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To Waukee Homeowners

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Every August, millions of people visit the legendary Iowa State Fair to enjoy great food, extraordinary entertainment and of course, the well-known Varied Industries Building, looking for the best deals on top-of-the-line products. I look forward to the Iowa State Fair each year, as I have many fond memories from all of my years there.

For me, it started 18 years ago when I moved from Minnesota to Iowa. I didn’t know a single soul here, but I truly believed in my product and I was ready to share it with Iowans, so what better place to do that than at the State Fair? I stood there in a small booth in the Varied Industries Building, excited to present the LeafGuard Gutters and explain to each person the benefits that the gutter system has to offer. To my excitement, Iowans seemed just as thrilled as I was to hear more about the superior, one-seamless-piece gutter system!

In 2010, I expanded our services to include GAF Roofing Systems. We had established ourselves as a reliable home improvement company and focused on providing excellent customer service, so naturally, it made sense to offer other products and services.

2017 was a milestone year for our company at the Iowa State Fair, as we debuted our new name: Home Solutions of Iowa (HSI). I changed the company name from LeafGuard to HSI because I wanted Iowans to know that we had more to offer than just the LeafGuard gutter system. As the company grew, so did the number of booths that we offered in the Varied Industries Building—bringing us to a total of two booths. This allowed us to dedicate one booth to customers who recognized us as LeafGuard and one booth that allowed us to introduce and showcase our other exterior products.

2020 was an extremely challenging year for everyone, with a lot of uncertainty on what was going to get thrown at us next. With more people staying home, a lot of people focused on home improvement projects that they had not gotten around to in the past. This is when our company decided to stay positive and turn our situation into a constructive one by offering not only the well-known LeafGuard Gutters and GAF Roofing, but also decks and rain barrels, as well. We wanted homeowners to be able to create their ideal outdoor living space and enjoy staying home in the most comfortable way possible.

Fast forward to this year! Summer is in full swing and we’re anxious for the Iowa State Fair to begin so we can see the familiar faces of past customers, as well as lots of new faces, and share all we have to offer. As in the past, we will have giveaway items and fun activities! I’m excited to speak with my fellow Iowans about all of your home improvement needs. I personally cannot wait, and I hope to see you there!

-Joe Smith

Echo Boland

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Where did you grow up? 
I grew up in Canal Fulton, Ohio.

When did you decide to make a hobby into a business?  
It’s funny, but baking was never a hobby for me. I didn’t even grow up around baking. My mom couldn’t bake anything but bread. She made her own bread because she didn’t want us to have the “junk” bread at the store. We weren’t allowed to eat sweets growing up, either.

Tell us a bit about Echo’s Cookie Shop.
When my daughter was little, I saw a book that had a cookie bouquet on the cover. I thought it would be fun to make that cookie bouquet with my daughter for her friend’s birthday. The book was called “Cooking with Kids,” so why not? Everybody loved it, and we made several for other friends. Two years later, I moved to Des Moines and asked the guys I worked with if anyone wanted a fun cookie bouquet for their wife for Valentine’s Day. I made about 10 of them, and the rest is history. I’ve probably made thousands of cookie bouquets since that day, as well as cakes, cupcakes and cinnamon rolls. When I retired from the Air Force in 2013, I never thought I would grow my cookie business big enough to own a brick and mortar store, but a friend had just started selling real estate and wanted me to look at some places. Not thinking I would even know how to open a storefront I said yes, with zero intentions on committing to anything. I walked into the first location and I felt it—this was the cookie shop’s new home. The City of Waukee walked me through the process and BOOM, I’ve been in my cookie shop for seven amazing years. This year, we added edible cookie dough—in vending machines! I have one outside my shop, ready to dispense edible cookie dough, monster bars and drinks 24/7. One of the best things about my cookie shop is that I made my first cookie bouquet with my daughter when she was 7, and she’s now 26 and the best baker I have at the shop. She’s moving on to her own career this month, but she’ll still be with me part-time. I have a very sweet life.  

