New restaurant moving into former Sweet Basil’s Pizza Pie in Cedar Rapids

Building finds new life after nearly three years vacancy

Dec. 27, 2022 5:30 am, Updated: Dec. 29, 2022 10:01 am

Green Go Restaurant signage appears on the outside of 2874 Mount Vernon Rd. SE in Cedar Rapids on Dec. 21, 2022. The building was previously home to Sweet Basil’s Pizza Pie. (Elijah Decious/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — After nearly three years vacant, a new restaurant is moving into the building previously home to Sweet Basil’s Pizza Pie.

New signage for Green Go Restaurant was recently installed at 2874 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, along with new blue paint on the building’s exterior. The new restaurant offers no hints as to the food it will serve, other than “carryout and delivery” and a steering wheel on the sign.

A permit to make changes valued over $10,000 inside the building was issued by the City of Cedar Rapids in November. Property records from the Cedar Rapids City Assessor indicate the property is owned by AJR Properties LLC, the same owner as when it was used by Sweet Basil’s.

It’s unclear who will own or manage the new restaurant.

Sweet Basil’s closed in February 2020 after 15 years in business. Owner Angela Kobusch said her family was ready for new opportunities as one of her three employees, mother Sheryl Kobusch, decided to retire.

It was a second life for the pizzeria, which Angela Kobusch reopened in 2012 after a brief closure. The restaurant was originally opened in 2005 by Basil and Lynn Hadjis.

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