Lefty’s Club tavern preparing to reopen under new ownership
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By Olivia West
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — A familiar name is preparing to return to the Mount Ayr business community as Lefty’s Club Tavern gets ready to reopen under new ownership.
The longtime tavern, located at 111 E. Madison St., closed its doors in May of 2025 after more than seven decades of serving as a gathering place for Mount Ayr residents and visitors. Now, new owners are working to remodel the establishment and bring Lefty’s back to life.
The new ownership plans to maintain the spirit and tradition that made Lefty’s a local favorite while bringing a fresh energy to the business.
“We’re your classic sports bar and local hangout,” new owner Nick Taylor said, describing the plans for the business.
The remodeled tavern will feature several televisions, drinks and a laid-back atmosphere designed to give customers a place to gather, watch sports and spend time with friends.
Lefty’s is expected to open once remodeling is complete, with an opening date yet to be announced.
While the look and ownership may be changing, ownership said the goal is to keep the spirit of Lefty’s alive.
That spirit has been part of Mount Ayr since 1953, when Carroll Porter “Lefty” Geist and Donald “Joe” Sobotka purchased the Club Bar Tavern. Geist eventually bought out Sobotka’s share, and the business became known as Lefty’s Club Tavern.
The building itself has an even longer history. Built in 1897, it originally housed the office and plant of The Twice-A-Week News, ironically a prohibitionist newspaper. The building later served as a meat market, grocery store, electrical supply company and harness shop before becoming a tavern.
Lefty, who was born in Ellston in 1919, was a well-known baseball player before becoming a Mount Ayr businessman. At age 17, he signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles) and later played first base for the Mount Ayr Vets. He continued playing and managing the team while operating the tavern.
Lefty’s became a pioneer among Mount Ayr taverns. When liquor by the drink became legal in Iowa in the 1960s, it became the first tavern in Mount Ayr to serve mixed drinks. It was also the first to install bar stools, a jukebox and a television.
The business expanded in the 1960s with the opening of “The Attic” upstairs, where live music was performed. Lefty also purchased the Q Club pool hall in 1966.
In 1988, after 35 years of running the tavern, Lefty turned the business over to his son Crae Geist, who had started working around the tavern as a teenager and began bartending in 1975. He went on to operate Lefty’s for another 37 years.
During Crae’s years behind the bar, Lefty’s became a hub of social activity. Pitcher’s Pool, 13-run Pool, chili cook-offs, televised sporting events, holiday gatherings, bachelor and bachelorette parties, class reunions and other events regularly brought customers through the doors.
Wedding parties often made Lefty’s a stop before heading to their receptions, and the tavern even welcomed two large groups of RAGBRAI riders over the years.
One of Lefty’s most unusual traditions was the “smart table.”
The table originally sat in the kitchen of the Geist family home before being moved to the tavern in the 1960s. According to local legend, the table increases the I.Q. of those who sit there.
“The longer you sit there, the smarter you get,” Crae said with a laugh. “We’ve even had a few graduates.”
Supposedly, the educational process could be accelerated by placing a pitcher of beer in the center of the table.
The walls of Lefty’s also became a collection of local history, decorated with baseball memorabilia, photographs, vintage advertising, antiques and other items. Even the cash register was an antique.
Crae and his wife, Jodie, eventually decided it was time to retire after his 37 years behind the bar, allowing them to travel and spend more time with family, especially their grandchildren.
Although Lefty passed away in 2001, the tradition he started remained alive through the people who continued to gather at the tavern and the memories created there.
Crae also kept alive one of his father’s favorite sayings to departing customers, “Tell ’em where ya got it.”
Now, a new chapter is set to begin for the historic establishment.
The new owners say Lefty’s will continue to be a place for good times, cold drinks and great company, while offering a refreshed atmosphere for a new generation of customers.
Remodeling is currently underway, and Lefty’s Club Tavern will officially reopen once the work is complete.
