Amy McDonough recently looked over a newly renovated space for gatherings called The Eddy. She loved everything she saw — the open space featuring tables and chairs, a prep kitchen, seating for up to 150 people, and especially the windows overlooking the Mississippi River.
“It’s just beautiful. We really like it. … It’s a lot bigger than we thought it would be,” said the Rock Island woman.
Ms. McDonough was among the many people who got a look at The Eddy during a grand opening event and open house held for the facility on Friday, April 10.
The Eddy is located on the third floor of 1019 Mound St. in the Village of East Davenport.
That site is the three-story Village Market Place building near the ultra-
busy intersection of Mound Street and East River Drive. That building is also home to the Grilled Cheese Bar, Rocket Resale and Studio Arris.
During the open house last month, visitors got a look at the many features of The Eddy. Those features include a large open space for parties, social events and many other gatherings. During the event, space was filled with round tables with black tablecloths and black chairs. Each table was decorated with a series of candles and white flowers. There is also a prep kitchen, high ceilings and a bar. But for many people, the top feature of The Eddy is the view. White curtains decorated a series of windows that overlook River Drive and views of the Mississippi River.
“We love this building. There’s really nothing like it with these views of the river,” said Matt Schmit, one of the owners of The Eddy.
Mr. Schmit said that renovation work was extensive and expensive, but declined to give a price spent on the project.
He added that renovation work on the building at 1019 Mound St. has been going on for years to make room for businesses, such as the Grilled Cheese Bar. Renovations on the third floor have been going on for about 18 months, with most of the work completed around last Christmas.
Before that work started, the building’s third floor was divided up into several sections and was once home to several different businesses. In fact the building, which is more than 100 years old, has a long business history. At one point, it was a candy factory.
Chelsea Long, venue coordinator of The Eddy, said the space had already then hosted two events. The first was a holiday party for Ruhl & Ruhl employees. “They were kind of our guinea pigs,” she joked.
Before the open house celebration, a few other summer and fall events had been booked for The Eddy. Ms. Long said she hoped the grand opening would attract people who are interested in using the renovated space for graduation parties, wedding celebrations, baby showers, office gatherings and much more.
“Our calendar is very open. … People who have seen this place just love it here. They comment on how beautiful the place is,” she added.
The name “The Eddy” pays tribute to the history of the area. Long before the neighborhood became the vibrant district it is today, rivermen referred to the bend in the Mississippi River here as “Stubb’s Eddy,” named after James R. Stubbs, a former West Point graduate who later lived as a hermit in a cave overlooking the river in the early 1800s. The calm, swirling water of the eddy provided a safe harbor for boats navigating the rapids nearby, and the name eventually became associated with the early settlement that later developed into the Village, according to information on The Eddy’s website.
Both its website and Facebook page bill the venue as “a hidden gem above the Mississippi” and “a space where history meets hospitality, and every event feels elevated.”
“I think people love the windows overlooking the river. … I love the fact that it’s a kind of industrial look to it,” added Ms. Long.
During the grand opening celebration, The Eddy attracted many fans who commented on the views and the many other features.
Ms. McDonough and her family were also fans of The Eddy. At the grand opening, she booked The Eddy for a June 14 high school graduation party for her daughter Chloe, 18.
“We were looking at places online to hold the party, and Chloe saw photos of this place. She told me to stop and said ‘That’s the one.’ So, we had to come here tonight and get a good look at the place,” she added.
