NewBo Plans to Be in Full Force For Ragbrai

Cedar Rapids- New businesses, new funding, and hopefully new customers. The NewBo district in Cedar Rapids is expecting big things this spring and summer. The neighborhood was wiped out in the flood of 2008. The district has since been trying to rebuild and bring back the vibrant neighborhood.

At least three new businesses announced they are filling vacant area in the district. A book store, coffee shop, and photography studio will be in the CSPS building. "It's going to blossom in the spring and it's going to be in full bloom during the summer because there is going to be much more things to do to be able to park your car and walk from place to place with the nice weather," said Mel Andringa, Producing Director at Legion Arts. Andringa said a new restaurant, second-hand store, and a possible brew pub will also call the NewBo neighborhood home. "Business owners are choosing, and that's just it. When you are coming down to an area like this, business owners are choosing to come back here," said Julie Palmer, with the NewBo City Market.

NewBo leaders think the variety of will help bring in more business. They are also hopeful that the location of the New Federal Courthouse, just a few blocks north, will do the same. "We expect there to be 250 people there every day, all around the neighborhood, new businesses and residents are entering the neighborhood and we hope that it will make it a lively urban center," said Andringa.

Construction will start on April 1st for their year-round public market. A project that recently became a closer reality with a 35 thousand dollar grant from Linn County. "Right now we have raised 2.3 of the 3 million dollars," said Palmer. Though the NewBo City Market won't be 100% complete by July, leaders still expect to have something great to show off to Ragbrai riders. "We feel very much that there is a forward surge of energy, nothing like the epic surge of 2008 but we are really, really excited," said Andringa. "The biggest thing is, it will bring people here to say look, see how far we have come," said Palmer.