Drinks Will Hit ‘The Spot’ At New Bar In Downtown Davenport

There's a new bar in downtown Davenport that wants to be 'The Spot' for you and your friends to have a drink after work or on the weekends. Luckily, when you say "Let's meet at the spot," your friends won't have to decipher some crazy code you're trying to say because it's called The Spot Bar & Lounge.

The new owner and her staff are serving up cold beer, delicious cocktails, and friendly service The Spot. Before you head to downtown Davenport's newest bar, let me introduce you to the owner and give you a look inside The Spot.

Jealousy is a bad trait to have, but if there is one person I can firmly say I'm jealous of, it would be Katlin Rodriguez. Not to make this all about me, but opening a bar has been a dream of mine and has been one for her too. With the opening of The Spot, she has accomplished that dream.

Meet Davenport's Newest Bar Owner

Katlin Rodriguez, 26, is the newest bar owner of The Spot Bar & Lounge (226 W 3rd St) in downtown Davenport which opened on April 1, 2023. The Pleasant Valley High School class of 2014 alumn and Bettendorf native is using her bartending and restaurant managing experience to create an atmosphere that everyone can enjoy when they walk in.

Before opening The Spot, Katlin began working at The Ridge in 2020 under owners Johnna and Austin Chesney. Katlin says she credits General Manager Ryan Dunn-Reicks for her growth and knowledge from her time at The Ridge. She also has restaurant managing experience from her time at the Steel Plow Burger Company location in Moline.

Katlin lived in Nashville, TN for two years and during her time there, she and her friends would always meet at their spot, or as they called it, "the spot", which is the inspiration for the bar's name.

The Inspiration For The Spot

When asked what the inspiration for naming her new bar The Spot, Katlin said,

"I used to live in Nashville. When I was 21, I was always on Broadway and I always wanted a bar down there. If I opened a bar there, I would think what would the name be and I thought "The spot". All of our friends when we said we were going to go somewhere, we'd say "Oh, let’s meet up at the spot" and it would just be a certain bar that we always go to."

Katlin said since that's what her bar would be named would be in Nashville if she opened one, that's what she wanted to name a bar when she opened one in the Quad Cities.

A Look Inside The Spot

Katlin wanted the interior of The Spot to be "moody". On the east wall, you can see a painted sign from the old Kansas City Packing Company. But her decor is primarily all black. She also wanted white counter bartops since no other bar in the Quad Cities has white bartops.

Previously the Coffee Society, Katlin has kept the original ceiling design while giving the inside her own twist, including the selfie wall which you'll see in the gallery below.

The Spot is open 7 days a week and closes every night at 2 a.m. Staff opens the doors at The Spot at 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and at 1 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Katlin said she wants The Spot to be a place where everyone feels welcome and has a great time.

"I hope [The Spot] is a place people want to come to and when they do, they feel welcome. When you come in, people won't stop what they're doing and stare at you. This is a place for everyone to come hang out, have some drinks, and enjoy a great social environment."

With six staff members on hand serving up $3 cans of beer and $5 cooler shots, Katlin and her upbeat bartenders are ready for you to check out The Spot.