Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-state area. This edition highlights developments in Bellevue, Iowa; Dubuque; and Potosi, Wis.

A former Bellevue restaurant is finding new life with the recent opening of a bar in the well-known riverfront building.

The Tavern recently opened at Potter’s Mill, 300 Potter Drive. The bar offers a variety of draft beers and hand-mixed cocktails, as well as a menu of simple snacks.

“We wanted to bring something back to the Bellevue community,” said operator Ellen Herman. “The whole idea was to create a cozy, rustic gathering place where people could drink, have some snacks and just relax.”

Potter’s Mill previously housed Flatted Fifth Blues & BBQ, a barbecue restaurant owned and operated by Ellen’s parents, Mark and Rachel Herman. The couple bought the building in 2014 and operated the restaurant until their retirement late last year.

Flatted Fifth closed on New Year’s Day after a robustly attended farewell celebration.

Ellen Herman worked at the restaurant as a bartender and said it was clear how much the space meant to restaurant regulars and other community members. The Tavern is a way to continue that legacy, she said, while also pursuing her own entrepreneurial interests.

“There’s a great sense of comfort in being able to start this business in a space that’s familiar to me but where I can still be able to branch into my own ideas,” Herman said.

Herman hopes to add a small menu of soups, sandwiches and other small dishes to the bar’s offerings. She also plans to add a game room with a pool table, dart board and other activities.

She hopes to involve the surrounding community, too, by hosting fundraisers, musical performances and other community events. Already, several tri-state area beers are available for added local flavor.

“We’re slowly building up the business, but we’re hoping for a bright future,” Herman said.

The Tavern is open 5 p.m. until close Fridays and Saturdays. Updates and additional information on the business are available at The Tavern at Potter’s Mill Facebook page.

Dubuque salon rounds out renovation

A Dubuque salon is celebrating four decades in business with a fresh new look.

Designworks Salon and Spa recently completed a full-scale renovation at its longtime location at 3385 Asbury Road. The project came with top-to-bottom improvements that included replacing the flooring, redoing the ceiling and completing myriad upgrades in between.

“We just hit a really big milestone this year — 40 years in business — and we wanted to elevate what we had and have here to create an inviting, luxury service area for our existing clients and our newer visitors,” said co-owner Jerica Hartman.

Designworks offers a variety of beauty services, including hair, skin and nail care. The salon has operated out of the Asbury location for most of its 40-year tenure, Hartman said. The last serious remodel was approximately 20 years ago.

The most recent renovation focused on increasing efficiency, as well as improving the overall atmosphere. An additional shampoo bowl has been added, as well as an extra space for manicures.

The shampoo bowl setups also were replaced with Italian massage chairs that lay customers flat with the bowl instead of having them crane their heads back to have their hair washed.

“It’s a lot less pressure on the neck,” Hartman said. “When we tried them out, we knew immediately that we had to have them.”

The renovation took about a month, during which the salon operated out of a temporary location on Center Grove Drive. The salon now has returned to its Asbury Road location and is open Monday through Saturday.

Appointments can be scheduled online at designworksspa.com or by calling 563-588-1332. Additional updates on the business and a planned reopening celebration can be found on the Designworks Facebook page.

SW Wisconsin inn under new ownership

A southwest Wisconsin inn is under new ownership.

A couple, Cole Brandt and MaKenzie Jochum, recently purchased The Potosi Inn at 102 N. Main St. The five-room inn is situated on the second level of the downtown building housing Twisted Vines Pub & Eatery.

The inn also is located near several other local amenities, including Whispering Bluffs Winery, Potosi Brewing Co. and several nature trails.

“It’s a nice little hidden gem,” Brandt said of the inn. “It’s close to a lot of the local activities (and) a lot of great places to eat or just get outside and relax.”

Brandt and Jochum are travel fanatics and have stayed in a variety of short-term lodgings across the Midwest. When The Potosi Inn went up for sale, Brandt said it seemed like an opportunity to put those experiences to good use.

Each of the inn’s five rooms has its own bedroom and bathroom, and four are equipped with a small kitchen and seating area. The rooms are available for short- or long-term stays, depending on visitors’ needs.

“We’ve seen construction workers here for various projects or traveling nurses who are here for a few months,” Brandt said. “There’s definitely that longer-term option because it’s almost like a little apartment.”

Jochum said both she and Brandt have experience working in the service industry at area bars, restaurants and supper clubs. The jump to another sector of the hospitality industry seemed like a “no-brainer,” she said, as well as an opportunity to further connect with the Grant County community.

“It’s all about treating people how you want to be treated,” she said. “We’ve stayed at so many Airbnbs or hotels over the years, and we want to treat our visitors to the same experience we like to receive.”

Booking is now open for The Potosi Inn and can be completed online at thepotosiinn.com or by calling 563-581-2120. Additional information also is available on The Potosi Inn Facebook page.