Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-states. This edition highlights developments in Dubuque.

True to its name,

Coffee Lab is all about experimentation and trying something new.

The coffee shop recently opened inside Dubuque’s Historic Bonson Mansion at 2728 Asbury Road. The menu ranges from classic black coffee to honey cinnamon cold brew and whipped lotus drinks flavored with lavender and passion fruit.

The focus is on offering unique or customizable items, so every customer can walk away happy, said co-owner Nicki Waugh.

“I just want people to be able to create exactly what they want to drink, whether that’s your standard black coffee or a drink with all the works,” Waugh said. “My favorite part of working here is watching people take that first drink and smile because it’s just what they wanted.”

Coffee Lab opened in April in the space previously filled by Wayfarer Coffee, which still has a location in the Historic Millwork District.

The Asbury Road space became available earlier this year, and Coffee Lab co-owner Jordan DeGree decided to take the plunge after discussing it with Wayfarer owner Darin Shireman. DeGree approached Waugh about the project, and she, too, jumped at the chance to contribute to the venture.

“Ultimately, this seemed like an opportunity to really create a nice spot in the community for people to connect,” DeGree said. “We’re a coffee shop that’s about more than just coffee. We want people to really connect here.”

The shop started with a similar menu to Wayfarer and has been expanding from there as staff members learn what customers like or are looking for, DeGree said. In addition to its drinks, the shop also offers a variety of baked goods and breakfast items.

All of the shop’s items can be ordered to go or can be enjoyed in the shop’s lounge and seating area, Waugh added.

The shop is located at Fountain Park, which houses several other businesses such as salons, yoga studios and more. That commercial diversity has helped draw in a solid base of regulars, which Waugh and DeGree hope to expand upon to draw in the larger Dubuque community.

“At the heart of it, a coffee shop is about creating a moment in people’s lives,” DeGree said. “And that’s what we want here, just a place to take a deep breath and connect with others in that shared experience.”

Additional information about Coffee Lab is available online at coffeelabdbq.com or on the Coffee Lab Facebook page. The shop recently expanded its hours and now is open daily from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Local dog groomer relocates Dubuque studio

A Dubuque pet groomer has relocated her studio to meet growing demand for grooming services.

Club Pawsh Grooming recently opened at its new location at 4995 Radford Court after owner Natalie Hazewinkel successfully petitioned the Dubuque City Council to rezone the property to allow for on-site pet grooming.

The space is slightly larger than the previous location on Rhomberg Avenue, Hazewinkel said, and has allowed for the addition of a third groomer.

“It’s not actually that much bigger (than the old location) but it feels a lot bigger,” she said. “We just have a lot more open space to move around and get things done.”

Hazewinkel owns Club Pawsh and rents space to two other groomers, Toni Shireman and Jenna Cooper. It’s similar to a hair salon where independent stylists rent a chair to serve clients, she said.

The move has increased efficiency and capacity for all three groomers, Hazewinkel said, and the new layout allows for a dedicated reception area, as well as better separation between the kennels and grooming areas.

“It can get sort of difficult to move dogs around in a small space, especially when you don’t know if a certain dog is reactive or doesn’t like other dogs,” she said. “Now, we can move the dogs around without having to worry about that as much.”

Club Pawsh is open by appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Additional information is available online at facebook.com/Clubpawshgrooming, and Hazewinkel can be reached by phone at 563-599-2989.

Dubuque hair studio makes colorful debut

When talking with Dubuque stylist Christopher Bellings, it’s hard to say whether he has his job down to an art, a science or something in between.

Bellings recently opened The Color Parlor at 3338 Center Grove Drive. The Dubuque hair studio specializes in vivid color services. He stocks dozens of dyes ranging from more customary blondes and browns to eye-catching oranges and verdant greens.

“You have the whole rainbow of light to play with,” Bellings said. “Then there’s light and shadows that will enhance or take away from a given color. It’s a lot like chemistry with how you’re adding things in or taking them away.”

Bellings has worked in the Dubuque cosmetology scene for over a decade. Previously, he rented chair space at other local salons and studios, but the move to Center Grove marks his first foray into a solo space.

Vivid color — sometimes called fantasy color — is his forte, but Bellings also offers a wide range of other hair-related services.

He mixes each color by hand, he said, so every client walks away with a unique look.

“I never just use a color straight out of the box,” Bellings said. “I always mix at least one or two colors together to give people a completely customized look. When they leave here, they walk away with a color no one else has.”

With the new studio, Bellings said he hopes to create a welcoming, “no judgment” atmosphere where clients feel comfortable to ask any questions they might have about their hair or the styling and color process.

Bellings said he tries to curate a similar vibe on his social media accounts. Already, he has netted nearly 30,000 followers on TikTok and thousands more across Facebook and Instagram with videos about the cosmetology field and his life more broadly.

The Color Parlor offers a new background for that content, he said, as well as some additional inspiration.

“It’s been pretty busy within the last year, so I haven’t been using my social platforms as much,” Bellings said. “But I really feel like my passion is reignited here, and I think it’s going to be awesome to continue to grow that presence and connect with more people.”

The Color Parlor is open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Online booking is available at thecolorparlordbq.com, and additional information can be found on The Color Parlor’s Facebook and Instagram pages.