A small town in Eastern Iowa is now home to a new bar and restaurant! The Meat Locker Bar & Grill at 325 Locust St NE in Blairstown is set to open next week!

The Name

According to an article from Vinton Newspapers, the Meat Locker Bar & Grill's name is actually a tribute to one of the previous tenants of the building. It was the original home of W. A. Drake Co., a meat locker and grocery store that was established back in 1940. Owner Drake Rabe said in a press release, "While the building is new, it sits on a site with a rich history, and we are honored to carry that forward while creating a place for new memories.”

The Meat Locker Bar & Grill via Facebook
The Meat Locker Bar & Grill via Facebook
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The Menu

As you can probably guess from the name, the Meat Locker's menu is all about MEAT! The official menu has yet to be posted, but the article from Vinton Newspapers reads:

"The Meat Locker features a menu centered around high-quality meats, including steaks, burgers, sandwiches, smoked specialties, and shareable appetizers, alongside cold beer and classic cocktails in a welcoming atmosphere."

Chef Patrick Kilbury serves as the Meat Locker's head chef, and he has over 20 years of experience in the industry. His specialties include smoked meats and comfort food. Another experienced member of the team is Lori Dicus, who will run the front-of-house. She is also the owner of The Crooked Antler in Van Horne.

The Grand Opening

The Meat Locker Bar & Grill is set to hold its grand opening on Tuesday, June 2nd at 4 p.m., and all are welcome to attend! An article from Hometown Current says that attendees will be able to enjoy food and drink specials, as well as giveaways. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place earlier in the day at 1 p.m.

Once the Meat Locker opens, the kitchen hours will be Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner. For the latest updates, you can check out the business' official Facebook page HERE.

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