From a French bakery to a pet spa to a plant shop, discover Cedar Rapids’ top women-owned businesses.
Cedar Rapids is home to tons of small businesses worth supporting—and several of them are owned by women. Whether you’re looking for snacks for your next movie night, a place to pamper yourself after a long day, or a unique dining experience, one of Cedar Rapids many women-owned businesses has you covered.
Break out your wallet and get ready to do some shopping you can feel good about at one of Cedar Rapids’ best women-owned businesses.
1. Almost Famous Popcorn
Sydney Rieckhoff co-founded Almost Famous Popcorn more than a decade ago—when she was just 14 years old. She’s now the CEO of the small, family-run business that sells—you guessed it—popcorn.
There are traditional flavors, such as caramel, cheddar cheese, and white cheddar, as well as plenty of unique flavors. For example, Fire Breathing Dragon is a spicy popcorn made with ghost pepper oil, and Summer Lovin’ is a fruit-flavored popcorn that looks a bit like Fruity Pebbles.
You can visit the company’s retail store in Cedar Rapids or order individual bags, pre-built boxes, and custom boxes of popcorn online.
Address: 1121 3rd St. SE
2. Anh’s Bread Therapy
When Anh Le moved from Vietnam to Connecticut, she had no idea how to bake. However, she started baking during the pandemic—while simultaneously running a bed and breakfast—and developed a passion for it.
A job offer for her husband brought Anh to Iowa, where she opened Anh’s Bread Therapy, a cozy tea house that also serves a wide variety of baked goods.
Everything at Anh’s is baked fresh daily, and the menu includes desserts like miso-caramel and matcha cookies, tiramisu, and cheesecake, a variety of breads, including sourdough and Shokupan, a traditional Japanese soft milk bread, and other Asian-inspired treats such as ube buns and Hong Kong coconut inside-out buns.
You can enjoy a cup of tea with your baked goods at one of the eatery’s few tables or treat yourself to the full experience during an English High Tea or Asian Tea ceremony in the private tea salon.
Address: 77 16th Ave. SW
3. Coffee Republic
Get your caffeine fix and a quick bite to eat at Coffee Republic. Locally owned by Jasondra Stevens, this café offers classic hot and cold coffee drinks and other beverages, such as tea, chai and matcha lattes, and lemonade.
Coffee Republic is open for breakfast and lunch, with both menus featuring a selection of sandwiches—from a ham and cheese croissant to a pesto grilled cheese—and bagels, plus quiche for breakfast and soup at lunchtime.
Address: 220 3rd Ave.
4. French Pastry by Sandrine
Satisfy your sweet tooth at French Pastry by Sandrine, a women-owned bakery serving traditional and authentic French desserts. Owner Sandrine Wallace, originally from the South of France, brought her love for baking French treats with her when she moved to Iowa and opened her bakery in 2018.
Everything is handmade from scratch daily, and the menu is extensive—including more than 120 flavors of macarons. There are fruit-flavored macrons, macrons made with bourbon and rosé champagne, some that were inspired by other desserts, like crème brûlée and lemon meringue pie, and even a few savory macrons.
But macrons aren’t the only thing on the menu. Wallace also makes madeleines (using a family recipe), rustic cottage-style pies, cakes, crêpes, cookies, and beignets (to name just a few).
Address: Liberty Dr. SE
5. Illuminations Center for Enlightenment
If you’re looking to get in touch with your spiritual side, Illuminations Center for Enlightenment is the place for you. The metaphysical center’s list of services offered is lengthy and includes yoga, massage therapy, energy work, and intuitive and psychic readings. Not only is the business women-owned, but all the practitioners are women, too.
The center, which consists of eight practitioner rooms and a classroom studio, also has a retail shop where it sells a variety of products ranging from essential oils and tarot cards to singing bowls and candles.
Address: The Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. SE, Ste. 115
6. La Bella Pet Spa
Natasha Bartosh grew up around animals and started her career in the pet grooming industry at the age of 19. In 2013, she opened La Bella Pet Spa—an award-winning, full-service salon—and has plans to open another location later this year.
La Bella Pet Spa offers several grooming packages and add-ons, such as a facial scrub, nail painting, and ear cleaning. It also offers some more unique services, including colored mohawks, hair tinsel, gem and nail decals, and dyed tails—all of which are pet safe.
Address: 400 Edgewood Rd. NW
7. Moss Plant Shop
Whether you’re looking for some greenery for your home or office or need a unique gift for an upcoming birthday or special occasion, Moss Plant Shop has you covered.
The family-owned, independent plant and gift shop is a light and airy space packed with treasures. The shop sells tropical houseplants, succulents, and airplants, as well as a carefully curated selection of handmade pottery, books, jewelry, candles, soaps, and stationery.
Many of the items you’ll find on the store’s shelves were made by local artists. When the store sources items nationally, the focus remains on supporting small makers who prioritize craftsmanship, quality, and uniqueness.
Moss Plant Shop also hosts workshops where you can learn to make things like wall art featuring moss and other plants and terrariums.
Address: 74 16th Ave. SW
8. Ruze Spa
When you’re in need of some pampering, head to Ruze Spa, a vegan-friendly, holistic spa owned by Courtney Ruze.
Services include facial and body waxing, massages, facials, eyelash extensions, and lash perming, and use plant-based waxes and other products. The spa also offers energy work services, including craniosacral therapy, raindrop therapy, and tarot card readings.
Address: 420 12th Ave. SE, Ste. 3-09
9. The District CR
Feeding people has always been Desiree DeMaria’s passion. In 2024, she turned that passion into a career when she opened The District CR with fellow female entrepreneur Amanda Rops.
The restaurant is housed in the historic Sokol Gymnasium building and has a modern industrial interior. With its food, the restaurant brings something unique to Cedar Rapids by blending Italian family traditions with Southern soul. The Italian-Cajun-Creole fusion menu features Italian dishes that honor DeMaria’s heritage alongside Cajun-Creole dishes inspired by her business trips to Louisiana.
In addition to a selection of flatbreads, wings, and handhelds, the menu includes signature dishes like shrimp and grits with tasso sauce, chicken parmesan, and tasso-covered fettuccine.
Address: 415 3rd St. SE
10. The Hangry Lady
Before your next movie night, book club meeting, or other special gathering, order a chef-curated charcuterie board from The Hangry Lady. Cedar Rapids native Allie Lanham debuted The Hangry Lady in 2020 and set up shop in a stall at NewBo City Market in 2021 before opening her own storefront in 2023.
Now, The Hangry Lady offers charcuterie boards and boxes—with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available—custom catering, and lunch service, with many ingredients sourced from local creameries and farms.
If you want to learn how to design and assemble your own charcuterie board, The Hangry Lady offers classes where you can do just that in-store or at your home or office.
Address: 1101 3rd St. SE
