Flamingo returns from flood with new look, focus

History played a special role in the decision by the Godwin family to bring back a northwest Cedar Rapids landmark.

“The Flamingo has been in our family since 1976,” said Marshall Godwin, vice president of the Godwin Corp., which owns the business at 1211 Ellis Blvd. NW. “You just don't give up on things. You keep going.”

The Flamingo, known for its broasted chicken, pizza and barbecue, was filled with water in June 2008. The building was gutted to the outer walls and extensively remodeled to create an events center for banquets, meetings and receptions.

Godwin said The Flamingo will not operate as a bar and restaurant as it has in the past, but there will be opportunities for the public to dine there.

“Every Friday in Lent, we will have an all-you-can-eat fish fry,” Godwin said. “Down the road, we'll probably get into barbecue nights and pizza nights.

“We also would like to work with different non-profit organizations, like the Boys and Girls Club, to do some fundraisers. That's particularly true for organizations that went through the flood like we did.”

Amy Godwin, Marshall's sister, who runs Winifred's Catering, said The Flamingo will seat about 200 for dinner and 250 for appetizers. The walls will feature historical photographs of Cedar Rapids and the bar top and fireplace include marble salvaged from the Montrose Hotel, which was demolished in 1988.

“We also have the original Flamingo stained glass window, the original sign out front and several of the large mirrors from the restaurant,” Amy said. “If anyone remembers pictures from the flood, the Flamingo (on the front of the building) was sitting in real water.”

A private conference area, the Time Check Room, was created in the front of the building. The restrooms have been remodeled and enlarged, becoming what Amy calls “the nicest Godwin bathrooms in Cedar Rapids.”

Marshall Godwin said The Flamingo should benefit from the city's plans to create a green space between Ellis Boulevard and the Cedar River.

“We have lost a lot of neighbors, and this was a neighborhood place, but I think in the end it will be a nice green area leading to Ellis Park,” he said. “We have been pleased to see other businesses along Ellis Boulevard come back, like Pierson's Florist, and we think Ellis Boulevard will be a popular thoroughfare once it is connected with Sixth Street SW.”

Godwin said former customers of The Flamingo have been calling after seeing recent advertisements in the PennySaver for Friday's fish fry.

“We had a lot of people stopping by while we were working on the building,” he said. “They all wanted to know ‘When are you going to reopen.' All we could tell them was ‘When it's done.'”

Asked if he is prepared to deal with another flood, Godwin is decidedly optimistic.

“It isn't going to happen,” he said. “We made a berm out front from some leftover dirt. We've planted tulips to show life is returning.”