Category Archives: Features

Feature: Zeno’s Pizza (Marshalltown, Iowa)

Zeno's Restaurant (Marshalltown, Iowa)

Located in the heart of Marshalltown, Iowa, is Zeno’s Pizza, an established restaurant serving well-prepared, thin crust pizza at a reasonable price.  Zeno’s keeps things simple with their menu, featuring garlic bread and lettuce salads as the only options besides their classic pizza pies.

When ordering, choose from a handful of specialty pizzas (including an intriguing bacon-sauerkraut option), or opt to build your own pizza from a number of standard toppings.  The pizza begins with a thin, perfectly crispy crust, followed by a layer of tomato sauce, your choice of toppings, and an ample amount of cheese.

Beyond the food, the atmosphere satisfies the “old-fashioned pizza house” requirements, complete with textured mustard-yellow walls and padded wooden booths.  We found the wait-staff to be incredibly friendly and efficient, turning around the salad, pizza, and refills in an extraordinarily prompt manner.  If you’re in the Marshalltown area, Zeno’s is a worthy dinner destination.

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Feature: Stejskal Florists (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

Stejskal Florists (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, there’s no better place to turn for flowers than Stejskal Florists in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They’ll cheerfully answer your questions and provide useful tips and recommendations, whether you’re purchasing a single wrapped rose or a giant bouquet.  Their top-notch customer service is complemented by the consistently excellent quality of flower arrangements they sell.  As a regular customer when I lived in eastern Iowa, I was never once disappointed with my purchase.

You may pay a little more for your arrangements than you would at a big box store, but the difference in quality outweighs any difference in price.  Plus, by shopping at Stejskal’s, you’ll be supporting a family-owned business that has been part of the Cedar Rapids community for over 60 years.  Located in a bright pink building near the intersection of Wilson and Bowling Avenues, it’s a hard place to miss – and one you won’t want to miss anytime you’re buying flowers.

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Feature: Riverbend Pizza and Steakhouse (Keosauqua, Iowa)

Riverbend Pizza and Steak House (Keosauqua, Iowa)

Most residents of southeast Iowa are familiar with the villages of Van Buren county. The small community of Cantril features the Dutchman’s Store, a block-long store selling dry goods, frozen foods, and more. An old grist mill in Bonaparte is home to a popular restaurant, while a new creamery in Milton specializes in specialty cheese curds.

The largest town in the county is Keosauqua, with just over 1,000 residents. Being the second-smallest county seat in the state, you won’t find a single big box discount or dollar store in the city limits. Instead, you’ll enjoy a refreshingly simple downtown district with a local grocer, pharmacy and other small businesses.

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Feature: Stoner Drug (Hamburg, Iowa)

Stoner Drug (Hamburg, Iowa)

Though the building facade and drug store sign have changed over the years, the tenets of a great drug store are still in tact.  An underwhelming atmosphere is made up for by a long tradition of great drinks and ice cream snacks, plus some of the friendliest service you’ll ever find at a soda fountain.

Beyond the traditional pops, sodas and sundaes, you’ll want to try their special salad sandwiches.  Choose between homemade ham or chicken salad, served with a slice of lettuce on plain or toasted bread.  Add a drink, and your lunch will run just over $5.

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Feature: Penn Drug (Sidney, Iowa)

Penn Drug (Sidney, Iowa)

The small community of Sidney, Iowa, is home to the state’s oldest pharmacy.  Located on the west side of the square, Penn Drug Co. has been in business for nearly 150 years.

Enter the front door and you’ll find perfumes and lotions behind glass on antique shelving lining the north wall.  If you’re not stopping to fill a prescription, you can peruse the selection of Russell Stover chocolates, pick out a greeting card, or grab a seat at the old-fashioned soda fountain.

The entire soda fountain is charming, with surprisingly comfortable stools and a classy black marble counter.  For under a dollar, you can enjoy one of their featured flavors of ice cream, while pops and phosphates are even cheaper.

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