Breitbach's Country Dining facts for kids

Breitbach's Country Dining is a popular restaurant and bar in Balltown, Iowa, USA. It's famous for being the oldest restaurant and bar that has been open non-stop in the state of Iowa. It first opened its doors on August 23, 1852. The Breitbach family has owned and run the place since 1862, and today, Mike Breitbach is the owner.

You can find Breitbach's at 563 Balltown Road. They serve classic Midwestern dishes, including some German favorites like sauerkraut and sausage. The restaurant has even been featured on TV shows like Food Network's Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run, which highlighted their delicious pies. It was also in the 2012 documentary Spinning Plates.

A Long and Interesting History

There are a few different stories about when Breitbach's first opened and when the Breitbach family took over. Some sources say it started in 1853 as a stop for stagecoaches. Others claim it opened in 1852 with a special permit from President Millard Fillmore, and that the Breitbach family has owned it since 1891. However, the restaurant's own website supports the dates of 1852 for opening and 1862 for family ownership.

The original restaurant building, used until the fire on December 24, 2007.

The Mystery Mural

Back in the 1920s, a group of travelers visited Breitbach's. One of them painted a beautiful picture on the barroom wall. This painting showed the amazing view of the Mississippi River valley from the restaurant. Later, the mural was covered up and forgotten. During a renovation, it was found again! The painting was then fixed up, covered with glass, and lit so everyone could see it. It became a special part of the restaurant for many years.

The second restaurant building, which opened in June 2008 but was destroyed by fire in October 2008.

Rebuilding After Fires

Breitbach's has faced some tough times, especially with fires. But each time, the community and family worked together to rebuild.

The Christmas Eve Fire of 2007

On December 24, 2007, early in the morning, an explosion happened in the basement. The building was completely destroyed, even with firefighters from four different towns trying to save it. Luckily, no one inside the building was hurt. Investigators looked into the fire and decided it was an accident. They thought a gas leak might have caused it.

After the fire, the owner, Mike Breitbach, announced that he would rebuild. Construction on a new building began in March 2008. The new restaurant was designed to have bigger restrooms and a modern kitchen. However, it was also made to look and feel like the original building. The construction took only 69 days, and Breitbach's reopened on June 14, 2008.

Before this fire, the Democratic Party had planned to hold a political meeting, called a caucus, at Breitbach's. Because of the fire, the meeting had to be moved to a different location.

The October 2008 Fire

By October 2008, Breitbach's was doing better than ever. The owner, Mike Breitbach, said business had grown a lot since the first fire. He even mentioned that 857 people came for lunch one day! But just a week later, on October 24, 2008, another fire completely destroyed the restaurant. Again, no one was injured.

Despite this second setback, the Breitbach family decided to rebuild once more. Breitbach's Country Dining opened its doors in its third building on August 1, 2009. It continues to be a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike.