Marion restaurateur plans Victory Social Club in former Bandana’s space

John Lillibridge targets a mid-August opening at 3707 First Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.

By Jordan BeckPublished Jul 21, 2026, 6:35 AM CT · Updated Jul 26, 2026, 3:00 PM CT1 min read

AI-generated editorial scene: A wide-angle exterior view shows a single-story commercial building with a brick facade and large, clear glass windows under a bright, overcast sky. A stack of wooden pallets and a few empty metal trash bins sit near the paved parking lot in front of the vacant entrance. The surrounding landscape features a flat, asphalt-covered lot typical of a suburban thoroughfare, with distant green trees visible under natural daylight. — AI-generated editorial photo · CR Pulse Graphics Desk

Marion restaurateur John Lillibridge plans to open the Victory Social Club in the former Bandana’s Bar-B-Q building at 3707 First Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.

The 4,000-square-foot space is scheduled to open in mid-August 2026, according to The Gazette.

Bandana’s closed its only Iowa location on Jan. 12, 2026.

Lillibridge, who took over Goldfinch Tap + Eatery in Marion in 2020, described the concept as a return to restaurants as social hubs.

“It’s a concept I’ve been wanting to do for a little while, especially after COVID,” Lillibridge said. “The premise is to bring back the social environment that restaurants used to have.”

The new spot will offer reimagined sports-bar fare with tableside service, he said.

Cedar Rapids residents will gain another dining option once the Victory Social Club opens.

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Sources

1.Marion restaurateur plans Victory Social Club opening at former barbecue restaurant in Cedar Rapids — The Gazette
2.Victory Social Club coming to Cedar Rapids, IA — Facebook group post

This story was researched, drafted, and fact-checked with AI assistance, then published automatically after passing TheCRPulse source, safety, visual, and editorial-readiness controls. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.

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