Retired Teacher Opens Art Bar in Cedar Falls, IA

Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery is a cocktail bar that showcases local artists’ work in the Cedar Valley region.

By Amy Antonation on December 27, 2023

Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery

Kendra Wohlert is nothing if not adventurous. She’s taught music all over the world – in Lesotho, Africa; Honduras; and Arizona, California and Iowa. After two decades of globetrotting, the Cedar Falls, IA, native returned to her home state to be closer to family.

In 2018, Wohlert retired from teaching, but that didn’t mean she was done taking risks. She launched the Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery, an art bar in Cedar Falls that showcases local artists’ work, in October 2020 – in the thick of COVID.

“Most people thought I was crazy to open a bar during that time, but it was really the perfect time for me,” says Wohlert, who had never been a bartender or owned a business.

She opened the art bar in Cedar Falls as a reservation-only spot, welcoming just six customers at a time.

That decision cushioned her entry into entrepreneurship: “Obviously, I wanted to create a safe place for people, but it also helped me to know how many people I would have in a night in terms of buying supplies. … I was able to get my ‘sea legs’ easily and learn the ins and outs of bartending at a nice, slow pace.” 

Now, Wohlert welcomes an eclectic crowd to the space Thursdays through Sundays for creative cocktails, wine and local beer; board games; art classes; and live music and dancing.

Artwork rotates regularly, and new artists are featured every five to seven weeks.

“I am happy to say that we are openly LGBTQ+ friendly and are a welcoming space for everyone,” Wohlert says. “In the summer, you can find people from all walks enjoying a refreshing drink on the patio, and in the winter cozying up with a cup of good cheer next to the fireplace heaters. It truly is a space for everyone.”