Residents get creative, businesses get boost from #CRGavelChallenge

CEDAR RAPIDS — When Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett asked residents to help businesses affected by the flood get back on their feet — with a special plea to cyclists in particular — Kathy Murphy took it to heart.

The request was to spend money at flood-affected businesses at least 10 times during October, and 15 times for cyclists. The request has become a challenge branded as #CRGavelChallenge. A winner is to become the honorary mayor for a day.

'I felt the employees in the NewBo area and Czech Village area were hit the hardest,' said Murphy, 47, who lives in the New Bohemia District. 'They were without a job that whole time. I wanted to make an impact on their lives.'

Residents have gotten creative in meeting the challenge, which winds down next Monday, and several businesses say they've experienced a noticeable and appreciated boost, including some saying they saw record and near record sales.

'I'm guessing I surpassed the gavel challenge in week two,' Murphy said.

She made a list of the businesses within a two block radius around Bottleworks Lofts where she lives, and has been checking off the list periodically during her dog walks, such as Goldfinch Cyclery and Newbo Shops at 208, a gift shop she hadn't been to before.

Also, the cycling advocate organized a 'handlebar happy hour' each Monday to get cyclists to visit businesses in the flood zone. This Monday, Oct. 24, riders are to visit The Shack Tavern, 2545 Old River Road SW between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Last week's event at Kickstand Bike Bar, 203 16th Ave. SW, had standing room only, she said. Local beer distributors Fleck Sales Co. and 7G Distributing donated giveaway prizes, including a new bike.

The idea behind making the challenge into a contest was to create a viral affect. Participants would post photos of themselves in social media with the hashtag 'CRGavelChallenge', which many have. Many more, such are Murphy, have just participated without officially entering.

Corbett came up with the idea while lying in bed one night during the flood, during which the Cedar River crested at the second highest recorded level in history at just below 22 feet. After the 2008 flood, many businesses didn't see aid for a year or 18 months afterward, and it struck him perhaps the community could come together to jump-start businesses.

Corbett is calling the contest 'extremely successful' and more than 450 have officially entered, he said. The challenge has been helped by organizations such as the tourism bureau Go Cedar Rapids and has been promoted by PGA golfer Zach Johnson and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Cedar Falls.

Mayor Corbett I accept your challenge. The Cedar Rapids way--ppl rallying around their community. Now what day do I get the gavel? #crgavelchallenge

A photo posted by Chuck Grassley (@senatorchuckgrassley) on

'The end goal was to get people to use their economic might to stimulate the businesses closed during the flooding event,' Corbett said.

Steve Waller, 59, said he's made 50 #CRGavelChallenge entries on Facebook. Every day he tries to hit a variety of places.

On Friday, for example, he had breakfast at Lucky's on 16th, lunch at Brick's Bar and Grill and dinner at NewBo City Market. Another day, he bought a scarf for his wife from Marie's Jewelry & Accessories, a place previously he didn't 'even know it existed.'

'I'll take a selfie with a bartender and say this is what I'm doing and what I'm having,' Waller said. 'I'll make an upbeat description of where I am and why I am there.'

He joked, 'When I am mayor, I'll appoint myself Cedar Rapids ambassador to NewBo with all diplomatic immunity.

Businesses, such as Popoli Ristorante & Sullivan's Bar, 101 Third Ave. SW, noticed an immediate response upon reopening after the flood. It's a good thing, too, because they lost a week's worth of business, had to throw away product, and staff members, paid largely by tips, lost income.

They had a 'top five' week upon reopening and while it's slowed down the challenge still is helping, said Jude Villafana, managing partner. They started a prime rib dinner special as part of an 'open and better than ever' message to the community, he said.

'People were telling us, 'We are coming to downtown just like the mayor said to help you out,'' Villafana said. 'It wasn't a coincidence we had a great week.'

Up and down the banks of the Cedar River, in districts evacuated and closed due to the flood, staff at businesses have heard the same thing: customers are coming to meet Corbett's request and they wanted to do their part to help the business community.

Across the river, Pub 217, 217 Third St. SE, also had a surge in business.

'We did about $7,000 more than what we normally would have done that first week,' said Jessica Nanke, one of the owners. 'We had a group of 40 people who specifically said they came for the mayor's challenge. They stayed 'til halftime and then bopped around town.'

She said 'numbers wise' you could see it was helping, and a side benefit was getting in a number of new customers who hadn't been there before.