Opening Doors has received a Core Grant from the Iowa Women’s Foundation. The grant is awarded to Iowa organizations that address one of the six critical barriers facing Iowa women and girls: employment, child care, housing, education/training, transportation and mentoring.

A Dubuque restaurant has started on a sizable expansion that is sure please its youthful customers.

Pizza Ranch has kicked off a renovation that will add 2,250 square feet to its location at 2020 Radford Road.

Manager Tony Powers said the new space will feature a gaming area, where players can earn tickets and redeem them for prizes. The new space also will include a pair of new party rooms that can be rented out for occasions such as birthday parties.

Powers noted that many other Pizza Ranch locations recently added similar kid-friendly amenities, including locations in Marion, North Liberty and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A mother-daughter duo that previously operated a community retail space on Central Avenue soon will open their business in a different part of downtown Dubuque.

Alice Klinkhammer and her mother, Vickie, will open Mercantile on Main at 962 Main St. in November. The pair formerly oversaw Central Avenue Mercantile, a community retail space at 1902 Central Ave.

Alice explained that the Mercantile on Main will place a strong emphasis on local makers and products.

Similar to the space on Central Avenue, Mercantile on Main will offer booth spaces to tri-state vendors looking to sell their wares. The product selection will include everything from stained glass and paintings, to wreaths and flower arrangements.