Elbridge Gerry Potter traveled up and down the Mississippi River searching for just the right spot to build his flourmill before establishing Potter’s Mill in Bellevue, IA in 1843. At the south end of the river, called the Delta – the blues was born. Gradually, this music made its way back up the Mississippi to be heard by all. Today, if you want to hear blues just a stone’s throw from the waters of the mighty Mississippi, you can head to Potter’s Mill and the Flatted Fifth Blues Bar, where every weekend they feature some of the nation’s best blues bands and some of the area’s finest Southern-style food.
Potter’s Mill is the oldest flourmill in Iowa, operating until 1969. In 1980, the building was purchased by Daryll and Carolyn Eggers, who renovated it and transformed it into a supper club, the Potter’s Mill Restaurant. In August of 2014, Rachel and Mark Herman bought it and opened Flatted Fifth Blues & BBQ.
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