Zins Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Reopening After Flood

By Justin Foss, Reporter

Caption: Zins co-owners Amy Wyss (center left) and Lee Belfield cut the ribbon to the restaurant in downtown Cedar Rapids on Friday, June 11, 2010. The restaurant kicked off "Evacuation Friday Happy Hour" with the ribbon cutting and removal of the "We're Back" sign in the window. (Liz Martin)

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jun 11, 2010 at 5:24 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 11, 2010 at 5:24 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two years ago Friday, fears of a record flood heightened throughout Eastern Iowa.

Cedar Rapids issued mandatory evacuations in the city's 500-year flood plain. And the river kept rising, cresting eleven feet above its previous record on June 13th. Zins Restaurant was one of the many downtown businesses that flooded out.

Zins is one of the 1,500 businesses downtown, and employs some of the 13,000 workers in the downtown.

On Friday, Zins finally had their first ribbon cutting and then took down the sign telling hungry people that they're back.

It's a symbolic move for the people that work there, and for the rest of people in the downtown area.

They say positive news goes a long way In a time when employers are struggling to keep jobs, and businesses that have reopened have again closed.

"And its horrible. We miss them dearly. It's not good for the downtown, we need more options," said Amy Wyss, Zins Restaurant.

You don't have to look far to see the financial impact of the flood here. While Zins is doing well, Blend, the restaurant next door has closed after reopening. And right next to them, Ginsberg Jewelery never reopened their downtown location, instead moving to a new location near Lindale Mall.

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.


read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Crime, sexual abuse, property fires, automobile accidents, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.

What's On KCRG