Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
TOLLBRIDGE INN (THE)
TOLLBRIDGE INN (THE). The Tollbridge Inn was a scenic restaurant below EAGLE POINT PARK and above the ZEBULON PIKE LOCK AND DAM. Sue Balsamo got the idea of building on the site of the old toll house in June 1984, two years after the toll bridge closed. Work on the $250,000 restaurant, developed by Sue Balsamo and Paul Rasch, began in April 1985 approximately two weeks after Balsamo purchased the property from the city for $14,000. At the time, the council had stipulated that a $200,000 facility had to be constructed on the site within two years or ownership of the land would revert to the City. (1)
The one-story building with an announced seating capacity of one hundred was designed to offer vistas of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER, CHAPLAIN SCHMITT ISLAND, and the locks. The restaurant occupied most of the western foundation of the EAGLE POINT BRIDGE.
The year following its opening, the restaurant was expanded to include a veranda. Balsamo later sold her interest in the business.
The restaurant was torn down the last week of April, 2003. A. J. Spiegel, a land developer from Peosta, proposed to build an eight-story, 64-unit condominium complex at the site. (2)
The 1987 through 1989 Dubuque City Directory listed 2800 Rhomberg.
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Source:
1. Shaffer, David, "New Restaurant Touts View," Telegraph Herald, September 23, 1985, p. 5
2. Coyle, Erin, "Tollbridge Restaurant Still Serves Memories," Telegraph Herald, May 8, 2003, p. 1
