Alcohol
CJ's Sports Bar & Grill
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Life After the 2008 FloodsOn Monday, June 9, 2008, the city of Cedar Rapids was told to head for high ground in preparation for the Cedar River flooding out of its banks. No one dreamed the extent of the damage would make the infamous floods of 1993 look mild. C.J.'s Sports Bar and Grill owner, Connie Vasquez, was told the damage to the building in 1993 was minimal. Nevertheless, she called her son, Anthony, who manages the bar. Anthony was in Phoenix, Arizona, watching the entire thing unfold via KCRG online. He said, "I just hoped and hoped that the floodwater did not rise over four feet inside the bar because that was where the memorabilia collection started." Shortly after the phone call from his mom, Anthony headed back to Iowa to assess the damage and start the cleanup process. "I really can't describe the smell and destruction that I experienced when first entering the sports bar. I hoped for the best, but deep down inside, I knew it was going to be ugly," he said. When all was said and done, C.J.'s took in more than eight and a half feet of water. The bar's memorabilia collection contained over 300 autographed photographs including greats such as Sammy Sosa, Cal Ripken, Jr., Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Mark McGwire and Yogi Berra. There were also signed baseballs, jerseys, bats and pennants. Perhaps the damaged item with the most sentimental value, however, was the pool cue belonging to Anthony's late father, Alfonso, who first opened C.J.'s in 1995. Although it is a little warped, it will be back on the wall in its place of honor. Despite the fact that the bar was not covered by flood insurance, Anthony said there was no question that C.J.’s would be rebuilt. Damages, including the loss of the sports memorabilia collection, are estimated at nearly $350,000.Cleanup was started as soon as officials let them back in the area. "There was no sitting around and waiting; the damage was done and it was time to remove it," Anthony recalled. He, along with friends and family, did all of the cleanup and deconstruction, as well as most of the rebuilding. Cans and bottles of beer littered the floor and ceiling tiles had latched onto the carpet as they disintegrated. The interior of the bar was nearly unrecognizable as the floodwaters had rearranged the entire place. Everything inside the bar was a loss with the exception of a handful of photographs that were above the waterline and the air conditioning units which were on the roof. None of the seven destroyed LCD televisions were over 13-months-old, and three of them had been installed only two months prior to the flooding. During reconstruction, it seems that everyone was rooting for the return of the sports bar. Customers and friends stopped by every day to see the progress and ask, "How long?" Anthony said he also received help from city inspectors who answered questions and guided him through the process. He credits the street department for quickly and thoroughly removing debris. Anthony said that the elimination of the wreckage helped psychologically because it was a sign that progress was finally being made. The floods hit Cedar Rapids in early June. After months of emotionally and physically exhausting labor and missing two target opening dates, C.J.'s doors finally opened to customers on December 5, 2008, to a packed house. C.J.'s has never looked better. For a start, everything inside is new. The interior has been opened up with an exposed ceiling, creating a feeling of space and airiness. A new solid oak bar top replaced the laminate counter top destroyed by water damage. The dated wood paneling is gone and shiny corrugated metal now lightens up the place. Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cub fans will be happy to hear the bar now has 16 High Definition LCD televisions and surround sound. |
