The Heidelberg

Some places embody a town. They value the people in it. They keep the traditions. These places create a pulse that beats, pumping energy and life into a city and its people.

 

Located at 410 S. Ninth St., Columbia, Mo., The Heidelberg is one of these places. The Heidelberg, or ‘The Berg’, is a restaurant positioned in Columbia’s downtown, just off the campus of the University of Missouri. A staple of Tiger Country, The Berg mixes locals and students alike, bringing the two together through food, beverages and a feeling of being at home.

 

Forming this feeling of home comes naturally for Owner and Operator of The Heidelberg, Richard Walls. “This (restaurant) is just kind of like a part of our family,” Walls said.

 

The Heidelberg opened in 1963, when his father, Dick Walls, invested into the restaurant with two other guys. His share of the partnership, Walls said, being in sweat equity.

 

All the sweat and hard work paid off.

 

Since opening, The Berg has been up and running for 51 years and counting, adding sons Richard and Rusty as partners to run the business in 2002. The two sons took over the business without missing a beat. Although, Richard Walls admits it is a little harder now.

 

“We have steps now… we have the patio, and we’ve expanded seating,” Walls said. “We’ve added about 150 seats with the rooftop seating.”

 

With all of these additions, Walls said everything is more efficient and overall, a lot newer. With this, he says, it has been a lot busier.

 

With these busier times, ‘The Berg’ still keeps traditions that it has had for years like happy hour Monday through Friday, late night happy hour daily, trivia night every Tuesday night, and a Sunday brunch buffet. These traditions not only help with getting customers coming back week after week, but they bring new customers in as well.

 

But for Walls and the people of Columbia, ‘The Berg’ was almost taken away. On Aug. 18, 2003, a fire burned down ‘The Berg’. The second fire to emblaze the restaurant after a previous fire in 1981 left ‘The Berg’ with heat and smoke damage throughout the restaurant.

 

The fire in 2003 ruined the whole infrastructure and the restaurant was in ashes. The only thing left standing was the front of the restaurant.

 

According to a Columbia Tribune article from Aug. 19, 2003, the fire was estimated to have caused around $250,000 worth of damages. At the time of the fire, ‘The Berg’ was a total loss. Yet, Walls knew there was only one thing he and his family had to do.

 

Rebuild.

 

“Just get it rebuilt. Keep going,” he said.

 

They decided to model the rebuild as a replicate of the original Heidelberg. After rebuilding, ‘The Berg’ reemerged as one of Columbia’s staple restaurants to go to for students, alumni and locals alike.

 

Local guitar player and 14-year customer Christian David-Robinson said he loves the new Heidelberg. “Even though ‘The Berg’ burned down and was rebuilt, it still feels the same.”

 

In a lot of ways, ‘The Berg’ is the same. Since opening, the restaurant has claimed consistency and hard work as the keys to their success. As their website says, “Good food, good service and good company never go out of style.”

 

Today, ‘The Berg’ continues to pump energy into Columbia and the people living in it. It continues to provide a heartbeat, pulsating throughout the world, wherever Mizzou Alumni may be who’s had a drink and shared experiences in ‘The Berg’.

 

“Between 1963 and now, a lot has changed – times – faces – places, but always there is The Heidelberg,” their website states.

 

“I feel like I’m back home here,” Walls said.

 

Home. That’s where one feels when they enter The Heidelberg.