What are your favorite projects at the shop? 
It’s not really a project, but I love, love, love my customers. I just saw a little girl on the 4th of July, who’s now 11, and I’ve been making cookies for her mom since her baby shower. I feel like the cookie shop and my customers are one big family. I’m so very blessed for the original group of customers and the new customers that stop in.

How has Echo’s Cookie Shop adapted during the pandemic?
I’m so grateful for everyone that has supported local business during the pandemic. Wow—I truly know the cookie shop is here to stay if we can make it through a pandemic and come out with a smile, still as busy as ever.

Waukee Chamber Annual Meeting & Silent Auction

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The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce 2021Annual Meeting was held virtually on Thursday, Feb. 18. Our guests enjoyed Zoom networking, presentations from Chamber leadership, award recognition and keynote speakers Beth Shelton and Jacob Repp.

The Chamber presented the following awards, recognizing members making a significant contribution in business and community involvement: Citizen of the Year – Reggie Bell; Member of the Year – Waukee Area Christian Services; and Volunteer of the Year – Gina Campos. Outgoing Board recognition included Blake Brown, Sam Huey, Gary Wiedenfeld and Ray Meister. A gavel plaque was presented to 2020 Board Chair, Bob Baumgart.

Thanks to all sponsors, members and community residents who helped us celebrate! We truly appreciate our Waukee Chamber Community Development Committee, Board of Directors, staff, intern and volunteers who helped with the auction and annual meeting details!

Citizen of the Year | Reggie Bell
Volunteer of the Year | Gina Campos
Member of the Year | Waukee Area Christian Services | Melissa Stimple

Waukee Legislative Coffee
The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome Waukee State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott and State Representative Kenan Judge to speak with Waukee residents, Chamber members and guests at the Waukee Legislative Coffee via Zoom on Saturday, March 6 at 9:00 a.m. An update will be provided about what is happening at the state level and guests will have the opportunity to ask questions. The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan organization, and is hosting this event as a service to our members and the community.

Waukee Chamber Save-the-Dates

June 17: Annual Golf Outing

Sept 9: Waukee Economic Development Bus Tour

Nov 7-13: Waukee Restaurant Week – To Go!

The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses, organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting growth and prosperity in our local economy.

www.waukeechamber.com

Waukee Chamber of Commerce

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Waukee Chamber 2021 Annual Meeting & Silent Auction
The Waukee Chamber Annual Meeting & Silent Auction will be held Thursday, Feb. 18 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in a virtual setting. Join the Chamber for an evening to celebrate the Waukee business community!

The evening will begin with a ZOOM networking social, followed by a video program featuring the accomplishments of 2020, introduction of the 2021 Board of Directors, announcement of plans for 2021 and award recognition of the Member of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year and outgoing Board leadership.  The evening will conclude with keynote speakers Jacob Repp and Beth Shelton.

More information is available online at waukeechamber.com. 

Please contact us with any questions at info@waukeechamber.com or by phone at 515-978-7115. We are excited to celebrate the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 Annual Meeting & Silent Auction with you!

Good Morning Waukee

Thanks to the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce members for joining Good Morning Waukee on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The event featured a Chamber update, guest introductions and a conversation with Todd McDonald, Board President of the Waukee Betterment Foundation, who presented on the Waukee EPIC Inclusive Playground, scheduled to open in 2022!

The Waukee Betterment Foundation has made great strides in bringing the all-inclusive park to life. The group is in need of $200,000 before February 2021 to qualify for major grants that become available next spring. If you would like to consider supporting this incredible project, please visit: http://waukeebetterment.org/give/donor-recognition/

The Good Morning Waukee video presentation is available on YouTube for anyone who missed it.

Waukee Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh Ribbon-Cutting

The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce helped to welcome Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh to Waukee on Tuesday, Nov. 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony!

