Our story

Vinnie’s Longbranch in Fort Madison, Iowa isn’t just a bar — it’s a hometown landmark with a neon-lit heartbeat and a whole lot of history in the walls. It’s the kind of iconic dive bar you don’t try to “recreate”… because you can’t. It’s earned. For decades, Vinnie’s has been the place where the music is loud, the stories are louder, and the good times don’t need dressing up.

The Vincent family’s story at the bar began in 1948 with Earl and Lorraine Vincent. Their daughter, Jackie Vincent, and her husband, Harold Patton, carried the tradition forward. Later, Jackie’s brother, Lewis Vincent, and his wife, Debbie Vincent, took their turn behind the legacy. Lewis was Chris Vincent’s uncle, and today Chris and Tara Vincent are writing the next chapter — four family eras filled with history, hard work, and unforgettable nights.

Live bands have rolled through for years — different sounds, different eras, same vibe — and generation after generation has found their way through those doors for a cold drink, a familiar face, and a night that turns into a memory. And at the center of it all is the Vincent family legacy — not just a name on the sign, but a thread running through many decades and many generations. Vinnie’s is one of those rare spots that feels like it belongs to everyone… while still being unmistakably family.