East Dubuque bar helps Galena native in COVID fight

EAST DUBUQUE–Larry Ikonomopoulos, a Galena native and owner of Skinny Maginny’s in Dubuque, Iowa, has been in a fight battling coronavirus and is currently critically ill at University Hospital in Madison, Wis., after being airlifted on Sunday, July 26.

Ikonomopoulos was tested on June 29 after he felt ill and reported on Skinny Maginny’s Facebook page on July 1 that he tested positive and urged people he was in contact with to quarantine.

Ikonomopoulos’s health got worse, and by July 6 was admitted to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital in Dubuque. Five days later, Ikonomopoulos was intubated and placed on a ventilator.

Mike Meyer, owner of The Other Side in East Dubuque, decided to step up and help his friend and fellow bar owner by hosting a fundraiser on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

“Larry is a great guy,” said Ikonomopoulos. “He is an all-around good guy. He is always willing to help out anybody.”

Initially, the plan was to have bar patrons donate spare change and to have people come and round it up to the nearest five dollars and donate that. The idea started spreading and more has been added to the fundraiser.

Southern Comfort has given their support to the cause as well. The first 200 shots of Southern Comfort will be donated in full, a cost of $5 per shot. At Incognito, across the street, they will donate the first 100 moonshine margaritas, a cost of $10 per drink.

Bartenders will also donate all of their tips that evening to Ikonomopoulos and t-shirts will be sold to support the cause. A raffle with donated prizes will also be held.

“Our hope is to help as much as we can,” said Meyer. “I didn’t realize it would get this big. I just initially wanted to bring their spare change. It has become a lot bigger than I expected.”