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

CASCADE, Iowa — A longtime area bar is under new ownership in Cascade.

Krystina Lafler and Brandon Streets recently purchased and rebranded the bar at 231 First Ave. W., now dubbed 1891 Saloon & Eatery. The space most recently operated as Two Gingers Tavern but has had several names over the years.

“There’s so much history in this building, and the way that the community of Cascade has worked to preserve that history is just fantastic,” said Lafler, of Monticello, Iowa. “We’re excited to be a part of that.”

Lafler said she saw a post about the bar being for sale this summer and “instantly fell in love” with the downtown business. She toured the building the next month and spent a few weeks thinking it over before deciding to purchase the business late this summer.

The saloon opened this month with a full bar, and work is underway to remodel the kitchen. Once that’s complete, the business will offer a traditional bar menu of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and more.

“We wanted to get the saloon opened up right away because this is where so many people come to talk about their day or grab a drink with friends,” Lafler said. “Hopefully, we’ll get the kitchen up and running in November.”

Part of what attracted Lafler to the space was its history. The building has been home to a bar or similar establishment for more than 100 years, first opening in 1891 as the Hub Saloon. It’s since survived prohibition, the Great Depression and many other significant historic events.

Lafler hopes to pay tribute to that history moving forward and retain the building’s status as a community gathering space.

The space already boasts a history wall with photos of past owners and other artifacts, and Lafler plans to integrate vintage decor throughout the rest of the establishment to emulate the atmosphere of an old-time saloon.

“Iowa was a frontier state, as well, and so many people traveled through here on their way out west,” Lafler said. “There’s a lot of ways to have fun with that history and bring back that old-fashioned saloon feel.”

Currently, 1891 opens at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and by noon on Saturday and Sunday. Typical closing times range around 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and as late as 2 a.m. the rest of the week.

Coworking space opens in Delaware CountyA local economic development group has launched a new coworking space in Delaware County.

Delaware County Economic Development recently opened the space up for rentals at its new office at 223 W. Main St. in Manchester. The space is aimed at area entrepreneurs looking for a flexible, professional environment to work.

“We’re really aiming to fill that niche of people who are independent contractors or who work from home and are looking for a new meeting space,” said Delaware County Economic Development marketing lead Maggie Sommers.

Through the program, meeting spaces can be rented on an hourly or daily basis to accommodate anywhere between three and 20 people. The cost varies depending on the room size but includes wifi access, use of an on-site printer and access to a small kitchenette.

Delaware County Economic Development relocated its offices this year, Sommers explained, and the new building had enough room to accommodate the coworking space.

“Delaware County didn’t have a designated coworking space or a designated space for professional meetings,” Sommers said. “We have coffee shops and spaces like that where you could do a client meeting, but this is a little more professional and private.”

A full list of costs, amenities and booking information can be found online at delawarecountyia.com under the “workspaces” tab.

Pet supply store opens in DubuqueA new pet supply store has opened in Dubuque with a focus on fresh products.

Raw Rations Pet Food and Wellness recently opened at 2600 Dodge St., Suite C1, next to JOANN in Plaza 20. The store offers a variety of raw food for cats and dogs, healthy treats and other pet-supply products.

“We specialize in frozen food and clean-feeding options, … but we have a little bit of everything,” said co-owner Chelsie Parrell. “We have toys and treats and some specialty sports gear, so it’s not just pet food.”

Parrell runs Raw Rations with her husband, Dustin. The business started as a frozen pet food delivery service in 2020 before expanding to include a shipping component and retail location in Sauk City, Wis., in March of 2021.

As the business continued to grow, Parrell said it became clear that demand was high enough to support a second location. When a longtime staff member announced a move to Dubuque, it sparked interest in setting up shop on the other side of the Mississippi River.

“Doing some market research, Dubuque didn’t really have any (independent) pet stores like us,” Parrell said. “It felt like it was a great fit for us, and because of our delivery routes, we already had some existing clients (in the area).”

The mainstay of the business is raw pet food, which encompasses foods that consist of uncooked or minimally prepared animal parts. It can come frozen, freeze-dried or dehydrated, and the store also carries a variety of dry food.

Consumer demand for such products has grown in recent years, which Parrell attributed to its qualities and benefits. Raw food is typically higher in protein and has higher moisture levels, she said, and it more closely mirrors the diets of animals’ ancestors.

Raw Rations stocks various brands of dog and cat food, and staff are trained on the ingredients and benefits of the various offerings.

“We try to provide a full-service, knowledgeable experience for pet owners,” Parrell said. “We’re looking forward to helping a new community with having access to clean feeding options.”

Raw Rations Pet Food and Wellness is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Additional information is available online at rawrations.com.