Will Rice and Sam Volkmer hope people are ready to have fun, pedal a vehicle in downtown Davenport and enjoy a drink or two or three.
The two Davenport men are the owners of a relaunched business that centers on a pedal-powered vehicle that is also a rolling bar called the Trolley Pub Quad Cities.
“We’re hoping people will come here and have another summer filled with memories and laughter,” said Mr. Volkmer on Monday, April 22, during a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was also the official grand opening for the business.
The ceremony attracted about 25 people from the business community. It was held in downtown Davenport at 221 E. Second St. with Trolley Pub’s two pedal-powered vehicles parked along the street.
They are described by the company as eco-friendly vehicles that can fit up to 14 riders who will bring their own alcoholic drinks and go on a pub-crawling tour of downtown Davenport. The vehicles are pedal powered by the passengers with an electric assist motor for the hills.
Trolley Put actually had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago and offered its first rides to customers. So far, the business is off to a great start, said Mr. Rice.
“Teachers and nurses are some of our best customers. … They have stressful jobs and this is great for them,” he added.
During Monday’s brief ceremony, business and city leaders congratulated the men for taking the time and effort to relaunch the party-bike business, which was formerly known as Pedal Pub.
The two men worked for Pedal Pub before it closed last summer because of licensing issues.
After a lot of work for city officials in the past few months, those issues have been resolved and the business is open under a new franchise. Marion Meginnis, a member of the Davenport City Council, and others praised the men on their perseverance and their work to get the business running – and pedaling – again.
“They figured out how to make this work. … We’re happy to have them here,” Olivia Warren of the Downtown Davenport Partnership said Monday.
Both of the owners said they were encouraged to launch the business after receiving support from the community. They were also spurred to reopen it because they said downtown Davenport is vibrant and growing and needs a Trolley Pub service.
“You see the economy growing here and we want to be part of that,” said Mr. Volkmer.
According to the owners and the business website, here are some of the features to Trolley Pub Quad Cities:
- Two-hour trolley rides will start at 221 E. Second St. and go from 11 a.m. to about 10 p.m.
- Most rides will be event based – that is for parties, business gathering, wedding parties, birthdays and even divorce parties.
- A minimum of six pedallers are necessary to power the Trolley Pub. The trolleys can fit up to 14 riders, and the weight limit for any individual rider is 275 pounds.
- Trolleys will follow a route in downtown Davenport and stop at various businesses for food and drink specials. While most groups opt for two stops, staying about 15 to 20 minutes at each, the tour is often guided by the passengers. “Flexibility is part of the fun. … Trolley Pub Quad Cities invites you to pedal through this dynamic region, making stops at an array of local favorites – from rustic breweries that pay homage to the area’s rich brewing history to chic cocktail lounges and lively music venues,” the company website said. Go here to vehicle the trolley routes.
- Tours will be limited to downtown Davenport. Owners said they may consider expanding it to other area cities in the future.
- Riders will bring their own drinks. The business will provide ice chests and ice. Riders are also free to bring food on the trolley. “Use common sense, you can’t drink on the street,” according to the company website.
- Go here to schedule a ride on the trolley.
- Trolley Pub is a franchise business with about 20 locations around the country.
The owners of the new Trolley Pub Quad Cities said they hope the public will give their new business a try. They also hope people will follow the advice of Ms. Meginnis as she welcomed the business: “Let the good times roll.”
