Crisp & Green, a healthy fast food restaurant, has opened the doors to its 50th location in the nation in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing, bringing fast and healthy meal options to the area.
The Minnesota-based chain now operates in two Iowa cities: Coralville and West Des Moines, with the Coralville location opening its doors Jan. 31. Its menu features a variety of health-based options like salads, grain bowls, wraps, acai bowls, and smoothies, with a price range of $5 to $18.
Founder and CEO Steele Smiley now has over 50 locations since his first restaurant opened in downtown Wayzata, Minnesota, in 2016, with other notable locations in Minneapolis, Orlando, Naperville, Dallas, and Nashville.
General Manager Hailey Cook was excited for the opening, and said being an assistant general manager at Tin Roost in North Liberty helped her transition into the role. Cook said Crisp & Green also offers health and wellness events, like a run club and other fitness events, with the opening day gathering 400 customers, which Cook said was one of the most successful Crisp & Green events.
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She said one of the things that interested her in working at Crisp & Green was its focus on healthy fast food alternatives.
“All of our food is healthy, made fresh in-house,” she said. “We rarely have any frozen ingredients, and everything is pretty much made daily, if not multiple times a day. So I really like the idea that everyone is getting fresh food.”
Cook said the Iowa River Landing’s lack of quick meal alternatives for neighboring local populations, such as those in hotels, apartments, and smaller living communities before Crisp & Green is what makes their opening special. Especially as the River Landing only had sit-down eateries like 30hop.
Cook said the restaurant’s healthy menu has greater health benefits than other fast food options.
“There are lots of athletes in this area, high school, college, semi-professional, and professional at Xtream Arena, so that’s a clientele that we can give them something really good for their bodies.”
Kayla Hanold, a University of Iowa second-year student who works at the Coralville location, is a Minnesotan who said she tried Crisp & Green back home, and finding the job online was a reminder of home. When comparing the Coralville location to the one she’s had in Minnesota, Hanold describes both as having good quality menus.
She also hopes that another Crisp & Green near the UI campus can open as well.
“It’d be really great to be closer to campus too because I know a lot of students don’t have cars down here,” she said. “And so having something within a walkable distance, that’s a lot healthier, but an option would be great.”
Kendall Guinn, a Crisp & Green service member and a junior at Solon High School, recommended that new customers try the No Prop Cob, a personal favorite of hers that has gained popularity.
As someone from a small town, she said Crisp & Green has offered a viable means of employment and a community-driven environment.
“Solon, just being a small town, the town kind of revolves around the school, so all of the restaurants and any positions that you can get as a teenager are kind of already taken up by your peers and your classmates,” she said. “I love my team members here. I love our manager, Hailey. They’re super nice, friendly, and helpful. And, like I said earlier everybody’s just always trying to help each other out.”
One thing Guinn said she enjoyed on her first day of the opening was the help they provided with the food bank. As a community-driven restaurant, Crisp & Green collaborated with other stores in the River Landing, like Lululemon, as well as local vendors for a 3-day event.
Iowa River Landing Manager Kristie Wetjen said a community-oriented approach helps strengthen business partnerships.
Although Wetjen states the River Landing is close to reaching capacity for restaurants, she said Crisp & Green has added an exciting vitality to what the area seeks in the neighborhood and economically.
“Crisp & Green really fits into some things that we have coming up in the neighborhood that are kind of geared towards healthy movement and partnering,” she said. “I know they’ve already started partnering with Lululemon, so we’d love to see that, and we think that will continue, and will only be a benefit to the entire community.”