Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BRIDGE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE (THE)
THE BRIDGE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE. The well-known Dubuque restaurant and lounge opened in 1961 and in 2019 was still located in the same building at the same site. Leo Diener owned an air-conditioning company which was located next to Helen's Restaurant at 35 Locust Street. in 1961 Diener purchased the restaurant from Helen Cahill and renamed it The Bridge Cafe. Diener and his son, Joe, were partners in the business and briefly split the business into the The Bridge Restaurant and The Bridge Lounge which was located at 31 Locust. After Joe's death in 1969, the two were again combined as The Bridge Restaurant and Lounge.
Around 1976 John and Teresa Hall, owners of the BAR-X on Windsor Avenue purchased the business. Over the next decade, they developed a supper club atmosphere before selling the business to Jim and Kathy Jones in 1989. The year became a curse as it was the start of the realignment of the U.S. 61 / 151 corridor. A frontage road was to be constructed along the stretch of Locust that included The Bridge but access was only available by way of Jones Street from Bluff. Parking was limited.
On New Year's Eve 1992, the restaurant was closed due to poor access and parking problems. In August of that year the Halls repurchased the establishment. John Hall purchased another property in the area and expanded parking. The 250-seat restaurant was reopened on Monday through Saturday with weekend brunches. (1)
The business was sold to Ray and Sandy Herzog who were operating it in 2019. One of the unique options for dining was a combination dinner which offered guests the opportunity to pair more than twenty items which could be carried out. (2)
By 2024 the Herzogs were ready to retire. The last brunch was served on Easter Sunday March 31, 2024, before the restaurant was closed. In 2024 plans called for the demolition of the building for the construction of a five-story commercial and residential development. (3)
The 1962 through 2014 Dubuque City Directory listed 35 Locust.
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Source:
1. "The Tri-States' Supper Clubs," (supplement to the Telegraph Herald), October 17, 2024, p. 14
2. Dickel, Dean. "Restaurant to Reopen," Telegraph Herald, August 1, 1992, p. 3A, Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=aEyKTaVlRPYC&dat=19920801&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
3. "The Tri-State's Supper Clubs..."