Joni Ernst Names Cobblestone Ballroom Buena Vista County Small Business of Week

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst named Cobblestone Ballroom & Event Center the Small Business of the Week for Buena Vista County, spotlighting a decades-long revival that has returned a once-dormant landmark to community use. The recognition, announced in a Senate press release dated February 2, 2026, highlights the venue’s restoration and ongoing role as a gathering place for live music, weddings and other events.

Founded in 1929, Cobblestone was once a regional hub for dining, dancing and live performance, at times drawing crowds of more than a thousand and welcoming acts that local reporting says included Louis Armstrong. The building suffered a fire in 1945 and closed in 1986, after which it "sat boarded up for nearly four decades" before a 2022 purchase by two local families. Jennifer and Chad Hustedt and Natalie and Nathan Schumann bought the property and began extensive renovations intended to preserve the ballroom’s character while reopening it to the public.

Sen. Joni Ernst, chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, praised the owners’ work in the official announcement, saying, "Cobblestone has succeeded in bringing people together with their delicious food, live events, and beautiful venues." Ernst also noted the owners’ restoration efforts, adding, "Through hard work and dedication, the Schumanns and Hustedts have restored a historic space for the Buena Vista County community to come together and create joyful memories." The recognition is part of a 119th Congress initiative in which Ernst plans to name a small business in each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Local coverage and social media framed the venue slightly differently on place names: a Storm Lake-area Facebook post congratulated "Cobblestone Ballroom of Storm Lake," while a local news feed headlined the item as "Lakeside’s Cobblestone Honored as Iowa Small Business of the Week." All sources consistently place the business in Buena Vista County; reporters should confirm municipal address for event listings and promotion.

Economically, the return of Cobblestone signals a local multiplier effect: restored event venues typically boost demand for catering, lodging, retail and related services when they host weddings, concerts and community nights such as trivia. For Buena Vista County this can translate into more weekend visitors, increased local spending and a stronger sales-tax base tied to hospitality activity. The senator’s recognition can also raise the venue’s profile for regional bookings and partnerships.

For residents, the restored ballroom adds entertainment and event capacity to the county’s offerings while preserving a piece of local history. Expect Cobblestone to continue scheduling live music, trivia nights and weddings; its owners say their mission is "to honor the building’s history while making it a vibrant space for future generations." As the spring event season approaches, that combination of heritage and activity could mean more nights out and more local business for Buena Vista.