Root beer and the heart of the city

By Kurt Bradley

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Life is about change, we all know that. Yet, in each of us there is a desire to hang onto things that are familiar and comfortable. For many longtime residents, the A & W on Ellis Boulevard is one of those things.

I grew up on the northeast side of town, but dearly remember when Dad would drive us to Ellis Park and then stop by for a root beer on the way home.

Of course, one of the problems with trying to save such a precious landmark is that it is a business. Businesses have to have a plan, secure financing, run under competent management, and provide all of the other necessities that make, in this case, a restaurant a success. No one has stepped up to that challenge.

Baron Stark made a proposal to develop the property, but financing was an issue. What that means is that a bank somewhere decided that it is too risky to invest in.

What no potential financier can grip is that this is not just another drive-in, and not just another investment - this is a part of the very heart of Cedar Rapids. If we build it, people will come.

Way back in our history when leaders with names like Bever, Greene, and Turner were helping create our jewel of a city, they had a vision of just what Cedar Rapids would eventually become, a great place to live and raise a family. The A & W is an important part of the very character of our people.

Before we remove this icon of the life Cedar Rapids claims to provide, why not try one last time in a different way? In the early days of Cedar Rapids, visionaries asked the average woman and man to invest in their city. They built parks and theaters and zoos and beaches and all manner of recreations for the residents to enjoy. Cedar Rapids was known across the Midwest as a jewel. Why not construct a plan where the citizens can invest in the development of the property? If 2,000 residents put in $100 each, that $200,000 to help secure financing. Are there 2,000 people who care that much about this landmark?

George Greene would have thought so, and I think many of us think so, too. Let's see if our city leaders will step up to the plate and think outside of the box. History is going to remember what we did with the city our fathers left us with - how do we want that to look?

Time and the military and children planted in Tennessee have taken me from my beloved home, but it is still my home and I still cherish every single moment I spent there. I expect to end up back in Cedar Rapids before I die, I hope to recognize its character. I'll send $100 bucks.

Kurt Bradley, of Maryville, Tenn., is a 1976 graduate of Cedar Rapids Washington High School, and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2007 as an Information Manager in a Plans and Intelligence environment. An Iowa history buff, he is currently a volunteer working with at-risk children and families. Comments: cyberpigue@gmail.com