Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-states. This edition highlights developments in Dubuque; Platteville, Wis.; and Hazel Green, Wis.

An eclectic new snack shop has opened in Dubuque.

Exotic Snack Guys opened its new location this week in Kennedy Mall between Dick’s Sporting Goods and Rally House. The snack shop offers a variety of unique candies, snacks and drinks from across the globe.

“We have all sorts of candies and snacks you won’t find easily in many local stores,” said business partner and store manager Ali Hussain. “You’ll find some of the American stuff in the store, but mostly it’s stuff from Europe (and) Asia.”

The Chicago-based business has several locations across the Midwest and Texas, but the Dubuque location is the first in Iowa. Hussain said Dubuque seemed like a natural fit for the business given its relative proximity to Chicago and medium-sized population.

The large number of area college students was also a plus, Hussain added, since the Exotic Snack Guys brand has proven popular with younger customers looking to try new brands or flavors.

“We’d love to hire some college students to work here,” he said. “Those younger shoppers are our main target, so it would help to have a local face (greeting customers).”

Exotic Snack Guys is the first of five new businesses expected to open in the mall by the end of this year. Other upcoming openings include World Earth Superstore, Bubbles Boba Tea, Perfume Aura and D’Or24K.

The snack store stocks food and drink options from all over the world that can otherwise be difficult to find in the U.S. The shelves include candies from India, crackers from England, drinks from Japan and more.

The store also offers mystery boxes for adventurous customers. The boxes include six or seven products from around the globe and offer customers an opportunity to try new brands or snacks they might otherwise have never known about.

“We want to make these snacks more accessible,” Hussain said. “It can be really hard to find these things without a wholesale deal, and that can be very expensive to do (as an individual).”

Exotic Snack Guys will be open during regular mall hours, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Additional information can be found online at exoticsnackguys.com.

Platteville gym raises bar with recent remodel

A Platteville gym hopes to offer visitors an elevated experience after a recent remodel.

Anytime Fitness recently rounded out a facility-wide refresh at the Platteville location at 555 Ellen St. The project included a complete interior redesign and office renovations for gym staff, as well as equipment additions and updates.

“It’s all been refreshed and modernized,” said district manager Jeff Halweg. “We have new colors, new carpet, … and we’ve done our best to make it a lot more inviting.”

Halweg said the gym has been remodeled using an open floor plan to create an inviting and easy-to-use space. Staff offices also now are encased in glass, making it easier to see who is working that day and available to help.

Memberships are currently being offered at a discounted rate to celebrate the remodel, and community members are invited to view recent changes at an open house from 5 to 6 p.m. today hosted in partnership with the Platteville Regional Chamber.

The 24-hour gym is available for individual use, Halweg explained, and also offers group fitness classes and personal training.

“Coming to the gym for the first time can be pretty intimidating, so it’s our job to help people through that and make sure you feel welcomed right away … (no matter) your fitness level,” he said.

Additional information about pricing and Anytime Fitness offerings can be found online at anytimefitness.com.

New food truck launches in SW Wisconsin

A new food truck has hit the streets of southwest Wisconsin with a focus on international offerings.

The Rice is Nice held its soft launch this weekend in Cuba City. The Hazel Green-based food truck serves a variety of international cuisine with a focus on rice bowls and similar dishes.

“I grew up in a bigger city, in Milwaukee, and something that I really miss from back there at home was the opportunity to go to restaurants from cultures all over the world,” said co-owner Tomas Weber. “I really wanted to bring that (opportunity) here.”

Weber, now of Hazel Green, has nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He worked most recently at Brazen Open Kitchen + Bar in Dubuque’s Millwork District until purchasing the food truck earlier this year.

He will run the truck alongside his wife, Sara Weber, who also works as a special education teacher at Southwestern Wisconsin School District.

The menu ranges from Korean barbecue and pork fried rice to pork carnitas and chicken curry, and it also offers a variety of appetizers and desserts. The plan is to rotate the menu a few times a year, Weber said, to keep customers engaged.

“Instead of having a customer go to four different restaurants, I’m trying to bring all four (menus) in one place,” he said. “That’s kind of unique for a food truck, where it’s usually all about finding one thing you’re really good at and making a lot of it.”

Weber’s plan is to bring the truck to a variety of public and private outings ranging from school sporting events to business luncheons and community festivals. The mobile unit is licensed in Wisconsin and Iowa, so it can operate in Dubuque.

Weber said he and his wife are considering the truck’s “soft opening” this fall with plans to really ramp up operations next spring. Looking even further out, the goal is to add event catering and cooking classes.

“I’m excited to see people and share my food with them,” Weber said. “I’ve always felt like I had a gift when it came to cooking, … so this is a way to give a part of myself to the community.”

Regular updates on the truck’s whereabouts, menu and schedule will be posted on The Rice is Nice Facebook page.