NEW BOURBON STREET AND VOODOO LOUNGE TO OPEN IN GRINNELL

Cedar Falls, IA (July 22, 2008) – Darin Beck from Barmuda MMC is pleased to announce he is opening a new restaurant and lounge in Grinnell, Iowa. Bourbon Street Restaurant and Voodoo Lounge, a New Orleans style restaurant and lounge will take over the 5,650 square foot location of 926 Main Street, located in the town square. Beck and a private developer have reached a lease agreement whereby Beck will take over the property as proprietor in September.

Darin Beck of Barmuda MMC, www.barmuda.com and Dick Knapp of 4^th Avenue L.L.C. announced today they have reached an agreement to have Bourbon Street Restaurant and Voodoo Lounge lease the newly renovated space. Remodeling has already started to transform the former building into a Cajun, Creole and American style restaurant on the main floor and an ultra lounge in the lower level featuring hip and trendy music including occasional live music. The top floor of the building will hold two luxury lofts.

Knapp, a former Grinnell College graduate who is a native New Yorker and developer from Washington D.C. had a vision and that was to fix a weak link in his favorite college downtown. “I always wanted to get a fabulous restaurant in one of my renovated properties and I found out about Darin Beck and Barmuda,” commented Knapp. “I liked the hip-ness, the edginess, the over-the-top service with something that was young and vibrant. That’s what Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge will bring to downtown Grinnell.”

Knapp, a sole owner of the 4^th Avenue L.L.C. development company heard about Darin from Dan Tindall, who worked with Beck in the Cedar Falls market. “We chose Darin because of a relationship I have working with him at another one of his successful restaurants and lounges,” added Tindall, “he knows how to do well with a restaurant and lounge in a small town environment with a big city feel.”

            Beck and Tindall began discussing possibilities in 2007 and negotiations began January of this year. “We wanted to wait for the right time,” Beck says. “Everything came together and we are looking forward to help rebuilding downtown Grinnell.”

Knapp is pleased with the agreement he has fostered with Beck. “This community hasn’t ever seen a restaurant and lounge like this,” he says. “Barmuda knows how to do it right; from the food to the service, to the events and promotions. Grinnell will love this place.”

              Beck and Barmuda MMC own and operate seventeen other food, beverage and entertainment venues in the Cedar Valley, including a Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge in downtown Cedar Falls and a new Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge to open this fall in downtown Waterloo.  

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