Waukee Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh offers mealtime entrees, nori sushi, fresh produce, and so much more!

Check out this business online at hy-vee.com.

Waukee Chamber of Commerce

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Waukee Chamber Thank You
Thank you to all Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce members for your membership and support of the Chamber this past year. Thank you to the Waukee Chamber Board of Directors, staff, ambassadors and volunteers for all of your dedication and commitment to help make 2020 a success!

Summit Homes Open for Business

The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce helped Summit Homes celebrate their Grand Opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Welcome to Waukee!

Get Involved in a Chamber Committee
Enhance your presence throughout the Waukee business community and have a great time getting involved! We are confident the Chamber can deliver results. Get involved and you will surely see a difference! Your membership is best leveraged when you have a presence within the Chamber. We offer a wide variety of ways to do so, taking into account different budgets and schedules. Opportunities range from advertising to sponsorships, to joining or leading a committee.

Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce Committees:
Government Affairs – Serves as legislative voice of the Chamber membership. 

Community Development – Increases membership involvement in Chamber and community activities. 

Membership – Promotes and supports existing businesses while encouraging and assisting new business. 

Economic Development – Works in cooperation with the City of Waukee and others to promote economic growth in the Waukee area. 

Scholarship – Provides a scholarship to a WHS senior who will attend an Iowa institution in the fall of the year following graduation. 

Waukee YP – Empowers young professionals who live or work in Waukee to come together, build relationships and make a positive impact within the local community.

Ambassadors – Active members who help to accelerate connections through the Chamber. 

For more information about the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce, visit our website at waukeechamber.com or contact Chamber President Melinda Behn at mbehn@waukeechamber.com or (515) 978-7115.

Waukee Young Professionals at Saints.

Best Ways to Enhance Your Chamber Membership Experience
1.) Serve. Volunteer on one of the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce seven committees: Government Affairs, Community Development, Economic Development, Membership, Scholarship, Waukee YP or Ambassadors.

2.) Refer local business.

3.) Participate. Get involved by attending our monthly programs!

4.) Promote. Highlight your business in one of our signature events: Annual Dinner & Silent Auction, Golf Outing or the Waukee Economic Development Bus Tour.

5.) Patronize existing businesses.

6.) Support new businesses. Welcome new businesses to our community by stopping in, sending a card or supporting their grand opening celebration.

7.) Stay “in the know.” Read the Waukee Chamber Business Report.

8.) Share. Submit your successes, job openings and events to share in our communications to membership.

9.) Collaborate with local organizations to strengthen our community.

10.) Connect with the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce by using our membership directory.

Business Profile – El Guapo

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Tequila! The owners of Gusto Pizza Co. are reopening their location on the border of West Des Moines and Waukee with a new, upscale “south of the border” concept. El Guapo’s Tequila and Tacos will offer street tacos and more than 50 different types of tequila.

Co-owners Jared Weiss and Josh Holderness said after six years as Gusto Pizza Co. and experiencing nearly half a dozen pizza places pop up within a one-mile radius, it was time to do something different.

“Waukee has had some unbelievable economic and residential growth, and that’s not going to slow down any time soon. We are committed to the neighborhood and enjoy being here. We wanted to create a concept that allows us to continue fostering relationships in the community,” said Holderness.

When gathering ideas from friends in the area on a new establishment, Holderness said the desire for a neighborhood bar kept coming up.  “There are a lot of options for craft beer in Waukee, but not for cocktails.”

Weiss, a southern California native with a marketing background, was particularly interested in a bar with Mexican flare—and a story. The tale concerns El Guapo (“the handsome one”), an immigrant from Jalisco, Mexico (tequila’s place of origin), who traveled to West Des Moines in 1926 as a distiller. 

“Not a lot is known about El Guapo, but we’re bringing to light to who he was and where he came from,” said Weiss.

