CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Save CR Heritage, a nonprofit committed to preserving historic resources through education, assistance, advocacy and action, is moving into the next phase of its latest project.

Last August, the group signed closing documents for the historic Zastera Pharmacy building, at 1135-1137 Ellis Blvd. NW. The 1920’s brick building had only been used for storage since the record 2008 flood.

Save CR Heritage will use the storefront to sell its vintage doors, windows and other architectural materials, and create space for art displays, popup shops and more to uplift the neighborhood.

As an all-volunteer organization, members use their own time to continue ongoing advocacy efforts for at-risk properties, while at the same time, working to find contractors who can bring the building up to code and raising money for those building upgrades.

The Board of Directors extends its deep appreciation for three entities providing grants that are being used towards those efforts: Linn County’s Economic & Community Development Fund; the UFG Foundation and the Bloomhall Family Competitive Donor-Advised Fund through the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

All three grants will help transform the Zastera Pharmacy building into an architectural salvage shop and community hub for the historic northwest Cedar Rapids Time Check neighborhood, which is still recovering after natural disasters.

Without community partnerships such as these, Save CR Heritage would not have the resources for the costly building upgrades, estimated at more than $100,000.

Additionally, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Alternatives Program provided a cost-share for door and window display racks.

Already, the building has been stabilized and work has begun on repairing the original pressed tin ceiling.

More funding is needed as the nonprofit moves into its next phase, with HVAC, plumbing, masonry, flooring and electrical system updates to bring the storefront up to code.

To that end, the nonprofit is reaching out to the community, with its Brick-by-Brick Finish Line & Salvage Sale.

The event will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the J.E. Halvorson House, 606 Fifth Ave. SE, which coincides with the group’s monthly sale of vintage sinks, doorknobs, doors, windows and more, rescued from buildings slated for demolition.

Donors of $100 or more will receive a brick with a Czech connection – from the Sykora Bakery auction in Czech Village – to pay tribute to the first owner of the Zastera Pharmacy, the son of Bohemian immigrants. Your name will also be included on the Save CR Heritage website and donor wall at the shop. As an added bonus, donors at that level or higher will be invited to an exclusive sneak preview before the grand opening!

If you cannot attend the March 21 event, but would like to help with the next phase of the project, contributions can be made online at: savecrheritage.org/donate or mailed directly to:
Save Cedar Rapids Heritage, P.O. Box 1134,Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-1134.

For donations of $100 and more, please indicate the name to be included on the donor wall. If you’d like to help out with the actual work, let us know if you’d like to join the Save CR Heritage volunteer crew by sending an email to: savecrheritage@gmail.com

Save CR Heritage received a major gift from the Hall-Perrine Foundation to fund the purchase of the building, along with Emily Meyer of New Leaf Historic Properties, a founding board member of Save CR Heritage, who provided a generous matching gift to inspire others to donate toward the building purchase, and more than 100 businesses, individuals and community groups.

See the full list of donors.