surly steves
Industry
Entertainment
Scope
Website & Branding
Timeline
8 Weeks
Client Story
Surly Steve’s is a unique bar and venue located in Reinbeck, IA, founded in the fall of 2024. Built by a collective of artists and musicians, the bar is rooted in creativity and community, offering live music, karaoke, games, and more. When they opened their doors, they had the vibe — but not the visibility. That’s where I came in.
The Problem
Autumn Silvers, one of the visionaries behind Surly Steve’s, reached out in early 2025 for help establishing an online presence. With no website and minimal digital exposure, potential patrons couldn’t easily find details about events, location, or the bar’s distinct character. They needed a digital home that captured their laidback yet expressive brand.
The Solution
Over the course of eight weeks, I developed a mobile first website that not only looks great on all devices but also reflects the atmosphere of Surly Steve’s. I created nearly all of the site’s copy, designed a soothing, inviting color palette, and introduced the tagline “Mixing Tradition & Novelty on Main Street in Reinbeck!” I also integrated Google Maps for ease of access and began managing their SEO for long term discoverability.
The Result
Since launch, the website has consistently brought in around 100 monthly visitors — most of whom explore several pages before exiting. With over 64% of traffic coming from mobile, the mobile first design proved key. Surly Steve’s now has a professional digital storefront that matches their creative identity and invites people to experience it firsthand.
Takeaways
This project let me blend design strategy, copywriting, and SEO — all in service of a local business with heart. Creating something from the ground up was deeply rewarding, and the fact that people are staying on the site to explore means the UX is doing its job. I’m proud to be part of Surly Steve’s early story and excited to see where it goes.