by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – The sign on the front of the building is gone. Alley Katz is no more.
But don’t be fooled, the bar is still open, under new management and looking for a fresh start.
So says Shylan Bergstrom, a co-manager at the bar along with a bouncer/DJ who would only give his first name, Jeff.
The title of the bar seemed to be synonymous with trouble, and after a recent run-in with the city council and numerous visits from the Mason City Police Department for more than liquor license checks, Bergstrom said Thursday night that bar Kathy Hebel has given her and Jeff the green light to start over.
“We will be working more closely with police,” Bergstrom explained.
She says that two feuding groups that were known by some to be troublemakers, referred to in some circles as “D-Boys” (from Detroit) and “C-Boys” (from Chicago) are not officially “banned” from the bar, but are on notice that only good behavior will be tolerated moving forward.
“I won’t stand for it,” Jeff said, referring to any trouble in the bar. “There will be a bouncer here every night.”
Jeff also said that the bar will now be playing rock, dance and country music, not just “gansta rap.”
“We now take requests,” he explained, “and we will play a variety of music.”
There will be drink special every night, Bergstrom said, and she may go ahead with some paint or other minor changes inside. She says it will be a week or more before they decide on a new name for the bar.
“We’d like to invite back all our former customers, who used to come in when we first opened,” the pair said.
If you need a ride to the bar, and home, free rides are offered. Just call 641 210 5500.
Every time I look at comments on here it always seems like everyone ends up talking about Todd Blodgett…..WTF? What does he have to do with Alley Katz, or any other bar in Mason City or Clear Lake?
Your wrong anonoymous didnt u see what laker said? Jeez louise do the math, the law don’t want to deal with Blodgett long as he dont kill nobody.They already seen what goes on they figure why waste the money, lawyers time, ect and then have to deal with them that can pull some strings yes pay whatever, ect.Like I say just do the math.
Hot headed or not, people, I just don’t see the powers that be revoking Blodgett’s carry privileges. With a Republican sheriff up here, and Branstad down in Des Moines, and our do-nothing, 70-something, “out of it”, fearful Iowa attorney general who already got burned by our Iowa gun lobby, good luck getting Blodgett’s carry rights taken away. His family’s political connections and money make him one hot head they won’t mess with. That leaves the federal government. This being an election year, Obama won’t give the gun nuts any more reasons to get all fired up against him any more than they already are. Then there’s this Neanderthal’s FBI contacts who probably don’t want him spilling the beans on things there. I heard on NPR that Blodgett even knew the racist skinhead that shot and killed those hindus in Milwaukee, and the old man that killed a black guard at the Holocaust museum in Washington, DC a couple of years ago! How stupid they were to have hired this insane hot head, to work for the bureau, now we all have to just deal with it as best we can.
All that needs to be done is charge him with the crimes that he has committed, felons cannot own guns let alone carry them. If they didn’t want him to have a gun there are mechanisms in place for preventing it.
So nice to see My voice defend Todd Blodgett’s right to use a loaded gun to scare the daylights out of some innocent african-americans who perhaps asked him for some money for food. Backward thinking individuals like the gun nuts on this page are causing trouble for all of us who believe that every life is of value. You should be ashamed of yourself, My voice.
You must not have a scrow down feature on your web browers to see my August 31, 2012 at 10:26 am
post huh?
I’m ashamed that I live with ignorant citizens.
no scrow down, I am able to scroll down though. Who taught you how to use a computer? Was it someone elderly or someone who learned English as a second language?
You must not understand sarcasm? If “Anonymous” would have read the post that I quoted, he/she would have seen that I was not defending Blodgett. I am only defending the LAW. Now, shouldn’t you be in school Mr.? Well, I have to get back to work. Bye.
I implore the leadership of Mason City to enact strict gun control laws. Ben is sooooo right! It’s just a shame that My voice is correct, and that it’s legal for Mr. Blodgett and other far right, violent screwballs to take their guns into bars in Iowa. Gun-toting, violent Neanderthals like Blodgett are protected by law. Horrendously, it’s their right to wreak havoc in public places. Wake up, people!!!!!!! I implore all non-Neanderthals to roll up their sleeves and get something done which shall lower the MC crime rate. Get off your duffs and pitch in to save lives!!!!!!
