River Rock Cafe To Bring Music, Dancing, Food and More To Savanna

By Michael Miller For The Prairie Advocate News

The band “Endless Emotions,” with members Frank Brucato, Kevin Dieschbourg, Garrett Hillary and in the rear is Lucas Richards on the drums (not visible). The band will perform frequently at the Rock River Cafe, set to open mid- to late July. (Courtesy of Kathy Fearn)

For the third time in two months, Savanna’s Main Street readies to greet a new business, as the River Rock Cafe prepares to open at 523 North Main Street.

Marketing Manager Kathy Fearn talks about the new business, detailing it’s origins and operational dynamics.

According to Fearn, Galena resident Joseph Dieschbourg, builder, contractor, and father of six, wanted to help encourage his youngest son Kevin’s musical interest. Kevin and his band “Endless Emotions” found themselves with no venues available for budding young talents in this area.

“It seemed a natural endeavor for Dieschbourg to create a space for local young musicians to gather and play” Fearn said.

Dieschbourg also knew that area teens were limited in the places they could go for live music, dancing, and socialization, so came the creation of “River Rock Cafe” and the “Teen Music Nights” concept. He found the perfect space in Savanna. The old Mississippi Steamer building had been vacant for more than five years and when he saw it he knew it was the right place with its 13 foot ceilings and dance floor.

The alcohol-free “cafe” will have its own house band but also wants to attract other bands of all ages as well as local acoustic musicians. What was once the 20 ft long oval bar has been re-purposed as a stage.

“River Rock will have special nights just for area teens age 14 and up to celebrate music and dance. That is when the music gets turned up, the laser light show begins, and area teens will rock the house.”

The cafe will also feature the latest music videos and games, such as pool, Foosball and air hockey in it’s second floor “Game Rooms” that overlooks the Mississippi River. The Friday and Saturday Teen Music Nights from 7 to midnight will have a $7 cover charge which includes games, dancing, raffles and entertainment. To keep it new and interesting it will have different themes and events. Adult supervision will always be available and security an important element.

“You might also notice when you come to River Rock Cafe it has a ‘green’ thing going,” Fearn added. “With the creation of the business Dieschbourg has tried to practice the earth friendly concept of Reuse, Recycle, and Reduce in every possible way with biodegradable paper products, refurbished furnishings, and energy efficient lighting and sounds equipment. Our decor is made up of and rock and roll memorabilia, vintage posters, old albums, retired musical instruments and all the things that demonstrates our love of all music genres and the planet.”

River Rock Cafe will also be available for private parties and corporate events as well as serve as a great place for dance and exercise classes such as Zumba.

The menu at River Rock will be casual and will be run as a concession. This area of the business is still in development. At this time Dieschbourg is still open to negotiations with interested parties and can contact him through the website: www.riverrocksavanna.com .

The hours of River Rock Cafe will be open Thurs, Friday, and Saturday 4-Midnight. It is due to officially open mid to late July. The “Teen Music Nights” events will be Friday and Saturday 7-midnight.

“Currently the River Rock Cafe staff is made of 7 members,” Fearn said, “and of course you have to include Kevin Dieschbourg’s band of four who have been a valuable asset in helping to build this new music and dance venue.”