New Bo gets a new retailer in the midst of its mess

Randi Hoefing is betting that the flood-worn 1000 block of Third Street SE is one of the best places in Cedar Rapids to open a new retail shop, even though it now looks like one of the worst.

The street in front of Hoefing's Top Drawer resale store at 1012 Third St. SE was barricaded for street reconstruction Friday, and MidAmerican Energy trucks blocked the view of the store fron the street. The only way in for customers was a alley entrance from the back.

"People have to REALLY want to get here," Hoefing said, grinning.

Hoefing dared to become the first retailer to move back into the block because she thinks it's about to turn a corner. The CSPS Building less than one block away the street is about to reopen after a $7 million renovation. Fundraising is under way for the city's first year-around farmer's market just down the street, and new restaurants and shops are eyeing the area.

"The deciding factor is that I think it's going to get built back up, and it's going to be better than it's ever been," said Hoefing, who had to move Top Drawer somewhere after its last home at 615 2nd St. SW was acquired by a law firm.

Top Drawer, started about 21 years ago, is one of the city's oldest resale stores. Hoefing and partner Ginger Hull bought it about 10 years ago, and Hoefing acquired Hull's half of the business 18 months ago.

Top Drawer had to relocate after a law firm acquired property it formerly leased on Second Street. Hoefing turned to the Thorland Company, which manages a series of historic buildings in New Bohemia, because of her relationship with the Chadima family, which owns and operates the property business.

The Thorland Co. was in the process of restoring the Kouba Building at 1012 Third Street SE, one of the least historic of the buildings, but also an interesting property because it supports the city's largest active solar power array on its rooftop.

The June 2008 flood demolished the interior building, but its solid block and brick walls and foundation were unaffected, said Thorland's David Chadima.

"We had it divided into four spaces for different tenants, but when Randi became interested we renovated it in one space with her store in mind," Chadima said.

The renovations included larger windows to let in more sunlight, and an open ceiling with exposed ductwork in the roughly 3,000-square-foot space.

"It really works well for our business," said Hoefing, who likes the industrial look.

Top Drawer opened at the new location on August 5, but business has been a small fraction of the normal traffic at the popular shop, which sells pre-owned furniture and home furnishings, along with some collectible items like tea pots. Hoefing expects business to pick up when the street reopens in a two or three weeks, and grow from there.

Chadima said Thorland recently applied for a building permit to begin restoration of the nearby Suchy Building, a historic property that is being considered as a restaurant location by a local family business. Chadima said the renovations will include opening up bricked-over windows.

A college art project will temporarily occupy some of the space in the former White Elephant resale shop building, another historic structure in the block owned by Thorland that is slated for restoration. The Dostal Cottage, a historic home from the commercial district's early days that was damaged in the flood, may be the last to undergo restoration.

Hoefing plans to become an active missionary for the New Bohemia area, which has new loft condo conversions and apartments nearby.

Top Drawer employs about eight people in the retail shop, and Hoefing's sidelines business conducting tag sales and estate sales.

"I'm going to get more people down here because I'm convinced this is the place to be," Hoefing said.

The business is opened from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.