Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service is a provider of groceries, supplies and tug assistance based at Mile 557 on the Upper Mississippi River in Bellevue, Iowa.  

As a staple on the river system and a member of the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA), Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service is supporting the upcoming Columbia-Snake River tour.   

“At Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service, we’re proud to sponsor the Columbia-Snake River tour because we believe in the power of connection between our nation’s inland waterways,” Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service President Jeremy Putman said. “Supporting this tour is about more than sponsorship – it’s about strengthening the partnerships and understanding that keep our rivers working for everyone.” 

The original store was opened in 1981 by Jeremy’s parents, Terry and Jean Putman, who named the store The Bellevue Boat Store. With the new name Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service, Putman and his wife, Julie, bought the store his parents once owned. It currently operates out of Locks two through eight, Locks 12 and 13 on the Upper Mississippi and runs 12 boats.  

Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service is committed to quality from the short turnaround times on deliveries to last-minute order changes. It guarantees the products are fresh when delivered and have been properly handled from their dock to the customer’s refrigerator. Their specially built delivery boats have freezers onboard to properly maintain temperatures, and the delivery vans and trucks have refrigeration units as well. 

Putman is the former president of UMWA and currently serves as the chairman of the organization. 

The Columbia-Snake River Tour is following last year’s successful tour of the Mississippi by the Columbia-Snake River “Dam Heroes.” The participants will learn about utilization, importance, opportunities and issues faced on the rivers. UMWA members will promote the same for the Upper Mississippi.  

“This tour is a great opportunity for stakeholders across regions to sit down, ride the river together, and learn from one another,” Putman said. “The challenges faced in the Columbia-Snake system may be different in nature from those on the Upper Mississippi, but the underlying issues – navigation, reliability, infrastructure investment and economic impact—are shared. This kind of collaboration helps us speak with a stronger, unified voice at the national level and that’s a major win for UMWA and the entire inland waterways system.”