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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Tag: Czech Village
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 […]
Prepare to set clocks back as Daylight S...
After an unusually warm start to the season, Iowa is feeling more like fall this week, and with the changing season comes the end of Daylight Saving Time. The time change happens at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, so remember to “fall back” an hour and adjust your clocks if needed, before you go […]
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, […]
Changes on the horizon for Czech Village...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Changes are planned in Czech Village, as longtime business owners recently sold multiple buildings and a new bookstore/coffee shop is expected to open in the coming months. Pam Lewis and her husband, Ken, who have owned and operated Czech Village Antiques for decades, are selling their properties as they look to […]
Czech festival in Cedar Rapids to honor ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — For years, Marj Kopecek Nejdl designed logos for the annual Houby Days festival, and with her passing earlier this year, organizers saw it fitting to dedicate the upcoming festival in her memory. The 47th annual festival, set for May 17-18, 2025, along 16th Avenue SW in historic Czech Village, celebrates houby, […]