C.R. Piano Lounge sold, name changed to The Vault, adding food

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A popular downtown night spot has been sold, with the new owners changing its name and planning to add food service.

Scott Webster and Dave Schowalter have purchased The Piano Lounge at 208 Second Ave. SE. They have renamed the entertainment venue The Vault, owing to its location under the U.S Bank building.

Webster and his brother, Chris Webster, have been involved with similar businesses in the Quad Cities and will be bringing a taste of well-known food fare to The Vault.

"We plan to serve Sluggers Pizza, which is an off-breed of Harris Pizaa and pretty popular in the Quad Cities," Scott Webster said. "We wanted to bring something to Cedar Rapids that is different from the pizza that everyone is used to eating.

"We originally tried to get a Cedar Rapids area pizza place to supply it, but they didn't want it to attract people away from their business, which we can understand."

The Vault will open at 1 p.m. Sunday before the Super Bowl, according to Scott Webster. He said Sluggers Pizza will be served free on Sunday and the food menu will be expanded over time to include other items.

"Chris has been involved in management before and will be doing a number of things for us," Scott Webster said. "I brought in Dave Schowalter, who lives in Cedar Rapids, as a partner. He originally looked to buy The Piano Lounge before we did it."

Penguin's Comedy Club has shared space with The Piano Lounge since October 201o under a three-year contract. That arrangement will continue, according to Scott Webster, who noted that Loni Love, a regular panelist on E!s hit late night show Chelsea Lately, will bring her "Live, Love, Laugh” comedy tour to Penguin's at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

While some details have yet to be finalized, Scott Webster said The Vault will open at 4 p.m. and close at 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. He said Sunday hours likely will depend on upcoming sporting events until the football season resumes in the fall.

Scott Webster said all but a management employee of The Piano Lounge will be retained to operate The Vault. He said the staff will be getting used to a new style of operation and management.

"They will be going from a little energy to a lot of energy," he said. "They also will be going from a relaxed job to a little more stressful one."

Scott Webster said he sees a bright future for downtown Cedar Rapids, despite the severe impact of the June 2008 flood.

"I really feel the downtown area will continue to grow as the Paramount Theatre reopens and other projects are completed," he said. "The one thing that I've already stressed to the politicians is the need to fix parking in the downtown area.

"If they can fix the parking situation, the downtown will continue to thrive."

The Gilbert Street Piano Lounge in Iowa City, which has separate ownership, will not be affected by the change of ownership at The Vault in Cedar Rapids.