Help Save Riverbend Pizza & Steakhouse – A Community Staple

Hello Keosauqua friends and beyond,

I’m reaching out on behalf of my mom, Lorrie — the heart and soul behind Riverbend Pizza & Steakhouse. Many of you know her for her kind soul, delicious food, and the love she pours into our local community through her restaurant.

Today, she needs our help.

What’s Happening

Riverbend has been a beloved part of Keosauqua for many years. My mom’s dream of owning a restaurant came true when she moved to Iowa in 2018 and she’s been working tirelessly ever since to serve this community.

Recently, she began the process of moving Riverbend to a new location — the former First Street Bar & Grill — with plans to transition slowly after renovations and upgrades were complete. Unfortunately, these needed renovations have taken longer than anticipated, and the current lease is up October 1st.

Now, she’s in a race against time — and money — to keep her dream alive.

️ Why We Need Help

The sudden timeline means everything has had to happen fast:

• Renovating the new space

• Purchasing and installing key equipment (like a pizza oven)

• Covering unexpected moving and construction expenses

• Keeping Riverbend open and running in the meantime

My mom, her staff, friends, and family have been working around the clock — doing everything they can to stay afloat. But it’s just too much to do alone, and the costs have far exceeded what was originally budgeted.

Looking Ahead

With the Fall Festival coming up — the busiest weekend of the year — there’s real hope. If Riverbend can be up and running by then, it would go a long way toward getting caught up on bills and stabilizing the business again.

How You Can Help

Anyone who knows my mom knows how hard she works and how deeply she cares. She never asks for help, so I’m asking on her behalf:

If Riverbend has ever meant something to you — a meal, a memory, a moment — please consider helping.

Every dollar will go directly toward keeping the doors of Riverbend open, finishing the transition, and ensuring it remains a place of community for years to come.

Ways to Donate

• GoFundMe – via this page (small processing fee)

• Direct donation – for 100% of your contribution to go to Riverbend, you can drop off donations at the restaurant or send via PayPal.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We’re so grateful for this community, and I promise my mom will continue giving back in every way she can — just like she always has.

Please feel free to reach out to me personally if you have any questions.

With gratitude,

Kendie Russell (Lorrie’s Daughter)