Tie dyed artwork on display also helps remind visitors of past Jerry Days.

Though it pays homage to the band, Byron's is much like any other small town bar, where locals strike up conversations while knocking them back.

Several artists who have played here have gone on to fame, landing record deals and appearances on late-night TV talk shows.

During a recent visit to Byron's, the Journal sat down to talk with Stuart, as non-Grateful Dead tunes played in the background.

Q: Tell us about how you got into the bar business.

A: This building was built in 1893, and it's been a bar ever since. It had been closed for about three months before I bought it on auction 13 1/2 years ago. I'd been a bartender in (Pomeroy) for about 30 years, and I was a bartender in (nearby) Knierim for three months. When this bar came up for sale, I decided I was either going to buy this bar or the one in Knierim. I'm kind of glad I got this one.

Q: Where did all your Dead memorabilia come from?

A: I told myself I wasn't going to make it into a Grateful Dead tribute bar. The day I opened some girls gave me a framed Grateful Dead t-shirt. It's gotten out of hand since then.

A lot of the stuff I just picked up through catalogs and stuff. A bit of the stuff people just bring in and say, 'We saw this and thought of you.' ''

Q: Dead Heads are known for following the band from city to city.

A: I got to see the Grateful Dead nine times. (Guitarist Jerry) Garcia died right before I bought this place. I've seen them twice since then, after they got back together. I recently saw them in Denver.

Q: What's your memories of their heyday?

A: The people watching a Grateful Dead show were just amazing -- out in the parking lot, selling stuff. It was such a fun time. I think a lot of it was the time they were playing was just peace and love instead of war.

Q: What's the atmosphere like in your own business?

A: This bar is much more peace and love than fighting or anything like that. I highly discourage fighting and tell anyone who does to leave.

I just think there's an ora about the place. I have a lot of bands tell me it has a good vibe.

Q: What's your favorite Dead icon?

A: Steal Your Face (a red, white, and blue skull with a lightning bolt through it). I thought if I put that on the sign outside the bar some people in town would think that this was a place for devil worship.

Q: So you went with the dancing bears instead?

A: I've had a few people passing through town who saw the bears on the sign and said, 'We just had to stop.' People who are Dead Heads know exactly what that icon is. Everybody else thinks they're just cute little bears.

Q: What's the story behind the tie dye artwork?

A: A good friend of mine (Roger Feldhans of nearby Rockwell City) made all these tie dyes. He's just an amazing artist. He's been doing this since the 1970s. He does stuff with tie dye that I've never seen before. We were going to tie dye the bar once but the paint didn't show up.

I play golf at a country club and I wondered what they thought of me wearing tie dye all the time. One time I didn't wear tie dye and they commented on that.

Q: Who are some of the more notable musical artists who have played at the bar?

A: My first national act was Todd Snider, a singer songwriter from Nashville. He's been on both Leno and Letterman. I also had Walter Trout, one of the best guitar players in the world.

I also had Corey Stevenson, a blues guy out of California. He liked my place so much that he told his management company about me. They called up and asked if I wanted Canned Heat to play here. It just happened to be my 50th birthday weekend. This place was just packed with people. By the end of the night, everybody was just bouncing with the music. I thought the floor was going to fall in.

Q: How did you get so many up-and-coming acts to play in such a small Northwest Iowa town?

A: I don't make selections. They call me. They say, 'I've heard about your place. We'd love to play it.' They hear about my place from other traveling musicians. I've basically just totally lucked out that everybody I get has been very good.

Q: How often do you have live music?

A: I try to keep it to two times month. It's hard to get that many people to come in to make it worthwhile. I usually lose on almost every show. Some shows I lose a lot, which really hurts, but I'm going to keep doing it as long as I can.

I love live music. I get to sit here just two and a half blocks from home and listen to some fantastic music and actually get to talk to the musicians and get to know them.

Q: How is business during the rest of the week?

A: Pomeroy likes to drink. It"s a fun town. All the people are really friendly. I grew up in this town so I knew everybody. They do me well enough during the week that I can afford to lose money during the shows.