CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — An Italian restaurant that has been a cornerstone on First Avenue for decades abruptly closed this week. Via Sofia’s, originally known as Zio Johno’s, 1125 First Ave. SE, shut its doors Monday, June 10, 2024. Zio Johno’s opened at the site, across from Coe College, in 1984 and would have celebrated […]
You are browsing archives for
Category: Local foods
Demonstrators call for boycott of Hy-Vee...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Just hours after city leaders and Hy-Vee officials released statements regarding short-term remedies for the closure of the First Avenue grocery store and pharmacy in Cedar Rapids, dozens of protesters gathered to demand more. “We don’t want smooth words just for public relations purposes,” said Sophia Joseph, of We Are CR, […]
Cedar Rapids officials announce Hy-Vee w...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — City leaders who met with Hy-Vee officials to discuss concerns about the closure of the First Avenue store next month expressed hope in interim solutions. “Our meeting with community leaders last week identified priorities to ensure residents can continue to access essential services after the store closes,” Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said […]
New Pioneer Food Co-op hires homegrown C...
The New Pioneer Food Co-op Board of Directors announced Aug. 25 that Cedar Rapids store leader Patrick Brickel has been hired as New Pi’s new CEO. “We feel tremendously lucky that we had a remarkably qualified and dedicated CEO candidate already in place, and eager to lead, who is a highly-respected, productive, longtime member of […]
West African restaurant makes move in Ce...
NOTE: Tee’s Liberian Dish, 529 Fifth Ave. SE, is open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12:30-8 p.m. Saturdays. Call (319) 364-0105 for catering and special orders. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — It’s definitely not another fast-food joint. Tee’s Liberian Dish uses totally fresh ingredients in its authentic West African cuisine, making the […]
Iowa Organic Conference returns to Iowa ...
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Organic Conference returns Nov. 20-21, 2022, to Iowa City for its annual event. This year’s theme is “Building Resiliency through Biodiversity and Conservation in Organic Farming,” with keynote speaker, Rattan Lal, World Food Prize Laureate and professor of soil science at Ohio State University, speaking on “Why Soil Quality […]
Moving on: Cedar Rapids restaurant reloc...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — In the five years since opening her dream restaurant at the edge of downtown Cedar Rapids, Jess Johnson has endured the pandemic, Iowa’s hurricane-strength derecho and almost a year of road closures that continue to nearly envelop her business. Even as her restaurant, Runt’s Munchies, has managed to survive, Johnson decided […]
A century later, neighborhood corner sto...
By Cindy Hadish/for the Corridor Business Journal Curtis Odom was happy to buy bacon and a dozen eggs during a quick stop not far from his home in northwest Cedar Rapids. The North Liberty business owner had driven by the Cultivate Hope Corner Store, 604 Ellis Blvd. NW, almost daily in his commute, and finally […]
Cedar Rapids Donutland to fill hole as f...
CEDAR RAPIDS — The long-anticipated reopening of the Donutland in southwest Cedar Rapids is almost close enough to taste. With a previous target of late March or early April 2022, the opening of the site, at 2606 Williams Blvd. SW, is now predicted for late April. See final photos of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids […]
Final days for downtown Iowa City restau...
IOWA CITY — A restaurant with roots both in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids will be closing its doors soon. Dumpling Darling, 213 Iowa Ave., announced this week its last day of business will be Dec. 19, 2021. Founder Lesley Rish started selling Asian-style steamed dumplings at the Iowa City Farmers Market in 2014 after […]