On Monday, Sept. 15, The Smoking Dog Pub in downtown Rock Island reopened after being closed for renovations since June 2025. This was followed by the completion of the City of Rock Island’s downtown project, Rebuild Downtown Rock Island, which was revealed to the local community on Sept. 25.
Since 2023, the downtown Rock Island district has lost three nightlife spots that were frequently visited by Augustana students: 2nd Avenue Dance Club, Rock Island Brewing Company (RIBCO) and Galleries in the District. These losses, coupled with the city’s prolonged construction, have changed the college’s nightlife scene, with many students now enjoying their nights across the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, Iowa.
The Smoking Dog originally opened its doors in 2013, serving as a staple late-night spot for both community and student groups. Owner Kyle Born said the district pub closed temporarily over the summer due to the ongoing road work outside of the bar by the City of Rock Island.
Born said this construction included removing the road and sidewalks to redo the plumbing under the street, making the bar less accessible and desirable to patrons. The work continued till August, leading to Born’s decision to upgrade the pub’s inside while closed, he said.
During this time, Born said Smoking Dog installed new sound and lighting to create a more fun experience for guests. Additionally, the new street layout designed by the city may now allow the surrounding bars to hold street concerts, he said.
Born said he is hoping the new renovations, both inside and outside of the district pub, help attract more patrons and bring back Augustana students and student groups. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said many bars in the area have struggled to stay afloat, with pandemic restrictions on bars not lifted until 2023.
“We lost about five [bars]. There used to be 2nd Avenue, RIBCO, Daiquiri Factory, The Arena, MD Greens and a bar restaurant called Galleries,” Born said. “They all moved, but some of them are coming back under new ownership… When you lose that many over the course of a couple of years, you have a lot less opportunities.”
Senior Luci Pelletier said Augie’s nightlife scene has changed a lot throughout her four years at Augustana, with the most drastic switch occurring at the middle of her sophomore year when the Rock Island district lost 2nd Avenue and RIBCO. By the end of her sophomore year, she said many students and student groups began spending their nights in downtown Davenport instead.
“All I have to say is, bring back Smoking Dog!,” Pelletier said.
Pelliter is a member of the sorority Delta Chi Theta and said prior to these losses, most Greek Life groups held their events in the downtown Rock Island district; but, she said that is not the case anymore, with most late-night parties now occurring across the river in Davenport.
She also agreed with Born that the city’s work downtown also turned away many patrons and students.
“You couldn’t walk through [downtown Rock Island]. The bus couldn’t pull up to the bars anymore, and you didn’t know where you were getting picked up at,” Pelletier said. “I think a lot of people steered away due to safety concerns, such as gravel and open holes. How is that going to look if someone gets hurt at your group’s event because of that?”
Many Augustana students, such as Pelletier, preferred traveling to downtown Rock Island thanks to the college’s partnership with the MetroLink, which offers free rides with a student ID. However, since the addition of the $5 party bus to downtown Davenport, Pelletier said many students who formerly avoided traveling across the river, due to transportation costs and concerns, now utilize this weekend bus.
But, Pelletier said she doesn’t trust the party bus and has always felt safer in the Rock Island district. Not only are the pubs there closer to home, but she said the late-night staff, such as Smoking Dog’s, knows many Augustana groups personally and makes an effort to ensure all students feel safe and comfortable throughout the night.
In celebration of the bar’s reopening, Augustana’s fraternity Gamma Alpha Beta (GAB) hosted a “Welcome Back Bash” on the night of Friday, Oct. 3. Each spring, GAB has collaborated with The Smoking Dog to host its annual Buckethead event since 2015.
Smoking Dog Manager Jorge Ambriz ‘17 was formerly a member of the GAB fraternity and has worked with current GAB President, senior Colin Roque, to plan and coordinate Greek Life parties, such as the Welcome Back Bash. Roque said GAB members helped set up and work the late-night event.
The party featured DJ Katherine, drink tickets to the first 30 guests and discounted speciality shots, according to the graphic. Roque said the event was a great way to spread the word about the bar’s reopening and bring students back to downtown Rock Island.
“I’m glad to see Augustana students excited to be there.. Just hoping that GAB and Smoking Dog can provide a great experience for everyone and that we just make it happen,” Roque said.
With the completion of Rebuild Rock Island, Born said he is hopeful for the future of the district, with upgraded spaces and talk of many new or returning businesses coming to the area, such as RIBCO. He said he has been in contact with the new owner of RIBCO, who is actively working to reopen the bar and grill.
Born said he hopes to work with bars, such as RIBCO, to help bring the community back together.
“Now that Rock Island is growing, and there’s new businesses coming all around us…it’s great to see RIBCO will be opening up again…right across the street from me. I heard it’s going to be a bar restaurant,” Born said. “There’s about three or four things in the works from my neighbors alone.”
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misspelled Pelletier.
