Unimpaired Dry Bar expanding to Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — A dry bar with locations in Iowa City and the Quad Cities is expanding further north to downtown Cedar Rapids.

Unimpaired Express, a new franchise of Unimpaired Dry Bar, started sporting new signs announcing an opening soon at 415 Third St. SE, Suite 102 — formerly home to Hawks Nest Sports Bar & Grill, across the street from The Map Room. Signage for Hawks Nest has been removed from the location, though it’s unclear when the sports bar closed.

The sign for the new “express” location — a distinction from other Unimpaired locations — advertises specialty coffees, lotus energy drinks and monthly mocktails. Though an opening date has not been announced, the location is in the process of hiring staff.

Business co-owners Amber Haines and Jim Thomson, who first started the non-alcoholic bar in Davenport, saw a warm reaction to the unique concept when they opened a second location in Iowa City in October 2021.

In addition to zero-proof liquor substitutes that deliver the same bite as whiskey or gin, Unimpaired’s other locations have a full menu of handcrafted pizzas and high-quality salads.

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