In addition to tequila, El Guapo will serve beer—primarily Mexican, but also some domestics—as well as custom cocktails unique to the bar. Weiss said the menu will be simple, with well-thought-out traditional Mexican recipes, including tacos with house-made tortillas.

The DIY concept can also be seen in the newly-designed aesthetics of the space. Everything from the bar to the lighting and the hubcap art installation were crafted by the owners. 

Weiss said they wanted to give the location a totally different vibe and ambiance in its latest incarnation. “I think we’ve done that with finishes you’ll see. It’s really coming together with different textures and elements.”

El Guapo is comprised of three sections—a Day of the Dead room, the Agave Courtyard and the Lower Rider Lounge, which will feature a more relaxed setting with couches. TVs will be placed throughout the bar for customers to catch a game—both football and futbol.

Weiss said that while the restaurant will be family-friendly, it will transition to a bar at night with brunch available on the weekend.

Regular tasting and educational events also will be held at the bar. “We want to show people the many different types of tequila, and how to drink it and pair it with great tacos,” explained Weiss. 

Holderness feels tequila is often misunderstood, and there’s much to learn about it. “It’s a beautiful spirit,” he said.  “We want to teach people how to really enjoy and savor it.” 

The bar’s grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 1, just in time for Dia de los Muertos—the Mexican “Day of the Dead” holiday that follows Halloween. Weiss said Waukee residents can look forward to celebrating El Guapo with a costume party and a mariachi band—and, of course, tequila!

Business Spotlight: B-Bop’s Waukee

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Des Moines fast food institution B-Bop’s has been delivering fast food with a retro flair to central Iowa residents for decades.  Now, Waukee residents will have a B-Bop’s location right in their backyard, as construction nears completion on the franchise’s newest location.

Construction began in the fall of 2018 on the 2,200-square-foot restaurant, which will be located at 855 East Hickman Road, near the Waukee Hy-Vee.  The location will offer seating for 60 inside, as well as eight tables on the patio and, of course, a drive-thru. The layout will be very similar to the B-Bop’s location on Stagecoach Drive in West Des Moines.  With the addition of the new store in Waukee, B-Bop’s will have a total of nine locations in Iowa, joining the existing stores on Fleur Drive, Southeast 14th, and East 14th in Des Moines, as well as their locations in West Des Moines, Altoona, Ankeny, Urbandale and Ames.

B-Bop’s is a much-loved fixture in the metro fast food landscape, but its owner got his start one state over.  B-Bop’s owner Bob Johnson embarked on his career in the fast food industry with the Mr. Quick franchise in Bollingbrook, Ill., in 1970.  He began as an assistant manager, a position he held for eight months. Impressed with Johnson’s ambition and skill, Mr. Quick’s corporate office offered him the opportunity to become a franchise partner in the business.  Johnson accepted this offer in 1973, moving to Newton, Iowa, and opening a Mr. Quick there. He later opened stores in Fairfield and Muscatine as well. In 1983, Johnson and his partners changed the restaurant name from Mr. Quick to Sizzlin’ Sam’s.

During the mid-1980s, as Johnson continued to open businesses, he took note of a new, burgeoning concept: the double drive-thru.  These were popping up throughout the Sun Belt states and encountering great success, and Johnson was interested in the possibility of opening one himself.  In 1988, Johnson found a building at 1500 East Euclid Avenue in Des Moines that he felt would be an ideal location for a double drive-thru. Within six months, the first B-Bop’s was opened on that spot, and the rest, as they say, is history.  (The original Euclid location has since been demolished—a new B-Bop’s was built around the corner on East 14th Street to replace it in 2016.)

It’s fair to say that B-Bop’s is known just as much for its atmosphere as for its food.  The old-school vibe inside each location, with the carefree music of an era gone by and the distinctive, colorful décor, take customers back to what many consider a golden, simpler time.  The beloved local chain, with its simple, tried-and-true menu, has won Cityview Magazine’s Best of Des Moines award in the Best Burger category for an astonishing 26 years in a row. B-Bop’s has also been a runner-up for Best French Fry in Cityview’s annual poll for the past five years, and its quarter- and half-pound burgers and fries also earned it the 2016 runner-up for Best Hangover Food.  

