Sugarfire barbecue closing Cedar Rapids restaurant, endorses NewBo barbecue vendor

CEDAR RAPIDS — Sugarfire Smoke House is closing its Cedar Rapids restaurant Nov. 4, about three years after it first opened.

“It is time for us to close our doors. We have been fighting an uphill battle since breaking ground on our building renovations in February of 2020 and opening to the public in June of 2020,” the restaurant said in a social media post. “Unfortunately, operation costs are just too high now.”

The restaurant cited barriers to profitability as they worked to get off the ground through the pandemic and derecho. Operators thanked their loyal customers, referring them to Midnight Smoker BBQ in NewBo City Market for “top notch ‘que.”

The St. Louis-based barbecue franchise, 2340 Edgewood Rd. SW, first opened on the perimeter of Westdale Town Center in 2020 to offer its counter-service menu with hickory-smoked premium meats made to order.

The chain’s 16th location was started and operated by Mark and Diane Niebuhr of Benton County, who have owned Hope’s Bridal and Prom since 1985.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.