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

Three young entrepreneurs have opened a new bar in downtown Darlington.

Trail Birds prides itself on its cocktails, said Ilse Mendez, who co-owns the bar with her brother Edgar Mendez and Katie Pingel. The business brands itself an “upscale dive bar,” per its website.

The bar, at 301 Main St., held a grand opening March 22. Ilse Mendez said she was not sure what to expect but ended up happy with the turnout.

“It was a really great turnout,” she said. “We were very supported.”

The trio decided to open the bar when the opportunity arose to take over the space formerly occupied by Booby’s Bar. The name, Trail Birds, is an homage to Darlington — “trail” for the town’s well-used ATV trails and “birds” for the Darlington Redbirds.

“Edgar and I both grew up in Darlington,” Ilse Mendez said. “It is near and dear to our hearts. We all have that strong sense of community.”

Since Trail Birds occupies the space of a former popular dive bar, the new owners wanted to retain some of that aesthetic while also bringing a unique experience to Darlington. Their specialty is cocktails — such as espresso martinis, mojitos and pina coladas.

“It’s all the cocktails you’d find in big cities without big city prices,” Ilse Mendez said.

Those with different tastes will also have options, Ilse Mendez said, such as beer and seltzer.

Ilse Mendez said the outside of the bar looks similar to Booby’s and the owners kept some vintage elements inside, while other parts of the bar were repainted and refurnished. She said Trail Birds has “kind of a speakeasy vibe.”

Trail Birds is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, 4 p.m. to midnight Fridays and noon to midnight Saturdays. Ilse Mendez said she anticipates extended hours in the summer, when more ATV riders are in the area.

Updates can be found at trailbirdsdarlington.com or at the bar’s Facebook page.

Dubuque Walmart remodel kicks off

The Walmart Supercenter at 4200 Dodge St. in Dubuque is one of 10 in Iowa selected for a significant remodel this year.

Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield said remodel work at the store begins this month and is expected to be completed mid-summer, after which there will be a “re-grand opening ceremony.” Several hundred Walmart stores will be remodeled nationwide in 2025.

These remodels include new signage, expanded departments with new items, expanded online pickup and delivery and pharmacy space changes.

At the Dubuque Walmart, store manager Jessica Nicholson said additions will include wider grocery and pet item selections, an expanded cosmetic section, more parking spaces for grocery pickup and the addition of a mother’s room.

“We are really excited for customers to see the changes coming to our store,” Nicholson wrote in an email.

Nicholson said a mural will be installed at the entrance to “reflect the culture and spirit of the Dubuque community.”

Hatfield added that pharmacy changes in Dubuque will include wider aisles, a private screening room and more private checkout lanes.

Additionally, new signage will be installed with new displays better showcasing merchandise, such as a display bed with bedding and bedroom decor in the home section, she said.

Driftless Pizza expands offering

A pizza restaurant in Dubuque’s Millwork District is undergoing renovations to expand its offerings.

Driftless Pizza Co. owner Jacob Simmons, who also owns arcade and taproom Backpocket Dubuque in the same building, said busy nights at his businesses have necessitated growth.

“We’ve been running long wait times Fridays and Saturdays,” he said. “We wanted to shorten that up.”

Simmons said kitchen expansions already have been completed, and work is nearing completion on several other additions to Driftless Pizza, including a “flight room.”

The space will feature pool tables and steel-tipped darts with automated scoring.

Simmons said this concept was inspired by his taproom, which is also known for its games.

“The concept … has worked well for us,” he said. “It’s just more for people to do (while they) get a pizza, grab a beer.”

Also in the flight room are three “snugs” or “nooks,” which offer customers more privacy.

“It’s an Irish concept — a little cozy space tucked away from the main area,” Simmons said.

Simmons said the basement below the restaurant — formerly home to The Jester’s Lounge — also is undergoing major renovations.

“It only made sense for us to expand that, as well,” Simmons said.

The space will be used for private parties, Simmons said. The area already features a built-in bar space, and additional games such as ping pong and foosball will be offered.

“We have a pretty vibrant event business in Backpocket,” Simmons said. “This will now be another space.”

Still less than a year old, Driftless Pizza’s growth has been great, Simmons said.

“It’s been an overall positive response,” Simmons said. “We got great feedback from the public on the pizza.”

Simmons said New York-style pizza long has been popular in Dubuque, but Driftless Pizza helped popularize Detroit-style in the Key City.

“The thick crust — not a lot of people have had that, and it’s been really, really positively received,” he said.

Driftless Pizza, 333 E. 10th St., is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Simmons said the flight room will open Monday, April 7, and will have different hours — 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Updates to the renovation are available at Driftless Pizza’s Facebook page, tinyurl.com/DriftlessDBQ.