Tycoon awakens for St. Paddy’s celebrations in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Kurt Luedtke has never seen the SaPaDaPaSo parade from start to finish. He’s been too busy tending the parade of revelers who come through his door for prime viewing seats and thirst quenchers at The Tycoon, on the corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue SE.

These days, he only opens the bar — touted as “Cedar Rapids’ longest surviving nightclub“ — for special occasions, including St. Patrick’s Day, the summertime Downtown Market After Dark, and New Year’s Eve.

This year, he’s opening three times to mark St. Patrick’s celebrations, beginning Saturday, to coincide with the annual parade that snakes its way from Sixth Street, turning down Second Avenue to First Street, then back up Third Avenue, ending on Fifth Street behind the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

He’ll open back up March 17 and 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. all three days. Fat Wally’s pool hall, game room and bar in the basement, which is open daily, will be open for the holiday celebrations, as well.

Beer will be flowing from cans, not taps, since leftover cans have a longer shelf life. And even though the beer won’t be green, The Tycoon’s signature drink will be. Luedtke describes The Glowing Leprechaun as a blend of "different alcohols,“ garnished with a green Glo-Stick. He’s also whipping up his secret Bloody Mary brew. Mixed drinks will be available, too, and a DJ will spin the tunes on the dance floor.

Patrons who haven’t stepped inside The Tycoon in a while will see some welcome changes. A ramp has replaced the steps leading from street-level to bar-level, and a wall by the waitstaff station has been removed, opening up the space.

Best of all, the restrooms tucked along the Fifth Street side have been removed and rebuilt in a larger space at the back of the building. No more congestion up front as people wait in line. Plus, that former space has been turned into table seating, with window- and dance floor views, and the new restrooms by the back bar are larger, brighter, modern and accessible.

“Everything is ADA compliant,” Luedtke said.

Plenty of history still shines through the space. Built in 1915, it’s been home to the Parlor City billiards hall, then duckpin bowling, both in the basement; the Lincoln Lanes bowling alley upstairs; and an auto dealer, repair and parts shop, complete with large garage doors.

The original pressed tin ceiling has been painted black, some original tile flooring still runs underfoot, and the oak woodwork throughout The Tycoon has been polished to a rich luster.

“See how it shines? This is the original, what it looked like when it was brand-new,” Luedtke said.

He opened The Tycoon in 1983, sold it in 1995, bought it back and reopened it in 2012, and now just opens that space on a limited basis. Following a three-year renovation, he opened Fat Wally’s in the basement in 1997.

Luedtke is at Fat Wally’s every day, open to close. He said he’s met “a lot of nice young people” that way. He also loves hearing stories from The Tycoon’s patrons, old and new, but is happy with that bar’s limited hours.

“I made the decision that I just didn't want to deal with it on a regular basis,” he said, “so I just decided that the most popular events were the best times to open up — St. Patrick’s Day, the late night farmers market and New Year’s. Some people think I should open up for the Fourth of July, but that's such a family thing, so I've never pursued that.”

He enjoys the tradition of being open for St. Patrick’s Day.

“It’s worth my while to do it,” he said, noting that he expects to reach the bar’s capacity of 500 patrons. “It's been such a tradition to be open, with the windows. People get to sit in here no matter whether it's raining or snowing. People really enjoy the windows.

“I've always looked at St. Patrick's Day — or as the way around here people want to say — they're celebrating the coming of spring, leaving winter behind us, hopefully.”

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