New Bohemia businesses take hit during road construction in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Kenyon Thorp describes the road construction barrier in front of her family-owned business as a “metal cage.”

Since the 6-foot-tall fencing was installed last week alongside the Ideal Theater & Bar, 213 16th Ave. SE, and other New Bohemia establishments on 16th Avenue SE, sales have plummeted by 80 percent, said Thorp, owner/operator of the cocktail bar and live music venue.

“We received an email from the city at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, informing us the work would begin on Monday (Sept. 9,)” Thorp said. “When I arrived on Monday, they had fenced off The Ideal completely. I literally could only access the building through the back door.”

Access to the front was later restored, but Thorp remains concerned about what will happen in the ensuing weeks, as construction is scheduled to continue through mid-November.

The same is true next door at The Kickstand, 203 16th Ave. SE, a locally owned bar and restaurant that typically attracts bicyclists pedaling through the nearby trails, along with other customers for live music and more.

“Looking at it from any of these streets, it looks like we’re closed,” Kickstand employee Ashlee Lucero said earlier this week, as just a handful of people dined outside on a pleasant day over the lunch hour. “Usually we have full patios for lunch. On Fridays and Saturdays, we have live music and usually we’re packed. It has not been like that since this started. People do come, but it’s not like it was.”

Related: Flood fallout in Czech Village and New Bohemia

Even before the construction began between Second and Third streets, Bo Mac’s, 219 16th Ave. SE, a bar and restaurant across the alley from The Ideal, had closed at the end of August, and just up the street, Chrome Horse Saloon, 1201 Third St. SE, announced it would be closing its doors on Sept. 28, 2024.

“Chrome Horse Saloon’s Hard Fight to stay alive will come to an end on September 28th after 21 Years, after the Last live band Fool House!” the bar/grill, with a popular outdoor stage for live music, wrote on its Facebook page on Sept. 16. “The history of The Chrome Horse for over 21 years has been to fight to stay open! We have overcome Flood, Fire, 2020 pandemic and just not always the one that was supposed to survive!”

While neither business cited road construction as a primary reason for their closures, access to New Bohemia has been challenging for more than a year, including off-and-on closures of the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions.

During a meeting this spring with the city, New Bohemia business owners noted the bridge construction marked the sixth time in eight years that the bridge was closed for various reasons, including construction of flood gates.

Read more: Bridge of Lions to close in midst of popular festival

Newer businesses, such as the Tree of Liminality, which offers interdisciplinary arts at the Heart House, 1301 Third St. SE, and Pelican’s SnoBalls, a shaved ice shop at 1390 Third St. SE, have had to cope with various construction projects since both opened earlier this summer.

Pelican’s has seen fewer customers with the construction and will close for the season on Oct. 20, which had already been scheduled, while the Tree of Liminality has seen a 75 percent decrease in foot traffic, and has repositioned its signs to try to attract the attention of the few people walking by.

Nearby, the long-standing Little Bohemia bar and restaurant, 1317 Third St. SE, has mitigated the effects of the construction — what owner Jeff Melsha said looks like a war zone — with a parking lot.

Melsha noted that Little Bohemia has survived floods and more over the years, and while business has been slower with the construction, he sees the closure of the Chrome Horse as a bigger challenge for the district.

Mad Modern, a furniture shop at 227 16th Ave. SE, has also been feeling the effects of the ongoing construction, as well as Tornado’s Grub & Pub, across the street at 1600 Third St. SE.

The city created a temporary parking lot just behind Tornado’s to address some of the disruption. The gravel surface lot with 24 spaces will be paved next year and is free for the public to use.

Thorp said The Ideal has appreciated the public’s response to the construction tumult.

“The easiest thing people can do is give us a follow on Facebook/Instagram,” she said. “Sign up for our email newsletter. Buy a ticket online to one of our upcoming shows. All of this can be done from the ease of a computer or phone. But of course, the biggest thing would be to keep coming. We are still open despite terrible inadequate signage and absurdly obstructive fencing.”

As part of the project, the 16th Avenue SE roadway pavement between Second and Third streets was removed, with installation of a new water main, water main services and storm sewer underway, for the next few weeks.

After the new underground utility work is finished, the roadway subgrade will be prepared, with a crushed rock pavement subbase placed, estimated to be completed by mid-October.

Pavement construction will immediately follow, with the city expecting completion by mid-November.

Just beyond the construction zone at 1224 Fifth St. SE, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church is hosting its annual Czech Goulash Day on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Read more: Festival coincides with 150th anniversary of church