WATERLOO -- The landmark 94-year-old Black's Building, and downtown Waterloo as a whole, are about to get a big-time shot in the arm.

Cedar Falls restaurateur Darin Beck and Donna Nelson, managing partner of the firm that owns the Black's Building, announced plans to locate a Bourbon Street restaurant and Voodoo Lounge bar in the building, similar to the ones in downtown Cedar Falls.

In addition, Beck and Nelson announced plans to re-open the building's eighth-floor Sky Room, known to past generations as the Tea Room, to accommodate special events for up to 200 people.

Renovation is anticipated to be completed so the restaurant, lounge and Sky Room all open by September.

The project represents a major development for the structure built by James Black in 1913-14. It housed his namesake department store for 70 years.

The project represents an investment of about $1 million to $2 million and is anticipated to create between 90 and 120 jobs.

More than that, it will provide another anchor to the emerging "entertainment district" along East Fourth Street in downtown Waterloo, which includes venues like CU restaurant and Jameson's Public House.

For Nelson, of Nelson Properties, it represents a highly visible development in the rejuvenation of the Black's Building, already the site of a major upper-floor condominium project and an expanded Social Security Administration office.

"We feel the first and the eighth floors are probably the two most important parts of our building, so we had to make sure we had the right fit," Nelson said. "In finding somebody, we went through a lot of restaurant people and did a lot of research. We feel Darin really has the vision and the expertise to make it happen, to handle this large a venue -- a 20,000-square-foot facility. The Sky Room and the first floor, the two of them, that's a pretty big venue.

"I worked in the Black's Tea Room when I was in high school, after school and on weekends," Nelson said. "So I knew what it was like in its glory days and just wanted to bring it back to its former glory. I wanted to be sure whatever we did, we did it the right way. Darin has the vision. We think it's a perfect fit."

The successful Techline office interior business now occupying the first-floor corner space at East Fourth and Sycamore streets will relocate within the building to make room for the Beck's establishments, which will be part of his Barmuda company.

"Donna has been after me for a number of years to look at doing a restaurant in downtown," Beck said. "We've been engineering this deal for about two years. It's been a long time in the making.

"Finding the right location has always been a big deal with us," Beck said. "We looked at the ground floor of the Black's Building and said, 'If you can get Techline to move over to a different spot, we might have something.' Techline was very accommodating, so we could have the whole first floor with its wide expanse and the beautiful columns. I knew we wanted to do it really grand.

"The pillars and the mezzanine are perfect," Beck said of the building's first-floor features. "We're going to go the distance, and we're going to do it right."

Additionally, Beck said, there is a shortage of space for private parties and special events . He said the Park Place Events Centre in Cedar Falls, which his company runs, has bookings up to two years in advance, and other venues are seeing similar business . The Sky Room will provide that additional space.

"There isn't a better place in Waterloo to do this, and the view is spectacular," Beck said.

Beck and Nelson said they also want the project to complement the investment others have made in downtown Waterloo, including Mike and Joni Hollen with CU, and former City Council member Buck Clark with Jameson's.

Beck said his company is working out details of an agreement with the city of Waterloo to provide adequate parking for both employees and customers.

"I've asked for some serious consideration on a number of issues that will help the people who work downtown, and help the people who visit downtown park close to the venue they want to be at," Beck said.

Any agreement will require City Council approval.

"We are honored to have Darin Beck and Barmuda commit to downtown Waterloo," Mayor Tim Hurley said. "Having a successful man like Darin bring his concepts to Waterloo only shows how far Waterloo has come."

Beck also operates Beck's Sports Brewery on University Avenue in Waterloo.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com