Over the last 160 years the 300 block of East 4th Street in Waterloo has always been the location of "public houses" of one kind or another (some operated legally and some not). When Irishman, downtown developer and City Attorney Jim Walsh first moved to the Cedar Valley 30 years ago he tried to find an authentic Irish Pub in the area. Sadly, there was none to be found.

Walsh was a frequent traveler and had spent many hours in fine Irish establishments in Dublin, London, Cairo, Athens, Rome, New York City and Washington D.C. In all these and even in Sydney, Australia and especially his hometown of Chicago, authentic Irish Pub's are a well appreciated but not a rare find. he couldn't understand why the Cedar Valley didn't have a Pub and was determined to fix that problem.  He was not, however, in a position that would allow him to own and operate one and had to be patient.

In the fullness of time along came Buck Clark who worked with Walsh as a City Councilman and had an Irish name and a knack for operating fine drinking and eating establishments. A bargain was struck and Jameson's (named after Clark's grandson) began to come to life. Walsh owned the old Oddfellows Hall, an 1890's 3 story building on the 300 block of east 4th Street. It had a dance school and a pawn shop in it and was the perfect spot for a grand and authentic Irish Pub. Clark agreed to rent the premises and own and operate the Pub. With Walsh's financial assistance from a Dublin company that helps design Pub's, fine old woods from an 18th century barn, and the able assistance of skilled and creative local craftsmen...Jameson's was born just before St. Patrick's Day of 2006.

Jameson's was designed and integrated into the venerable old building as a comfortable combination of the "country cottage pub" and the "traditional shot pub" examples of which are found in every neighborhood, town and country crossroad in Ireland and which follow the Irish wherever they have emigrated over the centuries. It is the only authentic Irish Pub in the Cedar Valley and has a superb selection of authentic Irish beers on tap along with full traditional selections of "Uisce Beatha" (Whiskey... the"water of life"), an ever changing menu
of familiar Irish and American foods, and
a variety of traditional Irish music.

After a two generation of decline and neglect the East 4th Street area is rebounding and rebuilding with restaurants, taverns, public improvements and people. Jameson's is a key ingredient in this renaissance and will be the stopping place for Irish fellowship, fine food and traditional Irish entertainment for many decades to come. Fearadh na Failte (Welcome)!