Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
    • Elijah Decious
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • Elijah Decious
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Wellington Heights home gutted in 2017 fire finally coming down

26-year-old man killed in shooting in NE Cedar Rapids

Peggy Whitson to be keynote speaker for Iowa Ideas 2021

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Livestream: Funeral for Iowa state trooper Jim Smith

Home / Food & Drink

Local restaurants battle big chains in downtown Cedar Rapids

Nadia Crow Oct. 31, 2012 1:45 pm Updated: Oct. 31, 2012 1:45 pm
Local restaurants battle big chains in downtown Cedar Rapids

Family-owned businesses say big chains are bumping them out of downtown Cedar Rapids.

Several new restaurants have opened in the downtown area in the past few months.  For most diners, that means many more food options.  But some businesses say the oversaturated market is cutting in on their profits.

It's been a roller-coaster for these small cafes and delis.

After the flood of 2008, there were hardly any downtown food options.  Now, everyone's anticipating large crowds from the newly renovated Paramount Theatre and soon-to-open Convention Center.

“Our customer base almost tripled from where we were three doors down. It was unbelievable,” said Little King Deli co-owner Barbara Dauenbaugh, who has prepared for the lunch crowd for the past 11 years.

That was the height of the business before the flood of 2008.  They came back, right along with Austin Blues BBQ in the Armstrong Building just around the corner.

“When I came down here, it was locally owned, locally operated restaurants that were down here, and now the franchises are down here,” said Austin Blues BBQ owner Barb Hartgrave.

Hartgrave says franchises such as Jimmy John's and Milio's, now also downtown, are eating into their customer base and ultimately threatening their livelihood.

“We have no corporate backing," Hartgrave said. "It's just us ourselves having to pay for everything out of our pocket.”

“When they (Jimmy John's) first opened up, the first six weeks our business was cut in half,"  Dauenbaugh said. "We would go from x amount of business to half, and then it recovered, and then Milio's opened up and our business has gone way downhill again."

But these mom-and-pop shops hope loyal customers like Kjas Long still support them.

“The quality of the big chains isn't usually up to the quality of the local establishments,” Long said.

Long says the solution is simple - bring in more retail stores.

“It would be nice if we could have more retail," Long said. "Thirty years ago, I remember when I lived in Waterloo, we used to come to shop downtown in Cedar Rapids because it was a shopping area."

Hartgrave says she's trying a new marketing push: catering.  She hopes to attract more people who don't live in walking distance of the Armstrong Building.  Dauenbaugh hopes this is just another obstacle she'll overcome, like the flood and other hard times.

The locally-owned Sub King deli in the Armstrong food court. ( KCRG-TV9)
Your Voice

Trending

  • Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

    Jeff Linder

  • University of Iowa bookstore changes strip alternative book vendors from…

    Vanessa Miller

  • Maps and charts: Coronavirus in Iowa

    The Gazette

  • NewBoCo receives $110,000 in state funding to help minority-owned businesses

    John Steppe

  • New University of Iowa diversity head resigns after seven weeks

    Vanessa Miller

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

ISU professor: Updated 'nutrition facts' should include caffeine content

ISU professor: Updated 'nutrition facts' should include caffeine content

Vanessa Miller K-12 Education Apr. 8, 2014 11:14 pm

CDC: Teen pregnancy rate down, but there's still work to…

CDC: Teen pregnancy rate down, but there's still work to…

N/A Health & Wellness Apr. 8, 2014 11:14 pm

Final numbers: Iowa basketball 2013-14

Final numbers: Iowa basketball 2013-14

High School Basketball Apr. 8, 2014 11:13 pm

Food & Drink

Ramen Belly opens in Iowa City’s Peninsula Neighborhood

Ramen Belly opens in Iowa City’s Peninsula Neighborhood

Elijah Decious

Restaurants Apr. 14, 2021 6:17 pm

Scoop Coop ice cream coming to CR, Hip-stir restaurant to…

Scoop Coop ice cream coming to CR, Hip-stir restaurant to…

Elijah Decious

Restaurants Apr. 15, 2021 10:13 am

Former home of North Country Steakhouse to become retail space

Former home of North Country Steakhouse to become retail space

John Steppe

Apr. 14, 2021 4:54 pm

Try your hand at Russian hand pies

Try your hand at Russian hand pies

Joshua Tibbetts

Food & Drink Apr. 11, 2021 12:17 pm

Business

NewBoCo to offer zero-interest loans to minority-owned businesses

NewBoCo to offer zero-interest loans to minority-owned businesses

John Steppe

Small Business News 2h ago

Iowa’s March unemployment rate holds at 3.7%

Iowa’s March unemployment rate holds at 3.7%

John Steppe

Employment 4h ago

Moviegoers cautiously heading back

Moviegoers cautiously heading back

Steve Gravelle

Business News 3h ago

Iowa prepares for second hemp season

Iowa prepares for second hemp season

Erin Jordan

Agriculture News Apr. 15, 2021 7:17 pm

News

100 bills in Hinson’s first 100 days in House

100 bills in Hinson’s first 100 days in House

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics 13m ago

More than 2 million vaccine doses have been administered in…

More than 2 million vaccine doses have been administered in…

Kat Russell

Health Care and Medicine 23m ago

NewBoCo to offer zero-interest loans to minority-owned businesses

NewBoCo to offer zero-interest loans to minority-owned businesses

John Steppe

Small Business News 2h ago

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 3h ago

Sports

Keeping fit during quarantine is important

Keeping fit during quarantine is important

By Max Berry-Stoelzle

Iowa Prep Sports 4h ago

State-qualifying track and field assignments are released

State-qualifying track and field assignments are released

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field Apr. 16, 2021 10:34 am

Iowa’s magical soccer season continuing

Iowa’s magical soccer season continuing

Iowa Hawkeyes Apr. 16, 2021 11:10 am

Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field Apr. 16, 2021 8:07 am

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company