Nice try. Mason City Or even Cerro Gordo County CANNOT enact ANY law that is stricter than state law on this gun issue AS LONG AS THE PERSON HAS A LEGAL PERMIT TO CARRY.
724.28 PROHIBITION OF REGULATION BY POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS.
A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance
regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful
transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the
ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise
lawful under the laws of this state. An ordinance regulating
firearms in violation of this section existing on or after April 5,
1990, is void.
Now, that said. Being a CCW permit holder myself, I believe it is irresponsible what Blodgett did and I too believe he should have had his permit revoked. By going “outside” he provoked the situation. At THAT point, he was looking for a fight. That was a jackass move. More control on his part is expect if he is going to carry a gun. If he cannot excersize that level of control, then he shouldn’t be allowed to carry one.
Agreed. Going armed with intent should have been the charge. Guess the cops over there are country music fans (and “good ol’ boys).
Just saw this post. Shit I really should be working. I just wanted to say Thank you! It is nice to see we agree. Blodgett is way too hot headed to carry a gun. He makes the rest of us look bad. He is truly a Neanderthal. Have a good one.
Yo robin Blodget get away with it bcuz he white that be 4 real.he a h8 full cracka racist if he pull he piece on me and my homeys again we stomp he honky ass Im sayin. next time.He aint get lucky again like he done b4 bcuz we aint playin.
ummmm, isn’t it illegal to carry a gun in bars, here in Iowa? or no? seems every establishment I go in has a sign on door stating they’re not allowed on premises so how does that blodget guy get away with that..? that’s by FAR THE DUMBEST choice one should make especially while drinking and along with a short fuse to boot to carry a loaded weapon into a place where there surely are other drunken stupid idiots thinking they have all the solutions… lawsuit waiting to happen if ya ask me… and as far as “hey if u need a ride TO the bar” just call… for real??? that just doesnt make sense to me.. inviting of seemingly unsavory guests is what it says to me…
No Robin. It’s perfectly legal.
Royal Roost – North !
Tanglefoot u be racist u knows u is.
Yo home skillet, you be doin the glide by a wrong hut some night and thats the end a da rope for ya’ll. Dudes be wearing dim jail house pants and dat cuz yo knows you ain’t shit and gots to dread out like a big time banger do. Ya’ll just a bunch of muff huggin wanna be’s. You ain’t shit now and never will be you jus plain ol evry day shit for sho nuff. Word shang a lang po po gonna buzz you’s soon. Da street be talken that shit fo sho brudder. Ppl done witch yo punk ass mini bangers. Lick it up good and proper now too. It good for you.
http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/2252239/At/
U crackas sayin name Katz work be racist yo. To bad 4 uhonkeys u aint gots the guts too roll in too katz 4 a minute bcuz we show you who be runnin this redneck town I’m sayin. MC be homey town now dboyz we takes they honkey women we makin black babys that be 4 real.u honkeys best stay clear of Katz if u knows what be good 4 u bcuz we aint playin.
Lol badazz needs to learn his Ebonics a little better. Think that’s more seventies jive. Lol
You aint runnin’ nuffin but that bad fashin & those pretty DS lips. take a seat frenchy. fo you find youself not yourself no more. you cant handle the other city where you came, you cant handle it here. fear the walker of the shadows he’s cummin’
mc bad azz ur a moron Learn how to spell first, and all you guys are doing is killing each other, which I dont care, Im glad you guys do that, one less, *****, And why we dont come in there is because we dont want to be around all of you gangstas, LMFAO, Grow up get a job, Which I know you never will. And the joke is on you mc badass , We are not scared of you guys!!
Play David Allen Coe the early years once every hour on the hour, seems like a quick fix.
Blodgett is nobody’s fool, Ben. He is a bit crazy, but actually very smart. But he does see things in a way like everything is either right or wrong, black or white, no shades of grey in between. When he thinks he is right about something or other, he goes all out on it. He doesn’t like it when people he considers to be not very smart waste his time, or get in his way, never did. That is just how he is. Sorry but you guys that want Todd to go over to Alley Katz will never ever see it.
