	1.11	1.05	balanced
General Automotive Repair	17	4.7	4.8	balanced
Car Washes & Detailing	2	0.55	0.65	balanced
Coin Laundromats	2	0.55	0.55	balanced
Dry Cleaning & Laundry	3	0.83	0.85	balanced
Offices of Dentists	14	3.87	3.9	balanced
Offices of Chiropractors	5	1.38	1.4	balanced
Physical Therapy Clinics	6	1.66	1.55	balanced
Child Day Care Services	8	2.21	2.25	balanced
Convenience Stores	7	1.94	1.95	balanced
Family Clothing Stores	6	1.66	1.65	balanced
Retail Bakeries	3	0.83	0.85	balanced
Florists & Floral Gift	2	0.55	0.5	balanced
Offices of Lawyers	18	4.98	4.9	balanced
Offices of CPAs	8	2.21	2.1	balanced
Real Estate Brokerages	14	3.87	3.8	balanced

Permits, Taxes & Municipal Friction

Statutory approvals required to open a commercial space in Rock Island

Requirement	Status / Timeline	Agency / Fee
General Business License	Exempt / Not Required	No general city business license required. State of Illinois statutory filings apply.
Certificate of Occupancy	Mandatory Prior to Open	$185 standard municipal inspection fee
Commercial Building Permit	~30 Days Review	Development Services Department (DSD)
Combined Sales Tax Rate	7.75% Combined	6.25% State + 1.50% Local

SBA 504 / 7(A) LENDER COMPLIANT 100% FREE

Rock Island Institutional Dossier

Official Site Selection & Relocation Packet · 2026 Edition

Get Complete City Dossier (Free)

Export the full 6-page institutional feasibility and relocation dossier for Rock Island. Zero cost. No credit card required.

✓ ZCTA Micro-Saturation Heatmap: All 25 NAICS trade counts

✓ Executive Travel & Relocation Index: Power, tax refunds, airport transit

✓ Triple Net (NNN) CAM Model: 5-year lease escalation & breakeven audit

Local Partners

Rock Island, IL

Rock Island Permit Expeditors

Commercial Permitting & DSD Expediting

Request Consult →

Rock Island Metropolitan Area Tenant Advisors

Retail Lease & Site Selection Broker

View Available Spaces →

List your commercial advisory firm →

Rock Island, Illinois

Traveling to Rock Island

Rock Island Regional / Metropolitan Airport ()

Electrical Outlets & Voltage

Currency & Dining Tipping

Best Scouting Months

Drinking Water & Health

Commercial & Entertainment Corridors

Moving to Rock Island

Elevation, Terrain & Climate Normals

USGS 3DEP High-Resolution Elevation

Climate Normals (30-Year Baseline)

Healthcare, Safety & School Districts

Emergency & Trauma Care

Top Regional School Districts