Collette’s, a new piano bar at 317 W. 3rd St., Davenport, to open Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.
Managed by Bill Sheeder and owned by his sister Tammy, who bought the three-story building (across from The Capitol Theatre, and next to Daiquiri Factory) in May 2025.
“We’ve already been bombarded with requests to host private parties,” Sheeder said a week before opening, as the 1,900-square-foot space was in full build-out, chaotic renovation mode. “We’re still working on it.”
The previously vacant space in the 1913 building is being totally transformed, with black walls, laminate-wood style flooring, a new stage, new lighting, restrooms and a bar in progress. The two pianos are electric Yamaha keyboards placed within black piano-like bodies.
So far, it’s booked for Nov. 21-22, the day before Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and the weekend after, about 6 p.m. to midnight each night. Typically, Collette’s will be open to the public Fridays and Saturdays, and then rented for private events.
Performers for the dueling pianos will be “kind of pricey,” since they’re mainly not local, Sheeder said, but he plans on featuring local musicians for private functions.
“If people want it catered, and they can rent out the bar for a minimal fee,” he said. “We’re looking at a lot of parties in December, and parties during the week.”
Sheeder has run a few Davenport businesses in the past, including BREW and Baked in the Village of East Davenport, and Toasted (on West 4th Street, which closed in 2023), and his ex-wife owns Cookies & Dreams.
“My sister wanted to help me get back into doing some things,” he said. “Since I’ve got a pretty lengthy resume in retail buildouts – building out several restaurants and cookie stores over the years, we needed a tenant for this empty space. I felt dueling pianos is something I could make happen for her building.”
There are 24 apartments in the building, and Bill is managing it.
“It’s a simple but really fun concept,” he said of dueling pianos, where energetic performers sing and take requests. “I’ve been in business long enough in the Quad Cities to know kind of right from wrong.”
“We had a pretty good reputation of things we’ve done, we’ve accomplished down here,” Sheeder said. “We’re not trying to open a bar every night, but have events on the weekend that we schedule, and events we host for people who want to host them.”
Sheeder also manages an apartment complex on 6th Street in Davenport.
He’s enjoyed dueling pianos, including the old Nan’s at The Freight House and Howl at the Moon, a national franchise in several cities like Chicago and Kansas City.
“A lot of the players we’re booking have resumes at places like that,” Sheeder said. “They play everything from Taylor Swift to Billy Joel.”
A childhood friend (fellow 1999 Rock Island High grad), Paul Seiz, is helping him book talent. He was musical director at Howl at the Moon in Kansas City for 10 years, and has been doing dueling pianos 25 years.
“I’m Sheeder and he’s Seiz, so our lockers were next to each other,” Bill said.
Collette’s will have tables and chairs (for about 45-50), and a cover usually $15. The standing capacity would be 89 people, Sheeder said. The shows will typically be 7-10 p.m.
“It should be a lot of fun. We’re trying to keep it interesting,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it fun for people.”
He’s gotten lots of calls for companies and other groups to schedule holiday parties. “I got like 15 the last day,” Sheeder said.
Collette’s is named after his mother, who died in 2004. “She loved music,” he said.
Dueling pianos have been a regular feature at the Circa ’21 Speakeasy in downtown Rock Island for many years, and Windy City Dueling Pianos last had a show there Nov. 15, and will next perform at the Speakeasy Saturday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.
The new Davenport place has a sound system run by Kellen Myers, a veteran keyboard player who runs Myers Productions (offering sound, lighting, staging, video, power, and DJ services). In addition to the QC, he has played a lot in New Orleans and the Chicago area.
“It’s a special kind of beast,” Myers said of dueling pianos. “I just like music. I like people and music and being around other people. I think it will be something good to try out. We are creating something cool around here.”
Sheeder expects some events will have drums and bass. Seiz brought in the new keyboards, based on what Howl at the Moon uses.
“It’s high energy, interactive crowd,” he said, noting they’re also planning a New Year’s Eve show, Wednesday night, Dec. 31.
Sheeder also likes the new two-way traffic on 3rd Street, which launched Nov. 6 (after being eastbound only for decades).
“It’s a transition, but I love it,” he said, noting he served on the Downtown Davenport Partnership as it was being planned and implemented.
To book a party at Collette’s and for more information, visit colletteslive.com.
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