Wow, Makes me want to go there just to witness this place! Scumbag pregant white trash and bros! Aw shucks I just go to wal-mart instead
We all know what the problem is, for the most part. It’s these black imports who get low class white women pregnant and don’t and won’t work, steal, rape, and use and sell drugs. Face it, we might be able to better police them, but that will cost money we don’t have. Legally speaking, there’s not alot we can do to stop this. Maybe these suggestions about letting some armed vigilante like Mr. Blodgett and his low-class, redneck buddies go to Alley Katz for some live target practice is the best we can hope for. Something simply must be done soon.
“It’s these black imports who get low class white women pregnant and don’t and won’t work, steal, rape, and use and sell drugs.”
You are painting with a pretty broad brush there. Far too broad for reality I am afraid. Womanizing, drunkenness, sloth, illegal drug use, violence, and miscreant behavior has existed for quite some time here. Well before some so-called imported group ever arrived within city limits.
Take the blinders off and look at things as they really are, and have been.
No, Ben that aint how it come down. Not like that. Blodgett was minding his own business, joking round with his buddies and them, and the two dudes comes up to him and it was a argument. one of them says to Blodgett okay let’s take this outside, them two goes out back of the bar.The dude takes a swing at Blodgett and Blodgett pulls his gun I think a .38 not sure what cal. Anyways he tells the guy to get out of his face tells him he has to leave, then he goes back in and tells them others that was at the other table that they also got to go too and that’s what they done.
I never voted for Dr. Blodgett, the Blodgetts are too Republican for my taste. And it looks like his black sheep son is a trigger happy fascist. I shouldn’t say this, but it would be great fun to have Todd Blodgett and his violent, redneck pals go visit the Alley Katz. It wouldn’t matter to me who wins, I would be pleased with the outcome!
This is getting out of hand. It would be dangerous to allow Todd Blodgett to have a free hand in Alley Katz. I have also observed him as he makes his rounds at the bars here at the lake. He associates with only two kinds of people, the high-ups and the low-downs. My friends and I have seen him drinking in Clear Lake with Bookmeyer, Kuhn, Jay Urdahl, John Lee, Tornquist, and others who presently hold public office. The man knows how to gravitate to powerful people, a trait he probably learned from seeing others suck up to his old man, or maybe from his political jobs. But the son also is on a first name basis with some of the worst low-lifes in CL. Considering that our county sheriff is a Republican, and Branstad’s long friendship with Blodgett’s dad, and that family’s other high level connections, including with influential lawyers and lawmakers, it would be a mistake to get this slick black sheep Republican to go into Alley Katz to do what he excels at – politics and violence.
anynomous if they do like Vince and Suzie says let Todd Blodget in there aint nobody intimdate him no way.We have saw him get some drinkers mad over to Rumers in CL, they bitch at him about his country tunes, let me tell you he definately got the last word. He dont care who you are he just gets in their face and if need be he sicks his buddies that’s always around on you and if it come down to it he will use a weapon. I know this for a true fact you put Blodget in that their alley katz and them scum will wish they never even heard of the place.
they did have bouncers before they were either black and were part of the clicks or they were intimidated by them as well
Hopefully these changes will work out for them, seems like I was right on track about changing the music selection…
Not long after Alley Katz opened I went in there, then again a month or so later. A couple months after that I went in there and noticed a change in the crowd. Again, a month or so later I went in again and that was the last time. A D or C boy groped my friend and wouldnt listen when she told him to stop, the bartender told us to ‘just steer clear of him’. Then as we walked outside him and his ‘boys’ followed us out. It was a very uncomfortable situation. Needless to say I will NOT be going back to that bar. I dont care if it has a new name, new owners and a new shelf of alcohol… As long as it as the same crowd, my friends and I will not be going there. The problem isnt the name, location or owners.. its the bad seeds the let in there.
lol I seen dat all day time keep on cuming we luv it baby
If you REALLY want to keep the riff raff and trouble makers out (i.e. D-Boyz and C-Boys) Name the bar Work!
