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

A new business is brewing in downtown Dubuque.

First Brewed held its soft opening last week at 212 W. First St. The coffee shop offers an expansive menu of coffee and other beverages, as well as pastries and small plates available for breakfast or brunch.

“I’ve always loved the coffee shop vibe and wanted to run my own shop one day,” said co-owner Leslie Haan. “(With owning our own business), we can really make it whatever we want and have fun while we’re doing it.”

The coffee shop operates in the storefront adjacent to First Reserve, a whiskey bar launched in late 2022 by Haan and her fiance, Tom Frith. Frith also is one of the owners of Wicked Dame Wine + Bar, which borders the coffee shop on the other side of the First Street building.

The two have planned to add a coffee shop since acquiring the bar two years ago, Haan said, although interior renovations and equipment upgrades were required. Those improvements were completed this month, and the coffee shop opened last week.

Haan said she hopes the coffee shop can open the building up to a whole new audience by offering breakfast and brunch items for downtown residents and visitors.

“Tom and I really like this area,” she said. “There’s a lot of people who work in businesses right downtown, and we wanted to be a place where people could come in and get a quick bite or a cup of coffee.”

First Brewed already offers a wide variety of warm, cold and blended beverages for dine-in or carry out, and Haan said the plan is to launch online ordering within the next two weeks. The menu also includes various pastries, soups and sandwiches.

Shop manager Clara Klein said the offerings will likely expand over time to include different specials or seasonal items. Already, she is curating a menu inspired by staff favorites with each drink named after the barista who designed it.

“Our menu is pretty spread out, so we have an option for everybody,” Klein said. “We’re already working on our winter menu and coming up with fun ideas for little specials or new (recipes).”

First Brewed is open from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to noon on Saturday. For more information on specials and new menu items, visit the First Brewed Facebook page.

New medical clinic open in Cascade

A longtime area nurse practitioner has started her own office in Cascade.

Jamie Kemp recently launched Kemp Complete Care Clinic at 109 Adams St. SE. She intends to specialize in hormone replacement therapy and medically assisted weight loss, although the clinic also offers check ups and other general services.

“Right now, Cascade has very limited providers … so I think there’s definitely a need (for something like this),” Kemp said. “I’m looking forward to meeting all these new people and getting established in the community.”

Kemp, of Key West, Iowa, has worked in the medical field for approximately 15 years and served most recently as a hospitalist in Dubuque. She decided to branch out on her own after she and her husband purchased the Adams Street building in Cascade as a real estate investment.

After taking stock of the market, she said it became clear that the Cascade area could benefit from additional medical providers. She launched her clinic in mid-November and has spent the last month establishing her business and meeting with new clients.

Kemp said her focus is on helping clients find a holistic approach to wellness. In addition to traditional medical services and hormone replacement, she also offers IV hydration, ice baths and infrared light sauna therapy.

“There are some ways to supplement what our body already provides,” Kemp said. “I want to be here to help people with those symptoms and conditions that might otherwise go untreated.”

Kemp Complete Care Clinic is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. For more information or booking information, visit kempcompletecare.com.

Manchester gains new thrift store

A new thrift store has opened in Manchester with a focus on offering unique finds in a warm, welcoming environment.

T&B Treasures recently opened at 114 S. Franklin St. under the ownership of Taylor Schiltz and Brayden Bock. The store stocks a variety of new and gently used clothing, furniture, home decor and more.

“It’s been super exciting just meeting people and getting to know the community,” Bock said. “Everyone has been super welcoming and really nice, so we can’t wait to continue to get to know (our customers).”

Schiltz and Bock have a shared love for thrifting that was inspired in part by Schiltz’s late father and longtime collector, Kris. That interest eventually grew into a commercial business, and the couple began to sell thrifted items online.

As business picked up, the pair began to think about opening a brick-and-mortar location.

Coincidentally, Schiltz’s aunt Kayla Kammiller owns Repeats Consignments and recently relocated her store from 114 S. Franklin St. to 118 N. Franklin St. She reached out to the pair to see if they had any interest in taking over her original storefront, and they quickly agreed.

“When the space opened up, it worked perfect,” Schiltz said. “Kayla helped us so much with getting everything set up and helped us get into a little bit of consignment.”

All items sold at T&B Treasures are hand-selected by store staff. That oversight allows the store to screen gently used items for quality while still ensuring that the inventory ranges from different fashion styles and eras.

Bock said the goal is to offer something for everyone and appeal to a wide range of shoppers.

“We’re very open-minded with our merchandise,” he explained. “That’s really important when you’re thrifting because something one person might not like very much can be someone else’s favorite thing ever.”

T&B Treasures is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Additional information about the store can be found online at the T&B Treasures Facebook page or by email at tbtreasures02025@gmail.com.