CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — It was her dream restaurant, but the owner of Runt’s Munchies in downtown Cedar Rapids looked to the reality of the bottom line in making the difficult decision to close.
The final day for the restaurant, at 118 Second St. SE, is Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or when the food runs out.
“It was not a decision that was made lightly,” owner Jess Johnson said. “It was not an easy choice.”
Johnson said other restaurant owners are in the same boat, and Runt’s was losing money just keeping its doors open.
“It was too slow for too long,” she said, adding that she didn’t want to end up in bankruptcy, a fate other restaurateurs are facing.
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Quirky pig decor is seen Oct. 10, 2025, at Runt’s Munchies in downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Instead, Johnson said she plans to get a job and pay off the debt, with no intent to reopen Runt’s Munchies.
Originally opened in 2017 at 529 Fifth Ave. SE, Johnson relocated blocks away to the former site of the Blue Strawberry in 2022.
Quirky pig motif decor and the “case of yum” to hold her decadent cookies, bars, cupcakes and other treats, made the move to the new location.
Salted caramel blondies and strawberry pie cookies are among the final treats served at Runt’s Munchies. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Over the years, Runt’s Munchies — named after Johnson’s childhood nickname — overcame the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa’s 2020 hurricane-strength derecho and months of construction at its former location.
Besides her beloved desserts, such as pistachio cupcakes, salted caramel blondies and mocha chocolate scones, the restaurant specialized in breakfast items, as well as wraps, egg rolls and modestly priced lunch specials with side dishes.
More: Restaurant relocating in wake of ongoing road closures
See more photos of one of the restaurant’s final days:
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