No, dont name it work! That’ll help them… Ring ring. Hey baby mama what chew doin. Naw, Shawty I ain’t messin around wit da boyz I’m at Work.
How bout naming it “Detroit/Chicago” they left once maybe they’ll leave again…..
David McCoy is right. It hard to polish turds. No, it cannot be done no matter how hard you try. But I think Vince here has the right idea about clearing these bad people out of MC. I already knew about what happened at the bar at the lake a couple years ago. Out neighbor lady’s son was one of the police officers who went there. She said that the police feel just like us good citizens do and they admire any one that won’t get pushed around. We need more people like Mr. Blodgett that we can count on to stand up for what is right and keep these bad people in their place! Bravo to anybody who stands up for the good people and do not let bad people run things. Keep them in their place at all times.
Dont they have to get a new liquor license under the new name before they can legally serve?
it still shows as Alley Katz on the ABD website.
Your wrong Johnny K not everbody will get bullied playing country no sir they won’t. About 2 years ago we was in a bar in CL we seen some partons give some shit to Mr. Todd Blodgett for playing Elvis and Johnny Cash and Dean Martin. Blodgett told them folks to f— off, one of them says hey lets take this outside. Well that is what they done, me and my wife and the other couple we was with done thought Blodgett would of get his butt stomped but no it didn’t go down like that. When them was outside the guy takes a swing at Blodgett then Blodgett pulls a gun right in the mans face and tells him and the whole table what they was sittin at they got to leave and that is just what they done. One of the ladies a fat one yells from there car hey we know who you are were gettin the cops. Okay So may be 15 minutes later 3 cops come in there they talk to Blodgett next thing they tell him have a good day sir and then leave him alone and that was that. Never even asked him to show his gun, nobody got arrested no nothing that is what it was we seen it for our selfs yes. I say if you want to make them homey scum leave then get Blodgett in there and let him do his thing. he does what he wants to do, he dont care who he pisses off and he carries a legal gun and the law lets him be since his family is so connected and that there.That is what to do yes it will work too.
Learn to write.
So let me get this straight….Blodgett is given a little crap for playing country and he tells a guy to F off. So then both of them stick their chests out like a couple of middle school boys reaching puberty and they go outside….and then Blodgett sticks a GUN in this guy’s face?!?! Are you kidding?? That is absolutely pathetic on both of their parts. Blodgett should have been arrested. What a fool.
Although I don’t think this story has any credibility, IF it were true he should go to jail and have his permit yanked. The responsibility of carrying a firearm does not allow you to pick fights with the intent to pull a firearm on them.
how about “Thunderdome”, it has a ring to it
The way things have been up there since the beginning, you would have sworn Steve Hebel was behind the operation.
You do know the owner, Kathy, was married to Dick Hebel for several years? Is Steve related to Dick?
If they were part of the Hebel family from Nora Springs, yes. Steve likes shoving powder up his nose, a stellar type if I ever saw one.
They should do us all a favor and take a D9 Cat to it!
Dillingers kept the troublemakers out by playing country music & not having a DJ every night. agree with Amber 100%, but I’d charge them for that many good ideas. As BUSINESS owners, they should be wiser than they seem.
How about the name “The Last Resort”
Perfect!
Well, I agree with many of the responses.. Change, I don’t think so. You can’t put feathers on a cat and call it a chicken!!!!
Play Country music I bet they will LEAVE!!!
Just don’t name it (FAT WHITE GIRLS!!) LOL
yall will never succeed because jeff is a rum, who thinks he is SOS. AKA a gang member. who has no taste in music anyways and couldn’t bounce a baby on his knee let alone anyone out of bar. lol u kinding me. This bar has no pichers or tap beer, all you can buy here is cheap liquor used as high shelf stuff, and over priced bottels and cans. might as well hit the liquor store buy it yourself. tell the owner to stop smoking her payroll up in crack rocks and try paying her employees for once. that bar is dead already………. let it rest changing the name and music wont do shit. And jeff has been “BOUNCING” there the whole time during all this drama the bar has been faced with. great employee give hime employee of the year huh? i thought it was just crooked cops for a minute. YOU MUST RENAME THE BAR GANGSTERS PARADISE FOR SURE, nothing here is different, sorry folks. keep walking
i agree, and he has the intellect of a gnat. the guy is almost 40 years old and lives w his mother. And, SOS? What a joke! Even they are high class in comparison.
