Bari Italian restaurant closes in Cedar Rapids after attempts to find buyer

CEDAR RAPIDS — A temporary closure has become permanent for a former mainstay in Italian dining.

An auction liquidating equipment at Bari Italian, the upscale restaurant in Kingston Village, went live on Backes Auctioneers March 24.

The equipment sale comes after temporary closures were posted by the restaurant at 450 First St. SW. Bari first closed through January due to frozen pipes, subsequently extending its winter closure through February, according to posts on its social media and website.

Early this month, owner B.J. Hobart had hoped the business closure would only be temporary as she pursued leads with potential buyers.

“It is not closed permanently, just under my ownership,” she told The Gazette. “I am working with a few people who are interested in buying it. I hope it will be reopened very soon.”

Even as Bari’s equipment auction was listed later in March, she hoped to find a buyer before the auction started accepting bids.

“It’s also allowing me time to negotiate with potential buyers,” Hobart said on March 13.

The closure’s extension and attempt to find a buyer were not publicly announced.

Bari first opened in November 2019 at The Metropolitan Building, which she owned with husband Jim Hobart.

The couple accidentally became restaurateurs by way of their restoration company, Hobart Historic Restoration. In 2021, B.J. opened Old Hospital Pub on the historic Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School campus in Vinton, which the Hobarts purchased from the city of Vinton.

Old Hospital Pub closed later in 2023.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.

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