With the new store in Waukee set to open soon, residents will soon be able to satisfy their craving for a classic burger with a side of fries and a soundtrack that will take them right back to the olden days.  B-Bop’s represents just the latest exciting addition to the boom of new restaurants in Waukee!

Let’s Talk About Solar Energy

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In recent years, energy conservation and efficiency has become more and more of an emphasis for property owners—not just for business owners, but for eco-conscious residents looking to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Until recently, however, greener energy options weren’t always accessible or economical for the average homeowner. An upcoming Waukee program is aiming to change that.

The Solarize Waukee Initiative, which began in April, is a collaborative effort by the City of Waukee, The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, the Waukee Aspiring Professional Experience (APEX) and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). Solarize Waukee is a group purchase program that will allow residential and commercial property owners to invest in rooftop solar installations for their homes and businesses, with potential savings on installation costs. The program will be available to individuals and businesses located within the boundaries of the Waukee School District, meaning that residents of Clive, Urbandale, and West Des Moines are eligible to participate as well. The program is administered by MREA at no cost to the community.

How It Began

Solarize Waukee is the latest in a growing number of group purchasing programs for residential and commercial solar. Towns and jurisdictions such as Milwaukee and the Champaign-Urbana metro area in Illinois have seen success with the group buy model. According to Patrick Snell, External Affairs Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy, the first such program in Iowa took place in Cedar Rapids and Linn County in the fall of 2017. A “huge success,” according to Snell, that program saw 105 participants install 611 kilowatts (kW)—$1.5 million worth—of solar power.

The key to the success of a group purchasing program, of course, is the competitive pricing available through such an initiative. Like a buyers’ club or a co-op, the more participants in the group, the lower the costs for everyone involved. In addition, the price has the potential to come down even more if or when certain benchmarks are met. Once the program participants collectively reach 50 kW of power purchased, everyone receives an additional reduction on the price of their own. According to Snell, an average residential solar installation comes in at roughly 5.1 kW; therefore, it would take roughly ten homes to reach 50 kW. An additional price reduction occurs at 100 kW, 200 kW, and 300 kW.

One important difference between previous programs and the Solarize Waukee Initiative is that previous programs were able to focus on expanding the market for solar power in communities where such a market already existed. Solarize Waukee, by contrast, is seeking to create and build the market for solar power, according to Snell. There are relatively few buildings in Waukee that currently have solar installed. The Nature Conservancy approached the City of Waukee regarding the initiative, hoping that recent solar installations by prominent businesses, such as Peoples Bank and the recently-opened Palm Theatres & IMAX, would spur interest from other businesses and residents, as well.

Businesses Are Reaping the Benefits of Solar

Peoples Bank, in fact, has solar power at not just one, but eight of their bank locations: Adel, Clive, Grand Junction, Guthrie Center, Jefferson, Ogden, Rippey and Waukee. They have also installed solar car chargers at their Clive, Waukee, and Adel locations for those with electric cars.

“We converted our power source from traditional electricity to solar power out of a sense for our environment and good stewardship of our resources,” said John Rigler III, President and Chief Operating Officer at Peoples Bank. He added that the business has substantially reduced its energy bills since converting to solar power.

The brand-new Fridley Theatres location in Waukee has reaped similar benefits from installing solar power. According to Fridley Theatres’ Vice President, Russell Vannorsdel, the company had been “looking into solar options for a number of years.” The falling costs of equipment, as well as federal and state incentives, finally enabled the installation of solar power at the new Waukee location.

Most of the theater’s 66,000-square-foot roof is covered with solar panels. An additional solar structure was built to the south of the theater “for more production, but also for visibility,” said Vannorsdel. “We wanted the community to see our investment in renewable resources.”

