Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-states. This edition highlights developments in Dubuque; Elizabeth, Ill.; and Cuba City, Wis.

Yaman Salim believes you can learn a lot about a place by eating its food.

A recipe book can double as a sort of history text, she explained, with each sauce being its own story and each ingredient its own chapter. Dinner tables transform into communal spaces for further conversation.

“Eating food from a certain country or region, I feel it offers an education about that place’s history and its customs,” she said. “… When you want to learn, you have to go to the source. Food is one of those sources.”

Salim and her husband, Adib Kassas, hope to open Roses & Berries Cafe in late January at 4340 Asbury Road to curate those sorts of tasty educational experiences for Dubuque-area residents. The cafe will feature a mix of handmade French pastries and savory Middle Eastern dishes.

The name indicates the couple’s dedication to offering fresh food, Kassas explained, as well as their continued connection to their home country of Syria where Damask roses blossom into sweet-scented symbols of beauty and love.

“Roses and berries are things that need to be picked and given out when they are fresh,” Kassas said. “That is a concept we are trying to borrow from in that our food is not artificially made or frozen. Everything we make is fresh.”

The cafe has been a lifelong dream for Salim, who has fond memories of eating French sweets in the streets of Syria. In preparation for its impending opening, she has taken pastry classes in France and floral design courses in England.

The cafe will offer anything from crepes and croissants to kebabs and shawarma, as well as a wide variety of drinks and other refreshments. In addition to Syrian dishes, the menu also will include recipes from Lebanon, Iran, Turkey and more.

“One of my missions was to bring something new to Dubuque,” Salim said. “When I first moved to the U.S., it was hard to find (food from home), … so I’m trying to recreate that environment for people here.”

Roses & Berries is located in the same building as James Martin Jewelers on Asbury Road. Once open, the cafe will be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day but Tuesday. Updates on the opening timeline and menu can be found online at facebook.com/rosesandberriescafe.

NW Illinois nutrition club changes hands

A local nutrition-focused cafe greeted the new year under a new name and new owner.

Brittany Richard recently took ownership of Lit on Twentea at 152 N. Main St. in Elizabeth, Ill. The nutrition club, which previously operated as Fort Nutrition, offers a variety of teas, smoothies, protein drinks and more.

“Our most popular drink is our lit tea,” Richard explained. “I always say it’s like if Kool-Aid and tea had a baby. It tastes great like Kool-Aid, but it has the caffeine and some of the antioxidants and other health benefits that tea provides.”

Richard previously worked at a nutrition club in Fennimore, Wis., and has been a longtime fan of its offerings and menu. When the opportunity arose to take over the Elizabeth club, it seemed like a way to expand on that interest and meet her life-long goal of owning her own business.

With it, she hopes to offer the community a space to gather and relax while sipping on a variety of beverages.

“I would like to provide a nice space for people to come in where it’s just very positive, welcoming and warm,” she said. “The beverages here have helped me a lot … so if I could do that and help other people, that would be lovely.”

Lit on Twentea is open 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday. More information on the business can be found online at facebook.com/LitOnTwentea or by emailing litontwentea@gmail.com.

New antique store to open in SW Wisconsin

A new store is set to join Cuba City’s popular antiquing scene this week.

The store 3rd Generation Antiques & Gifts will hold its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at 203 S. Main St. The store sells a variety of antiques, primitives and unique collectibles.

“I’m looking forward to interacting with customers and meeting new faces,” said owner Trelane Hoeper. “You can really find a community in the antiquing world just by talking to people.”

The store marks Hoeper’s first foray into sole ownership. The longtime collector and vendor also rents booths at several area antique malls, including Junque Stops Here in Cuba City and Crazy Frank’s Flea Market in Mineral Point.

He learned the art of collecting from his grandmother Frida and mother, Barb, by tagging along to area auctions and antique stores as a young boy. He said he named the store to honor that family history.

“When I was younger, we went to auctions all the time and we always had to wait for the tins at the end because that’s what my mom collected,” he said. “I hung one up in my shop because I thought it was kind of symbolic.”

The shelves of 3rd Generation are full of myriad items including glassware, vintage signs, tools and more.

Behind the register sits a toy cannon from the 1850s, shelved just below an old blow mold of a cherry Easter Bunny.

The items are sourced from local auctions and sales, Hoeper said, as well as internet auctions to ensure a wide variety of merchandise. Old furniture is his expertise, he said, and vintage chairs and shelves fill the shop.

“I like the thrill of the hunt,” he said of his purchasing strategy. “I enjoy going to auctions and looking for that one rare item that will really stand out.”

Hoeper’s new shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. It can be contacted by phone at 608-642-3244 or found online at bit.ly/3GZs1T9.