Chew on This: Scooter’s Coffee and Daisy’s expand

Scooter’s Coffee is opening two new locations in the Corridor in June, company representatives told The Gazette.

One new Scooter’s location is planned for 3212 Mount Vernon Rd. SE in Cedar Rapids opening June 11. The other, slated to open mid to late June, is at 1335 Iowa Highway 1 in Iowa City, next to Procter & Gamble.

The latter will be Iowa City’s first Scooter’s. The Mount Vernon Road location will join six other franchises in Cedar Rapids and one in Marion.

Smiley’s food truck honors memory of a friend

Jordan and Nick Fitzgerald opened Smiley’s Soups and Sandwiches on May 1, a food truck that offers Kentucky Hot Browns (open faced turkey sandwiches), cheese steak sandwiches, Cubans and hearty homemade soups.

The truck was named after the owners’ close friend, Dustin Smiley, died late last year.

“His laugh and smile were contagious and his never-ending positive attitude made everyone around him a better person,” said Jordan Fitzgerald. “My husband and Dustin talked every night and gamed, dreaming of their future, and the food truck was always a goal of theirs.”

After he died unexpectedly, Nick decided to follow their dream.

The food truck keeps an updated schedule through its website, smileysiowa.com. For advance orders and reservations, call (319) 899-0000 or email smileysiowa@gmail.com.

Daisy’s Garage expands

Daisy’s Garage, 5240 Edgewood Rd. NE, Suite 100 in Cedar Rapids, is adding space that will about double the square footage of the restaurant, which serves seafood, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Owner Jade Luter said the expansion, which was planned before the pandemic started, should open May 24. The expansion will include a bar, three new garage doors, two of which will open to the back patio, 12 additional TVs and added scenery with the new space.

The space Daisy’s is expanding into, adjacent to its current location, was previously occupied by Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping, Luter said.

St. Ludmila baking kolaches

St. Ludmila Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids, is accepting orders for kolaches for pickup on June 12, July 17, Sept. 18 and Nov. 13.

Kolaches, available this year by pre-order only, can be ordered at kolachbaking@outlook.com or (319) 350-4145. Cherry, apple, strawberry, apricot and poppy seed kolaches are available for $14 per dozen or $7 per half dozen.

Pickups will be available by drive-thru only at the church’s parking lot via its Second Street Southwest entrance from 8 to 10 a.m. on pickup days.

Those wishing to help bake can sign up for volunteer shifts online.

Comments: (319) 398-8340; elijah.decious@thegazette.com