Hy-Vee to bring Market Grille Express to Cedar Rapids, Iowa City

CEDAR RAPIDS - Grocery chain Hy-Vee will transition some of its area Market Grilles to an express model during the next month.

Hy-Vee plans to change Market Grilles in five Cedar Rapids and Iowa City stores to the company's Market Grille Express. Instead of the full-service restaurant style of existing Market Grilles, the Express concept will have customers order meals from a pay station, sit and 'enjoy their meal in a casual self-service, contemporary atmosphere,” Hy-Vee spokeswoman Amy McCoy said.

'Statistics show more people are eating out these days, so our in-store restaurants fit the trend of what people are looking for,” McCoy said in an email.

Hy-Vee's Market Grille Express concept will go into the following Cedar Rapids stores:

l 1843 Johnson Ave. NW.

l 4035 Mount Vernon Rd. SE.

In Iowa City stores:

l 1720 Waterfront Dr.

l 812 S. First Ave.

l 1125 N. Dodge St.

Menus at the Express restaurants will include scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos and pancakes in the morning, with appetizers, burgers and sandwiches in the afternoon and evening. They also will have a full-service bar, McCoy said.

'The Hy-Vee Market Grille Express concept also allows our customers to have a more convenient and quick eating experience if they are on the go,” she said.

McCoy said no staff cuts are associated with the transition.

l Comments: (319) 398-8366; matthew.patane@thegazette.com