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

A Dubuque bridal boutique is welcoming the summer season with a brand new look.

Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique recently completed a multi-month renovation at 400 Bluff St. The project included both interior and exterior building improvements, as well as updated furniture and decor.

“The way the space looks now is the way I’ve always wanted it to look,” said owner Shelby Duggan. “This was how things were meant to look and feel from the beginning, and I’m excited to show that off for our brides.”

Vintage Chic moved to the Bluff Street storefront roughly three years ago after first opening on Central Avenue in 2018. The store is open by appointment only, meaning each bride has the store to herself for the entirety of the visit.

The Bluff Street location already had a lot of the vintage charm Duggan was looking for, she said, but she recently implemented a series of upgrades to push the space to its full potential.

The interior of the shop has been repainted, and the layout has been updated for a better flow. New furniture has been added throughout the store, and brides now can access a “Bubbly Bar” to pop a bottle of champagne and take photos after finding their dress.

The store’s exterior signage also was updated, complemented by custom displays on all street-facing windows.

“I wanted walking into the store to feel like coming home,” Duggan said. “Now it’s this welcoming, cozy space, … and it really just gives it that relaxed, more intimate feel that I want to offer the women coming in for their visits.”

Duggan noted that picking out a wedding dress is about more than the final purchase. It also encompasses the deeply personal — at times emotional — process of searching for and finding the perfect dress alongside friends and family.

“I always call myself a fairy gown mother,” Duggan said. “Brides only see me for a short time, but it’s a time that makes a big difference on their wedding day and how they look back on those memories.”

Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique is open by appointment Friday through Sunday. To schedule a visit or learn about additional appointment amenities, brides can call 563-581-9945 or visit vintagechicbridalboutique.com.

Bellevue groomer opens salon

A longtime animal lover has reopened her grooming salon in Bellevue.

Stacy Bevan recently opened Precious Paws Grooming Salon at 29540 U.S. 52, located across from Off Shore Hotel & Resort. Bevan began grooming in 2011, though she has been on a hiatus the past few years while working as a veterinary technician.

“The vet I was working for got a new job, so I decided it was time to reopen the grooming salon,” Bevan said. “… I’m a helper, and I always want to help every animal I see. Grooming lets me do that by helping the dogs feel good and look good.”

Bevan reestablished the business this spring and now works with dogs of all breeds and sizes. She said she selected the U.S. 52 location for its “homey” feel and comfortable atmosphere as well as its easy access to the highway.

The salon is a one-woman show, she said, offering full-service grooming options including baths, haircuts, nail trims and more. There also is a seating area where owners can wait while their pet is groomed.

“We have a little couch in the front for clients who want to wait,” she said. “I’ve already had one guy come in, and his dog just needed a quick toenail trim so he sat back and threw his feet up for a bit.”

The salon is open by appointment Monday through Friday, though Bevan also accepts walk-ins from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month. To schedule an appointment, clients can call 563-212-3657.

Jo Daviess County bar reopens under new ownership

A Jo Daviess County bar has reopened under new ownership.

OJ and Becky Stapleton are the new owners of Old Jug’s (OJ’s) Main Street Tap at 200 N. Main St. in Elizabeth. The couple recently moved to the area from Kentucky to take over the downtown business.

“We have some friends in the area who we’ve been coming up to visit for years, and we just fell in love with the area,” OJ Stapleton said. “The bar came up for sale, and we always loved coming here when we came to visit, so we just decided to go for it.”

The bar, previously known as Jug’s, closed in May 2023 but reopened under the Stapletons earlier this month. The couple held a robustly attended soft opening June 1 and opened for regular hours this past weekend.

Most of the food and drink offerings have remained the same, Stapleton said, and the space required minimal renovations ahead of the reopening.

Currently, the kitchen offers pub classics such as burgers, pizza and appetizers, with the intent to expand into daily or rotating specials over the next few months. The bar also touts a variety of beer and hand-mixed cocktail options.

“I’ve always had a passion for cooking and cocktails,” OJ Stapleton said. “Now, I’m back in the kitchen and cooking things up and getting behind the bar. It’s been great.”

The support from the Elizabeth area already has been enormous, he said. The soft opening sold out of several items, and he has heard from numerous people how excited they are to see the bar in its former glory.

Moving forward, he expressed interest in maintaining that momentum and offering a community hub for area residents.

“There were two or three people (during the soft opening) who told me this place could be a gold mine,” he said. “And that’s nice, but I’m not really in this for the money. I’m hoping to turn the space into a gold mine for the community and bring back a business that people loved so much.”

Old Jug’s is open six days a week and is closed on Wednesdays. The kitchen is open 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The bar is open until midnight Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and through 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.