Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-states. This edition highlights developments in Dubuque; Benton, Wis.; and Dyersville, Iowa.

An area appliance retailer has opened a new location in Dubuque.

Gateway Appliance Sales & Service recently launched a new store at Plaza 20, 2600 Dodge St., in the space formerly filled by Family Dollar. The store offers a variety of household appliances from brands such as KitchenAid, Whirlpool and Amana.

It is the second Gateway Appliance location and will act as a sibling store to the flagship location in Manchester, Iowa.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the clientele we get over here,” store manager Collin Payne said of the Dubuque location. “Every place has people looking for something a little different … so I’m interested to see what that looks like (in Dubuque).”

Gateway Appliance started in 2016 when Payne’s father, Phillip Payne, launched an appliance services business out of his home. In 2017, he opened a physical retail location at 111 W. Main St. in Manchester.

Collin Payne, who has worked at the Manchester store since it opened, said the decision to add a Dubuque location was rooted in a desire to better serve the more urban portions of the tri-state area and meet the need for a high-quality appliance dealer.

All products offered by Gateway Appliance are American-made, he added, in an intentional effort to support domestic manufacturers and U.S. workers.

“We try to get the point across that you can keep things here in the U.S.,” he said. “You tend to see a better quality of craftsmanship with (domestic products), and it’s nice to know that the jobs are staying as close as Amana, (Iowa).”

When items are purchased from Gateway Appliance, Payne said, customers can expect a full-service experience that includes delivery and installation. Technicians also can collect and dispose of old appliances.

Additionally, area customers can contact Gateway Appliance staff for services, parts and repairs. Technicians can make house calls, Payne explained, or appliances can be brought to the store.

“One big thing is that a lot of appliance dealers almost exclusively service what they sell, but we’ll take almost anything that comes our way,” Payne said. “We have some exceptions … but we try to help where we can.”

The new Gateway Appliance location in Dubuque is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For additional information, visit gatewayappliance.com.

Area massage therapist relocates

A southwest Wisconsin massage therapist has a new home.

Rachel Mueller, owner-operator of Revive with Rachel, recently moved into a private suite within AB Designs Salon at 34 W. Main St. in Benton. She specializes in deep tissue massage, among other offerings.

“When you walk in, everything from the decor and the smells and the atmosphere is there to help you relax,” she said of her new space. “I want people to feel comfortable with me and with the space and service.”

Mueller launched Revive with Rachel in 2021 after graduating from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s physical therapist assistant program. The program solidified her interest in helping people improve their health, and she said massage appealed to her as one avenue toward that goal.

She first operated her business out of J. VanNatta Salon & Spa in Cuba City, Wis., before relocating to Benton on Nov. 1.

“The space I had at J. VanNatta’s was perfect for starting out, and everyone there was amazing,” she said. “But I had the opportunity to move into a little bit of a bigger space (in Benton), and everyone has been so supportive.”

Mueller’s specialty, deep-tissue massage, is a therapeutic technique that targets deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue to relieve tension and tightness. Her other offerings include lymphatic massage, prenatal massages and more.

For additional information or to book an appointment, visit tinyurl.com/RevivewRachel.

New Dyersville restaurant rooted in Mexican cuisine, culture

The operators of Dyersville’s newest restaurant hope to bring the taste of Mexico to northeast Iowa.

Taquería Monterrey opened Nov. 1 at 224 Second Ave. NE under the tutelage of owner Alicia Lopez and her family. The restaurant offers a variety of lunch and dinner options with a focus on filling, flavorful meals.

“Usually when you go to a Mexican restaurant (in the U.S.), it’s more Tex-Mex or Americanized,” said Brenda Espinoza-Gomez, Lopez’s daughter. “We wanted to do something more with our culture … and authentic.”

Espinoza-Gomez, who works at the restaurant along with her family members, said her family moved to Iowa from Mexico in 2001. They first lived in Postville before relocating to Cascade and eventually settling down in Dyersville about 10 years ago.

Lopez ran a small cafe in Mexico, Espinoza-Gomez said, and developed a taste for sharing her recipes and expertise with other community members. After the move to the U.S., however, plans for a full-scale restaurant were put on pause.

Last year, the pieces fell into place for those plans to move forward.

“We all talked about it, and when we talked to (my mom) about it, it seemed like everyone was ready,” Espinoza-Gomez said. “I’m very happy that she can finally get her wish after supporting us for so long.”

The restaurant’s wide-ranging menu includes a variety of Mexican dishes spanning from tacos and burritos to gorditas and elotes.

Espinosa-Gomez added that the restaurant has been decorated in bright colors in an attempt to capture the vibrancy of Mexican culture and offer an enjoyable, engaging dining experience.

“We love color (in my family), … and we wanted to share that with other people,” she said. “We wanted a place where you can come in and feel happy.”

Taquería Monterrey is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Additional information can be found online at tinyurl.com/TaqMont.