A New Pizza Restaurant Has Moved Into the Czech Village [UPDATE]

UPDATE 12/22:

Hospoda is officially OPEN! As of December 15th, the new restaurant is open for dinner service only. Their Facebook page lists the current hours as 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (kitchen closes at 9 p.m.) and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

ORIGINAL STORY 11/17:

Back in June, we told you that Aces & Eights Saloon in the Czech Village would be shutting down for good. Their final day in business was June 12th, but just a month later, the owners opened up a new bar and restaurant in Northeast Cedar Rapids called North Point. North Point took over the building on Center Point Road that was most recently Foxhole "Charlie" Bar & Grill. That left us all wondering what would be taking over the former Aces & Eights building at 62 16th Avenue. Well, we finally have an answer!

According to a new article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, a new restaurant called Hospoda has moved into the space and is hoping to open by Thanksgiving. The word Hospoda actually means "pub" in Czech, so it's a fitting addition to the neighborhood.

Hospoda is owned by Eric Lennie and Manny Maldonado, who came up with the idea for the restaurant last summer while out at a local brewery. Eric told me that they "discovered a mutual dream of providing a place for friends, family and the greater community to gather and enjoy great food and drinks." He went on to say:

"Hospoda strives to be a place that celebrates craft, community, and the Czech Village by creating specials using local ingredients with a focus on artistry in pizza and approaching beer with knowledgeable skill and finesse for a unique experience."

According to Eric, the restaurant's menu will consist of primarily Neapolitan style pizza with house specials like the Lasagna, which consists of Berkshire sausage, slightly spicy tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, dry mozzarella, whipped ricotta, roasted sweet red pepper, basil, and garlic. The menu will also offer appetizers, salads, and Czech-inspired dishes and desserts.

The owners of Hospoda have been busy renovating the building, so will definitely look a little different than patrons of Aces & Eights remember. Eric said that the bar has been totally rebuilt and there's an addition of a wood-fire oven. In the spring, they plan to upgrade the patio with new glass doors and new furniture.

There are no details on the grand opening of Hospoda just yet, but Eric says they plan to have soft opening the week of Thanksgiving! In the mean time, you can follow their official Facebook page for updates HERE.