The theater, like Peoples Bank, is already seeing good returns on their energy expenditure. In fact, says Vannorsdel, “on a sunny day, there are hours of over-production.”

How to Learn More

Interested in finding out whether you’d be a good candidate for solar power? Start by attending a Solar Power Hour, a dozen of which are scheduled between the beginning of April and the end of June. These free educational sessions are open to the public and designed to provide attendees with information on the basics of solar power, ways to tell if their site is suitable for solar and the potential financial ramifications for their properties.

Representatives from MREA will be on hand at each session to answer questions, and students who are participating in APEX will have the opportunity to help with promotion and deliver some of the presentations.

Residents and business owners will then be able to sign up to receive a free, no-obligation site assessment from 1 Source Solar, a solar energy contractor based in Ankeny that was selected as the installer for the initiative through a competitive request for proposals earlier this year. 1 Source Solar was also the installer for Peoples Bank, and “did a magnificent job,” according to Rigler.

Snell says that as “an education program that’s bringing people together,” the Solarize Waukee Initiative aims to demystify the financial and logistical challenges of installing solar power for homeowners and businesses and give them the information they need to “make an informed decision” about what’s right for their properties.  Interested area residents and business owners can visit solarizewaukee.com to fill out a sign-up form and elect to receive their free estimate, program updates and Solar Power Hour announcements.

The deadline to sign up to participate in Solarize Waukee is July 31, 2019.

If you’ve been interested in greener alternatives to electricity, but figured that solar wasn’t practical or realistic, swing by a Power Hour—you may be surprised!

Solar Power Hour Schedule

  • Saturday, 6/15/2019, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Waukee Library
  • Wednesday, 6/19/2019, 6:30  p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Waukee Innovation and Learning Center
  • Wednesday, 6/26/2019, 6:30  p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Waukee City Hall

Come Out Ahead This Cold and Flu Season

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It’s the time of year when short sleeves are replaced by down jackets, which means we’re quickly entering the “cold and flu season.” While we tend to use cold and flu interchangeably, and they’re both respiratory illnesses that tend to surface at similar times, they’re actually separate illnesses caused by different viruses.

Because flu and the common cold have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference based on symptoms alone. Cold symptoms are usually milder than those of the flu, and colds generally don’t result in serious health problems like the flu can.

A sore throat and runny nose are usually the first signs of a cold, followed by coughing and sneezing. Common colds are the main reason that children miss school and adults miss work. Adults have an average of two to three colds per year, and children have even more. Most people get colds in the winter and spring, but it’s possible to get a cold any time of the year.

Most people recover from a cold in about a week. Getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids can help cold sufferers feel better. Over-the-counter medicines may help ease symptoms but will not make a cold go away any faster. Always read the label and use medications as directed. Talk to your doctor before giving non-prescription cold medicines to children, since some medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children. Antibiotics will not help you recover from a cold caused by a respiratory virus. They do not work against viruses, and they may make it harder for your body to fight future bacterial infections if you take them unnecessarily.

Viruses that cause colds can spread from infected people to others through the air and close personal contact. This can happen when you shake hands with someone who has a cold, or touches a surface, like a doorknob, that has respiratory viruses on it, and then touches your eyes, mouth or nose.

There are several ways you can reduce your risk of getting a cold:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash them for at least 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Viruses that cause colds can live on your hands, and regular handwashing can help protect you from getting sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Viruses that cause colds can enter your body this way and make you sick.
  • Stay away from people who are sick. Sick people can spread viruses that cause the common cold through close contact with others.

If you have a cold, you should follow these tips to help prevent spreading it to other people:

  • Stay home while you are sick.
  • Avoid close contact with others, such as hugging, kissing or shaking hands.
  • Move away from people before coughing or sneezing.
  • A cough and sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away, or a cough and sneeze into your upper shirt sleeve, completely covering your mouth and nose.
  • Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
  • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as toys and doorknobs.