I know hip hop and rap tends to draw a larger amount of black people to the bars but I do like the music because I am under forty and not a hick. Maybe if we ban fat white girls it will work in more ways than one.
Keep telling yourself you are cool.
How about we name it “911” or just a simple SOS
“Shots Fired”
“Jeff” is actually Jeff Fistler. And looking into his criminal history, this bar is doomed once again. From Domestic Violence, DUI’s and various driving offences, I’m amazed a person of his character is managing a bar, even if it is in the “ghetto” of Mason City.
I agree… not the crowd must people want to see at the bar for sure… his type are no different then the crowd they banned… just color of skin & one crowd prefers a different drug then the other crowd…. just saying
Maybe Jeff has seen the light and cleaned up his ways? Everyone needs a second chance.
Second chance? How about 19th or 20th? How many chances do u think the guy should get?
It doesn’t really matter if you change the name or ban people.. if your employees are drug addicts your just going to be a different crowd that are just as messed up as the last.. new employees will bring in better crowds..
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig
I went to Alley Katz when they first opened and they did play a variety of music and advertised live bands. I attended birthday parties held there and everything went well. I visited once more after things started to change and it was a very uncomfortable situation and never went back. I wish them luck in trying to get back to what the vision was when they first opened. I’m sure whats going on there now is not what the owner had in mind when she opened. Maybe they could call the bar “Rewind”
HOW BOUT THEY NAME IT REWIND
I used to go to the bar when it first opened and was still a nice establishment. Your intentions are great however, you are going about it the wrong way. You should not play rap at all! Most people hate rap. I for one cannot stand it and all the times I have gone to bars that do; it draws trouble. Most rap is somehow gang related and is filled with violent lyrics. Stick with rock, oldies, and country. Pick a night each style. That way patrons can listen to the style they prefer all night. I would personally come to all three as long as there wasn’t any heavy metal. In addition, I would implement a dress code. This usually helps keep trouble makers out. Lastly, employ bartenders that can detect trouble and know when someone has had too much to drink.
You been not like the drug addict bar tender that got arrested after one of the gunshot incidents in the parking lot?
That would be what I mean 🙂
Let’s call it Whitey’s
How about “Crackaz”?
When you’re the one requesting the dance or country music I say, good luck with that. You’ll just get bullied out until all the requested music is this rap crap. Nothing will change but the name on the doors. Place is a crap hole on the dirty north end. Everyone that’s on the north end needs to be sent back to where they came from.
Before you get too carried away, about 20 or 30 people on the north end need to be run out of town. The rest are all good people, I live on the north end.
I’m sure you could go too.
I’ve lived on the north end my entire adult life and half of my childhood. Where I came from was Mason City. Born and raised here, so I can’t be “sent back” to somewhere I am already at. It’s not the entire north end that is a problem. It’s the people that choose to be a problem that make the north end undesirable. I wish them the best of luck in their endeavor, but honestly, it’s really hard to polish a turd.
OK ‘Mr Road House’ we expect you to clean up that place we will be watching. And yes, dont forget your vest!
I hope “Jeff” wears a bullet proof vest.
Just don’t name the place “Gangsta’s Groove” or something like that! 🙂
So like gang members do they will go by an alias.
They didn’t have a bouncer before???
I think they should have more than one.
And per request means they will end up playing all gansta rap.
Right from the start do everyone a favor, don’t play any “gansta rap.” Thats like drawing flies to crap.
As long as they keep in clean and are good neighbors I will support them. I don’t know how they will keep the trouble makers out. They have a history of doing what they want when they want and the police can’t seem to stop them. I wish the owners good luck. I think they will need it to attract good paying customers.
Who cares what the new name will be as long as they get their act in order
So what is the new name of the bar?