Paint parties expand to Cedar Rapids businesses

An Eastern Iowan company will be expanding its partnership with roughly 20 restaurants and businesses in Cedar Rapids.

Uncorked Paint Wine Design, which began in 2013, allows groups of people to create a painting while enjoying food or drinks. Owner Sheila Mooney said it has expanded to work with 15 to 20 Cedar Rapids businesses to let customers choose their experience.

'We had one or two locations that offer the class, then we thought 'Wait a minute,'' she said. 'We want you to tell us, and people were telling us, 'This is the appetizer and painting we want to do.' We've decided to do a totally different paint party. We're re-thinking the big picture to let you decide. You pick what you want, and we cater to it.'

The company originally had set nights in one or two locations and would offer its services to customers.

But with the new partnerships, it will no longer offer those classes and instead have 'pop-up parties.' Anyone interested can choose a restaurant or business where they want to hold the party. Cedar Rapids partners include the Cedar Rapids Public Library, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Panera and Granite City.

Mooney said this type of business model is something that is seen in larger cities, but is new to the Eastern Iowa region.

'This is just something new,' she said. 'We tested the market last year, but this is a model that is traditionally seen in larger cities like Chicago.'

In addition to Cedar Rapids, the paint company will expand to 75 total businesses in Iowa City, the Quad Cities, Muscatine and Clinton. 

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