CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — As work progresses on changes to Czech Village, at least some pieces of the past are being saved.
Sidewalk tiles, advertising former Czech Village businesses and organizations, started being removed in late July from a pedestrian walkway next to the former Sykora Bakery, 73 16th Ave. SW, with some still in place as of early August 2026.
Related: Removing pieces of the past
Stefanie Kohn, curator at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, said she identified eight or nine of the business tiles that were not damaged to keep for future use.
Kohn said she didn’t know what the future holds for the tiles, which are currently in storage, but said the museum or Czech Village Association might want to install them somewhere after the city completes its construction.
Construction on the entire project has been underway for two years and includes added parking, construction of a “roundhouse” with rentable space, arched signs and more.
Read more: Cedar Rapids sets stage for new Czech Village roundhouse
John Berge, owner of Two Star Detective Agency from 1979 until the flood of 2008, was known as the Mayor of Czech Village. He died in 2015. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Ben Matt, inspector with the city of Cedar Rapids, said the tiles were being removed for a promenade walkway that will extend from the new roundhouse onto 16th Avenue SW.
The entire project had planned to be completed by the end of July.
Mike Scott of Tricon Construction Group, general contractor for the project, said construction was delayed due to weather and other factors, but should be completed this fall.
Some of the sidewalk tiles were heavily damaged over the years, obscuring the names of businesses they were meant to honor.
Mike Scott, left, of general contractor Tricon, talks to Ben Matt, with the city of Cedar Rapids, on July 28, 2026. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Cedar Rapids Historian Mark Stoffer Hunter has noted that the tiles were originally installed in Czech Village as the historic business district was being established as a tourist attraction in the late 1970s up to 1980.
The Cedar Rapids Czech School and Sokol were among the organizations honored with the sidewalk tiles, in addition to businesses and business owners.
Alicia Freese, president of the Czech Village Association, said no concrete plans have been made for re-installing the tiles, but “they’ll be put in the ground again so people can see them, hopefully.”
More: Czech Village “roundhouse” taking shape
See more photos of the sidewalk tiles and the “roundhouse” project, below:
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