Zoetic Coffee, a locally-owned Christian coffee shop, is open for business in Iowa City’s South District Market. Located at 947 Highway 6 E., this is the brand’s second location, opening four years after the initial location opened in Solon, Iowa, in 2021.
Lisa Bishop, the owner of both Zoetic Coffee locations, said the coffee shop, which opened on Dec. 1, is a Christian, faith-based company. She wanted to open another location to serve the Iowa City area.
“I thought Zoetic would be a great fit for this area of Iowa City, and so I feel like God was just saying to move forward,” Bishop said. “I do think we are very openly a Christian coffee shop that wants to love and serve our customers well. I think people recognize that that is how they feel when they come — they get an experience with great quality coffee but also awesome customer service.”
To go along with the shop’s Christian theme, employees write scriptures and encouraging messages on coffee sleeves, Ellie Martens, a Zoetic Coffee employee, said.
“That’s why I love going back to Solon,” Martens said. “It’s good to have a little bit of a pick-me-up and go get a coffee, and sometimes there’s a good message on the sleeve. And I think it’s just encouraging.”
Bishop said the menu from the Solon location will overlap with the Iowa City location and eventually expand to include additional menu items.
“We’re definitely going to expand,” Bishop said. “I would say January, but first we’ll have a full menu here.
The full-year menu includes brewed coffee, espresso beverages, hot and iced specialty drinks, smoothies, and energy drinks. They also serve avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, a breakfast quesadilla, and other breakfast food items and pastries.
RELATED: Holiday spending persists despite tumultuous economy
Lesley Parent, an Iowa City resident and customer at Zoetic Coffee, said she hopes the coffee shop has a strong start.
“It’s great for this part of town to have a place for people to gather and have some great coffee and support locals,” Parent said. “So I really hope it takes off for them like the one in Solon has.”
The Iowa City location has five employees so far, but Bishop is hopeful the store will expand its service hours and employment as the new year begins.
“I think as soon as finals are finished next week, we can start training a few more staff members,” Bishop said. “And then once I get [them] in place and trained, we will extend our hours.”
The Iowa City location is open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Martens said despite the shop not being located in Iowa City’s busy downtown, it provides a welcoming environment for customers, drawing in students to a study space away from campus.
“I think it’s really fun to see people come in and do their homework and study and talk,” Martens said. “I think that’s the whole point of having a little space where you can kind of come and gather and chit-chat. So it’s been exciting for sure.”