Biz Buzz: Indian restaurant coming to Dubuque; fitness center opens in Bellevue; salon makes Dubuque debut

Business tips sought

Do you have an interesting story idea or news tip to share about a local business? Ideas can be shared with business reporter Grace Nieland at grace.nieland@thmedia.com or 563-588-5647.

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

A pair of Madison, Wis.-based entrepreneurs are looking to turn up the heat with the opening of a new Indian restaurant in Dubuque.

Swagat Indian Restaurant will soon open its doors at 1108 Locust St. in the former Hops & Rye location. An exact opening date has not been set, but owner Resham Singh said the restaurant should open by the end of the month.

“Translated into English, Swagat means ‘Welcome,’” Singh said. “Once we get everything set up for Indian-style cooking, … then we can begin to welcome people in.”

Singh runs Swagat Indian Restaurant with his wife, Manjinder Kaur. Already, the pair oversee two brick-and-mortar locations near Madison, as well as a food truck that travels around the region to serve authentic Indian cuisine.

The food truck has made several stops in Dubuque over the past several months, Singh said, and its growing popularity ultimately drove the decision to open Swagat’s first Iowa location.

Singh spent several months looking for a good Dubuque location before deciding on the former Hops & Rye building, which had sat empty since the former restaurant’s closure in 2022. Work is now underway to update the dining area and kitchen.

“Because the food truck has been coming (to Dubuque), people already know a little about our menu, but we’re going to be making a lot more dishes (at the restaurant),” he said. “I think people will be excited to see it open.”

Once open, Singh said Swagat Indian Restaurant will offer a wide variety of Indian dishes and desserts for lunch and dinner. Customers will be able to select from a mix of chicken, beef or lamb dishes, as well as a variety of vegetarian recipes.

When they place their order, customers will be able to request their preferred spice level. The menu also will include a variety of appetizers and other small plates, as well as desserts such as mango lassi and flavored ice cream.

“We’re excited to bring global cuisine to Dubuque,” Singh said. “We make (dishes) from all over India, … so there’s a lot to choose from.”

For more information on Swagat Indian Restaurant and for updates on the upcoming opening, visit facebook.com/SwagatIndianRestaurant.

Fitness center opens in Bellevue

A new fitness center is making gains in Bellevue, Iowa.

Lyfted 24/7 recently opened at 800 State St. adjacent to The Car Wash. The center includes a variety of free weights, cardio equipment and tools for strength training.

“We’re offering a little bit of everything with the goal that we can expand in the future,” said co-owner Chase Kueter. “The response from (the community) has been pretty good, so we’re pretty excited about it.”

Kueter opened Lyfted 24/7 with his brother, Devon, after deciding the community would benefit from an additional fitness facility. The pair already run The Car Wash, a popular Bellevue convenience store, and had enough space on the property to add another business.

To create the fitness facility, the brothers renovated an old storage building behind the convenience store. They filled the space with free weights and other equipment and installed a keypad that allows members to have 24/7 access to the space.

The gym opened late last year and now offers individual, couple and family memberships. Memberships can be purchased on a monthly basis, although cost-savings options are available to those who purchase longer-term memberships.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people that they really like how we have a lot of open space and natural lighting,” Kueter said. “That’s what we were going for when we started, so it’s good to hear.”

For more information on the center, visit tinyurl.com/Lyfted24 or call 563-513-9518.

New salon opens in downtown Dubuque

An area hair stylist has opened a new salon in downtown Dubuque.

Stylist Kristen Weber recently opened A Touch of Color at 231 W. Second St., next to Higher-Self Holistics. The salon offers hair care services for women, children and men, as well as a selection of nail and waxing services.

“I’m excited to meet all the new customers,” Weber said. “I’ve always loved working with people, and I like feeling like I’m making a difference when I can help get them to a place where they feel good about how they look.”

Weber first opened A Touch of Color in 2020 in Monroe, Wis. The salon started as a home-based business, but she later moved to a nearby brick-and-mortar location to meet the growing demand for her services.

Over time, Weber began to consider moving her business to Dubuque to increase her customer base. Last year, a friend sent her an online listing for the Second Street storefront, and Weber said it felt like a sign to finally “pull the trigger” and make the move.

She closed her Monroe salon late last year and officially launched the Dubuque location on Jan. 13. The salon is equipped with space for services, as well as a small “relaxation room” where clients can decompress.

“I want it to feel like a home away from home for my clients,” Weber said. “I want them to feel comfortable, so I used the spare room as a place where people can go if their color is processing and they want a place to take a minute (for themselves).”

Weber’s offerings include a variety of cut and color services, though she specializes in balayage and lived-in hair colors. She also offers hair treatments and styling, as well as waxing and manicure services.

All services are available by appointment Monday through Friday, and those who receive services between now and the end of February will be entered into a raffle for a basket of hair care products.

“I like hosting little events or giveaways to connect with the community,” Weber said. “This is my first Dubuque storefront, and I’m excited about meeting everyone and hearing their stories.”

For more information or to book an appointment, visit facebook.com/ATouchOfColorByKristen.