Uptown Coffee Company to replace Roasters cafe in NewBo City Market

Cedar Rapids — New things are brewing in New Bohemia.

A Marion caffeine staple is opening its first expansion as soon as another shop in Cedar Rapids moves around the corner.

Uptown Coffee Company, 760 11th St. in Marion, plans to open a second location at NewBo City Market the week of Jan. 19, pending health inspections.

The expansion, Uptown Coffee Company’s first since it opened in 2020, will replace Roasters, NewBo City Market’s coffee resident. Co-owner Lexi Ruskauff, who owns Uptown Coffee Company with her husband, Rex, said their cafe will be in a slightly different spot than the one Roasters occupied.

At opening, their NewBo location will be just inside the front door to the right in the center of the market’s two aisles for most vendors. Later in the year, they will move to the more open area where NewBo Beer and Wine is currently located. The bar, in turn, will move across the building to the space Roasters used.

Roasters, a longtime anchor in NewBo, will remain open until Jan. 18 before moving to ensure no gap in coffee service at the market. The Corridor Business Journal has reported its new location, not yet publicly announced by Roasters, as 1120 Second St. SE — the former Vinyl Emporium, which closed in April.

Uptown Coffee Company’s new menu will be similar to its current menu in Marion, though limited in scope as it opens. Lexi Ruskauff said the new location will start out serving its coffee, espresso, matcha and tea drinks, in addition to basic breakfast items like sandwiches and burritos. Later, they will expand their breakfast and lunch menu.

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

Get the latest restaurant news, food reviews and insider tips from the Chew on This newsletter.