This article was brought to you by :

Doctor Julianne Sarcone, ARNP
Mercy Clinics Family Medicine Waukee.
(515) 643-7000
25 W. Hickman Rd.

 

Miss NiNi’s Desserterie

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Finding a good cup of coffee in the Metro isn’t difficult. Nor is it hard to hunt down tasty desserts. But finding both in one spot, with that certain hard-to-define element that accompanies homemade items, can be a little more challenging. That’s where Miss NiNi’s Desserterie comes in.

Janine Knop, whose longtime nickname gives the store its name, has had a passion for baking her entire life. Raised on a farm in North Dakota, she “would sit on our three-legged, wobbly kitchen stool observing Mom as she made dozens of loaves of bread, pies, cakes and cinnamon rolls.” Knop continued to bake all through school, participating in 4-H for a decade and earning her college degree in home economics education and food and nutrition.

After years of farming near Atlantic, Iowa, with her husband Fred, Knop began to enter her baked creations in food exhibits and competitions at the Iowa State Fair (the largest of their kind in the country). Before long, she wasn’t just participating—she was bringing home numerous championship ribbons. According to Knop, this was when she decided to challenge herself by baking professionally.

Knop’s desserts could soon be found at Friedrich’s Coffee locations around the Des Moines Metro and at Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure, where they have been featured for over 10 years. The menu at Des Moines Golf and Country Club also regularly features Knop’s signature creations. The clamor for the desserts increased with time, and in January of 2017, Miss NiNi’s Desserterie opened for business in the Hawthorne Center on University Avenue.

Miss NiNi’s menu features a diverse array of goodies, many of which were awarded championship ribbons at the state fair. “I create recipes based on unique flavor combinations and design,” says Knop.

It’s difficult to imagine a sweet tooth that couldn’t be satisfied at Miss NiNi’s. If cheesecake isn’t your speed—of which there are 11 varieties on the menu, from Chocolate Raspberry Swirl to Italian Tiramisu—there are also layer cakes, brownies, dessert breads, cookies and coffee cakes available. One highly popular item, the Cupcake-A-Jar, “solves the problem of messy cupcake eating,” according to Knop. Cake and frosting are layered in small glass canning jars, which allows the consumer to eat a few bites now and save the rest for later. The jars are shelf-stable for five to seven days, so you can take your sweet time enjoying them.

In addition to the dessert options, Knop says customers tell them their coffee—made with locally-roasted Zanzibar’s beans and a sophisticated water filtration system—is the best-tasting in town.

With the holiday season just around the corner, seasonal additions have begun to appear in the dessert case at Miss NiNi’s. Among the offerings are pumpkin praline cheesecake, three-layer pumpkin cake with cranberry filling and cinnamon buttercream frosting, decadent flourless chocolate torte with chocolate ganache, and apricot rum cheesecake.

New this year is Miss NiNi’s 8-inch Bundt cake, which comes in pumpkin spice, chocolate chunk, and coconut bliss. One seasonal hit from last year, make-them-yourself Christmas cookie kits, will be offered again this season, along with cookie gift trays, which would undoubtedly go over well at any holiday office party or family gathering.

Knop and her baking team focus on creating beautiful, handcrafted desserts with impeccable homemade flavor and texture—qualities that are often absent in the commercial baking industry, Knop notes. Locally owned and operated, Knop says Miss NiNi’s “would be incomplete without the tremendous support and dedication of my family and talented baking team!”

Customers who visit the desserterie, located at 9500 University Avenue, Suite 1204, in West Des Moines, have the option of enjoying their dessert on-site or taking it to-go. Hours and menu items may be found at missnini.com.

So if you’re in the market for a great cup of joe and a sweet, homemade treat to go with it—and really, who isn’t?—Miss NiNi’s has you covered.

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