Stillwater Coffee Company reopens in Hiawatha

HIAWATHA — Stillwater Coffee Co. has reopened its doors for the first time since temporarily closing in mid-October.

The shop, previously managed by Cedar Rapids pop singer Alisabeth Von Presley, reopened Dec. 2, revealing a new, cozy aesthetic — a sharp departure from its previously pink, flamboyant decor.

Von Presley announced on Dec. 19 that she was “no longer associated” with the cafe, where she worked alongside her mother.

“When I look back — no matter how stressful it could get at times, or how many of my pink couches got espresso stains on them, it was always about so much more than just a cup of coffee,” she said on social media. “It was about creating a space that welcomed every single person — without judgment.”

Neither Von Presley nor Stillwater have articulated the details surrounding her departure. The singer started managing the coffee shop in August 2020.

Owners Nick and Kim Morio opened the cafe next to Nick Morio's dental practice, Dental Implant and Oral Surgery Specialists of Iowa.

Stillwater Coffee will operate with abbreviated hours for the holidays. Regular hours will resume in 2024.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.