CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mary Kay Novak McGrath didn’t live to see her vision for a bookstore come to fruition in Czech Village, but a new shop carries on her legacy. “I’ll Meet You There,” a bookstore and forthcoming coffee shop, opened Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at 62 16th Ave. SW, in the heart of […]
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Category: Czech
Christmas traditions celebrated in Czech...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Czech celebrations of Christmas carried into Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, with more to come this weekend. The Svatý Mikuláš tradition, known in the United States as St. Nicholas Day, was marked on Dec. 5, 2025, the day before it’s traditionally celebrated in the Czech Republic. Czech Village in Cedar Rapids […]
Final days for longtime Czech Village sh...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A decades-old business in Czech Village is soon closing its doors. Czech Village Antiques, 82 16th Ave. SW, owned by Pam and Ken Lewis since 1989, will end operations Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, after the couple sold the buildings housing the business earlier this year. “Everything will be on sale and […]
Legacy continues as painting restored in...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Kristine Moore never met her great-grandfather, but knew the family lore surrounding the artwork he left behind in Czech Village. Klement Kalous, also known as Clint, Klint or Clement, immigrated to the United States from Bohemia when he was just 21 in 1913, leaving behind his four siblings. Documents uncovered by […]
New business opens in former Sykora Bake...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A new business has opened in the former Sykora Bakery building in the historic Czech Village business district. LoKey Hat Co., a custom hat boutique at 73 16th Ave. SW, opened its doors to the public on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. This is the second LoKey Hat Co. for owner Candy […]
Czech festival photos in Cedar Rapids, I...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — An annual festival drew crowds during an unseasonably warm day, as Czech Goulash Day returned to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. The festival, on Sept. 28, 2025, featured its namesake goulash — a type of beef stew — along with popular Czech kolaches handmade by the experienced bakers of St. Monica’s Circle. […]
New Czech Village mural to be dedicated ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — “Moravian Madonna,” a larger-than-life reproduction of Joža Uprka’s painting, Girl in a Scarf, will be dedicated next week in Czech Village. Located on the historic Kosek Building, 87 16th Ave. SW, the mural will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell; Cecilia Rokusek, National […]
New Czech Village roundhouse taking shap...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — To longtime market-goers, nothing will replace the Riverside Roundhouse, but construction is underway on a new “roundhouse” where homes once stood along Czech Village. The city held a ceremonial groundbreaking last week for the LightLine Loop, a $13.84 million project that includes the roundhouse, a festival street, pedestrian promenade, gateway signage, […]
Photos: Czech Iowans at the Wilber, Nebr...
WILBER, Nebraska — Wilber’s claim to the title of Czech Capital of the USA is on full display during the eastern Nebraska town’s annual Czech Festival. While Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is home to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and hosts a number of Czech festivals, the entire town of Wilber embraces Czech […]
Cedar Rapids festival puts spotlight on ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The long-running St. Ludmila Kolach Festival, typically held in early June, is scheduled this year for June 20-22. Kolaches, a favorite fruit-filled Czech pastry, are the highlight of the festival, which takes place on the church grounds at 211 21st Ave. SW. See photos from a past kolache bake. The 2025 […]