Historic New Bohemia building in Cedar Rapids faces uncertain future

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The new owner of the historic Matyk Building in New Bohemia said the future of the corner landmark remains unclear.

Kory Nanke, who purchased the building last month, said in an email that he is working with Iowa’s State Historic Preservation Office and local building officials to make that determination.

“Lots of issues with that building,” he wrote. “Not sure what’s going to be allowed.”

Nanke said there are no specific plans yet for what the building, at 1029 Third St. SE, might become, such as another restaurant or bar.

Known as The Bohemian before it closed in 2022, the building had been a popular, though short-lived, live music venue and restaurant.

The Bohemian offered live jazz music during its short run. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

One of the last historic buildings in New Bohemia, which has seen a number of large-scale apartment complexes constructed in recent years, it was built in 1893 as the P. Matyk & Son dry goods store for Peter Matyk and his son, Anton.

Like many businesses at the time, often run by Bohemian immigrants, the building owners lived in the upper level while operating their shop below.

Similarly, in its more recent history, Michael Richards and his wife, Lynette, made soy wax candles in the building while they lived in the upper level and offered it as an artistic venue for Metro High School students.

They opened The Bohemian in March 2021 after a considerable amount of investment, but the business abruptly closed in September 2022, as Michael Richards said high inflation raised the price of meat and other food essentials, making it difficult for the restaurant to make ends meet. The business also faced litigation as it worked on making final payments to employees.

It subsequently went on the market for $990,000, but the price was lowered to $730,000 and then underwent a foreclosure in May 2024, before being sold for $250,000 to NH Florida 1 LLC, operated by the Nankes, in February 2025, according to the Cedar Rapids City Assessor’s Office.

Nanke, who lives in Florida, has long been involved in Cedar Rapids bars and restaurants, including the Tic Toc, NewBo Alehouse, ‘Migos Fajitas & Margaritas, Sacred Cow Tavern and numerous others, some of which have been sold over time to employees.

He purchased the historic Sykora Bakery building, 73 16th Ave. SW, in Czech Village for $290,000 in December 2023. After an auction, that building remains vacant.

Related: End of an era for Sykora Bakery

The Bohemian sported a rooftop lounge during its time as a restaurant and live music venue. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The two-story Matyk Building, with a full lower level, includes a newer 1966 addition, with a rooftop lounge.

Built in the late Victorian Romanesque Revival style, the Matyk Building made a statement with its construction of brick, matching red mortar, and limestone, with the family name prominent on the date block, Cedar Rapids Historian Mark Stoffer Hunter noted.

Stoffer Hunter said the dry goods store remained in business until about 1950, followed by a series of other businesses that were more wholesale than retail, which was the direction of the district at the time.

By the 1990s, in use as an electronics supply company, windows were boarded, plywood covered the front entrance and the red brick had been painted white.

The Richards family purchased the building in 2000, and in subsequent years, removed the white paint from the brick and reopened the front entrance, among other work, to restore it to its former glory.

More: Historic New Bohemia building hits the market