New bus route stopping at 10 Cedar Rapids downtown-area restaurants

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new Cedar Rapids bus route aims to better connect downtown area visitors with 10 restaurants and pubs located across multiple districts.

Dubbed the 'CR Loop,' the 70-minute continuous route is being launched this weekend and is to continue from 4-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through Labor Day weekend. The first stop is at Jerseys Pub & Grub, 200 1st Ave NE, with subsequent stops at Stadium Bar and Grill, Sauce Bar and Bistro, Lion Bridge Brewing Co., Tornado's Grub and Pub, Need Pizza, Daisy's Garage and Filling, Xavier's, Paddy O'Rourke's Bar and Grill and Moose McDuffy's.

Passengers can purchase an all-day pass for $5. Passes can be purchased for cash on the bus.

CR Loop is the brainchild of Scott Crosby, president of Uptown District, a nonprofit business alliance working to revitalize the near-downtown area of Cedar Rapids, with a particular interest in the First Avenue corridor between 10th Street NE and 20th Street NE, including Wellington Heights, the Mound View Neighborhood, Coe College and Mount Mercy University.

'We are very excited to create this new event to highlight the great food available in our districts,' Crosby said, noting the goal is to more easily move visitors between NewBo, downtown, uptown and Czech Village. 'We hope to bring people to the wonderful restaurants in our area and create more awareness of the Uptown District.'

The actual mode of transportation is a 16- to 18-passenger limo bus contracted through Dolly's Party Bus of Cedar Falls, said Nick Sorbe, manager and co-owner.

Crosby said he hopes the bus offers users 'exposure to other areas,' as well as an opportunity to bring bigger crowds to various events happening throughout the summer.

Jordan Caviness, owner of Stadium Bar and Grill, 957 Rockford Road SW, said the route could bring more people into the area who wouldn't typically have come.

Caviness, who described his establishment as a 'Cheers bar,' said he likes the fact the bus service caters to different wants of its riders. Not only that, he said, but it eliminates the drinking and driving factor when people want to go bar hopping.

Crosby said the inspiration for CR Loop came from a similar bus route offered in the Quad Cities. He said by charging passengers a fee, the service can operate without relying on government funding.

Businesses and organizations along the route also contributed funding to help make the loop a reality.

For Caviness, the $100 fee Uptown District is charging is worth the potential business prospects.

'I don't think it'll do anything but help (our business),' he said.

For a complete list of proposed bus stop times, search 'CR Loop' on Facebook.

Crosby said Uptown District officials believe CR Loop has a strong future and already are making plans to expand the route next year.