Don’t Scotch The Scotch Egg! Blue Cat Fans Offer Pitches For Big Swing Menu
Will the Scotch Egg be scotched? Will the soups survive? And will Arkham Stout be in, or out?
Blue Cat Brew Pub will close its doors tonight, after 24 years in business, and soon, a new brew pub, Big Swing, will take its place after a few weeks of renovations.
It’s still up in the air as to what Blue Cat menu items will be kept around beyond its demise. Brew master Dan Cleaveland will remain on staff for at least a year with the new venue, bringing his 60-plus beer recipes with him, so the chances of the BC brews still popping up in the new spot are high.
But what about the food?
As reported exclusively on QuadCities.com over the past two weeks, the new owners of Rock Island’s Blue Cat Brew Pub, soon to be the Big Swing Brew Pub, are local real estate developers John Timmer, Shane Scott and Jon McAtee, according to a number of sources who asked not to be identified, and 
verified through city documents and applications. The sale to the trio was also confirmed Friday by Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, during recording of an episode of the podcast QCUNCUT.
The trio are the creative and financial force behind the new Backyard Bowl and Abides Bar, in the old Milan Lanes building, 2020 1st St. W Milan.
When asked about the sale, Timmer said, “we can’t confirm or deny it at this time.”
That said, sources close to the situation said that the trio are still putting together the menu for Big Swing, which will feature some old favorites from Blue Cat along with some new items that mirror those on the menu at Backyard Bowl, and some other surprises.
We at QuadCities.com have our own favorites we’d love to see saved, and we know you do as well, so we threw it out there this week, asking Blue Cat fans to tell us which menu items they’d like to see stick around, so that we could pass that along to the new owners, and put it out there for potential inclusion in the Big Swing’s lineup.
One item that fans don’t want scotched is the Scotch Egg, one of the more unique and popular eats on the slate.
“I want my scotch egg!” said Paul Ferguson on our facebook page. “Also the sausage plate.”
Ferguson wasn’t alone, as many others put their eggs in the Egg basket.
“The meatloaf,” added Broc Nelson, echoing the feelings of many others on the Chazz Reinhold wagon.
“Mediterranean Melange!!!” insisted Constance King, and several others noting that delicious and fresh selection.
Personally? I’m hoping they keep around the meatloaf, the blackened catfish alfredo, the unusual burgers (including the one with goat cheese and cranberries), vegetarian options and the soups, including the tomato with coconut and tomato with blue cheese.
As for beverages people want to keep around?
The fresh and light Coriander and Orange was mentioned quite a bit, along with the aforementioned Arkham Stout, and one more which seemed to tickle the fancy of the local theater crowd and beyond.
“Tuck’s Tenacious Trippel needs to be there,” agreed many folks, including Dustin Oliver, Andy Daggett and more.
How many will make the cut? Time will tell. But one thing is for sure – you can still get those items and more today, during Blue Cat’s last day and night in business.
As Tyler told me last night at the bar, with a smile, “we’ll be open until we close.”
The Backstory:
It was first exclusively reported on QuadCities.com that Blue Cat had been sold two weeks ago. It was additionally reported that the Cat would be renamed Big Swing, which would open later this fall after a renovation period following Blue Cat’s closing on Aug. 31.
As reported exclusively on QuadCities.com over the past two weeks, the new owners of Rock Island’s Blue Cat Brew Pub, soon to be the Big Swing Brew Pub, are local real estate developers John Timmer, Shane Scott and Jon McAtee, according to a number of sources who asked not to be identified, and verified through city documents and applications. The sale to the trio was also confirmed Friday by Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, during recording of an episode of the podcast QCUNCUT.
The trio are the creative and financial force behind the new Backyard Bowl and Abides Bar, in the old Milan Lanes building, 2020 1st St. W Milan.
When asked about the sale, Timmer said, “we can’t confirm or deny it at this time.”
According to sources close to the deal at the Blue Cat, the word had gotten out among employees there, as well as city employees, that the trio were the buyers.
According to additional sources, the trio were waiting to make an official announcement “out of respect for (Blue Cat owners and founders) Dan and Martha (Cleaveland), because (the trio) want to let them close out the Blue Cat in their own way on their own terms without any distractions.”
According to sources, an official announcement of the new ownership and comments on its new direction will be made after Aug. 31. However, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the deal and the new direction of the pub and restaurant, the changes to both will not be overly dramatic, and will 
mostly include a refurbishing of the existing décor and an extension of the beverage and food menu which will include many of the old Blue Cat favorites while incorporating new selections. There will also be “a definite nod to the history of the Blue Cat” within the décor and atmosphere, sources said. There are also additional potential plans in store, which cannot be revealed at this time, but which will soon be reported here on QuadCities.com.
The restaurant and brewery, in the heart of the District, at 113 18th St., was one of the first brew pubs in the Quad-Cities, opening in 1994. It blazed the trail for many other pubs of its ilk and visual style, and includes an eclectic menu of intriguing food and beverages.
For continued coverage and more details, continue to check out your site for fun, free, local entertainment news and coverage, QuadCities.com.
