Jethro’s BBQ plans Coralville opening

CORALVILLE — Jethro’s BBQ is planning what would be its eighth location in Coralville.

The Iowa barbecue chain is planning to move into the former Old Chicago location at 75 Second Street. It’s unclear when Old Chicago closed; its social media was active until February.

A job listing seeking a manager for the new location notes that the restaurant will be opening in spring 2023. Owner Bruce Gerleman declined to comment on the timing of the new Coralville opening, asking The Gazette to reach out later “over the next couple months” for more information.

With all of its current locations across the Des Moines metro and Ames, the Coralville location would be Jethro’s first outside of central Iowa. But Coralville isn’t the only one catching the restaurant’s eye.

Earlier in December, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported a public hearing scheduled for the rezoning of about 3.5 acres in Waterloo for another Jethro’s in the works.

Jethro’s also is planning another location in downtown Des Moines near the Wells Fargo Arena.

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