10-04-2025
Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Bar & Eatery begins remodel
DES MOINES, Iowa — This week the rebirth started at an Iowa State Fair landmark, the old Steer 'N' Stein. After action taken by the Iowa State Fair, a new vendor was allowed to re-make the location into something entirely new. It will be called the Blue Ribbon Bar & Eatery.
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'Our goal here was to really just open up the venue and try and get it so that if you're a person inside, you can look out and see because the true action happens down Grand Avenue and you can see what happens down the street and look down towards the Grandstand,' said Diana Marquardt, who is leading the remodel effort. 'Honestly, what an ideal location we were given like the Steer 'N' Stein carries a lot of nostalgia with the Iowa State Fair and we definitely want to carry on that type of nostalgia.'
The plan also calls for live entertainment.
'That was one of the first things we started working on was what groups can we invite,' said Marquardt. 'One to two artists every day from things like dueling pianos so there's a great Hispanic band that comes out of Chicago, on the first Sunday afternoon.'
The bottom line attraction for owner Joni Bell is the food.
'We've got some great creations. You're not gonna wanna miss them,' said Bell. 'Tony has really really put some good inspiration in this year and designed some new things that I've told him this is what I think would be good then he creates them.'
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