Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-state area. This edition highlights developments in Dubuque; Galena, Ill.; and Guttenberg, Iowa.

A Dubuque dentistry office is operating under a new name and new ownership.

Wildflower Kids Dentistry, previously known as Peckosh Pediatric Dentistry, now is owned and operated by Dr. Lauren Schau. Schau has worked at the office since she moved to Dubuque last year.

Schau worked with the previous owner, Valerie Peckosh, for several months before taking ownership of the practice this winter. Before that, she worked at several other dental offices in and outside Iowa.

“I’m originally from Carroll (Iowa), and my husband is from Maquoketa,” Schau said. “It’s been great to be back in Iowa and to get to know all the patients and their families.”

Wildflower Kids Dentistry focuses on pediatric patients age 12 and under, Schau said, as well as adult clients with intellectual disabilities. Some teens also are served at the office, where Medicaid is accepted.

Schau said many of the services at the dentistry office will remain the same as before, such as cleanings, fillings and crowns. Schau also treats patients with tongue- and lip ties, among other concerns.

Schau plans to remodel the office this year to provide an updated look to match the office’s new name and branding.

“We’ve really been working to build up that positive work environment for our staff,” she said. “Next, we want to remodel and update the space a bit so we have a little bit more of a fresh appearance.”

Schau said staff at Wildflower Kids Dentistry employ the “tell-show-do” tactic with patients to make sure they are as comfortable as possible with the dental process.

That method includes showing off the tools that will be used in a procedure and explaining their function before using them. Terms often are simplified for younger clients, such as describing the suction machine as a silly straw.

Staff also are trained to communicate clearly with parents, so all parties involved are educated and informed about a patient’s dental needs.

“If you take some time to explain it well, it takes a lot of that fear away from the whole process,” Schau said.

Wildflower Kids Dentistry operates 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 3455 Stoneman Road. The office can be reached by phone at 563-582-1478.

Galena soda shop under new ownership

A local root beer store is under new ownership on Galena’s iconic Main Street.

Paul Pendola, owner of Galena Spoon Co., last month acquired the Root Beer Revelry storefront at 228 S. Main St. The store is attached to DeSoto House Hotel and sells a variety of root beer flavors, floats, flights and themed gifts.

“I’ve worked in food service for years, so this just seemed right in my wheelhouse,” Pendola said. “I’ve had my eye on the business for quite some time, so when it came up for sale, I jumped on it.”

The store was closed for about a week in February for some renovations and repairs after Pendola’s acquisition but now is open for regular business hours.

Pendola said he doesn’t plan to make any major changes to the storefront, which has been a Main Street staple for several years. He does plan to add additional root beer varieties, as well as new styles and flavors of root beer floats.

“There’s a lot of different root beer products out there to make fun flavors with,” Pendola said. “You can do a pumpkin cream, a salted caramel or even a cinnamon churro float.”

Pendola said he hopes to operate the store in a way that is agreeable to both root beer fanatics and first-time visitors, making information about the different beverage varieties accessible without being overwhelming.

Pendola added that the store also now will be a stop on the upcoming Galena Foodie Adventure tours, a local food tour that takes visitors to a variety of dining establishments in the city.

“We’ve selected a special root beer flight just for that tour group,” Pendola said. “It seemed like a good way to get involved with other area businesses and find new customers.”

Root Beer Revelry is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Tuesday. Additional information about the store can be found online at facebook.com/rootbeerhunter.

Homestyle diner opens in Clayton County

A new Clayton County diner has opened along the Mississippi River with a focus on classic, homestyle comfort food.

Driftwood Diner recently opened at 531 S. River Park Drive in Guttenberg. The locally owned diner offers a variety of hearty Midwestern favorites such as casseroles, tenderloin and burgers, in addition to all-day breakfast offerings and various baked goods.

“My generation grew up eating dinner with family around the kitchen table,” said owner Ann Moore. “You had bread and butter, a good casserole and some sides. … I’m looking to recreate that feeling here at the diner.”

Moore has worked at various food-service establishments for the better part of the past decade, but it wasn’t until last summer that she started seriously considering opening a restaurant of her own.

The last of her kids recently had graduated from high school, she said, and she had heard rumblings around town that people were jonesing for another local dining option after the February 2023 closure of Picket Fence Cafe & Catering.

“The community was asking for something, and with my background working at different (food-service establishments) in Guttenberg, I just decided to go all in,” Moore said. “I joked with my husband that it was my midlife crisis, but it’s actually something I’m really excited about.”

Driftwood Diner now operates at the space formerly filled by Picket Fence, Moore said, so the community already is used to visiting the location for a good meal.

She said she intends to build on that reputation by offering a rotating list of menu items in addition to the diner’s enduring classics. The fresh baked goods and other desserts will change regularly, as will the soups and other items.

“I’m just excited to see the familiar faces stop in from some of the other businesses I’ve worked at,” Moore said. “I want to offer something for the community, just somewhere nice to go and sit for a little variety in town.”

Driftwood Diner is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. More information and a full menu can be found online at tinyurl.com/DriftwoodDiner.