Three New Shops at NewBo City Market Are Now Open [PHOTOS]

Back in early April, we told you that NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids would be welcoming five new shopkeepers this spring. After a weekend visit to the market, we're happy to report that three of those five new shops are now open, and an additional sixth one has opened, too!

The first of the five shops that we heard had opened is a food vendor by the name of Madamchef Delicacy. The menu features "a variety of dishes from all over the globe," including African, Caribbean, and Italian cuisine. Madamchef Delicacy officially began welcoming customers on April 1st, and you can read more about the business HERE.

Now, let's get into the other new shops that have opened recently! We'll start with the two that we had heard about early this spring, and then tell you about one that was a bit of a surprise.

NewBo's Newest Shopkeepers

The first of the new shops I spotted this weekend was Bumblebee Lotus, a metaphysical shop that offers items like crystal & sage boxes, herb bundles, dream catchers, and other home decor/accessories. It's located towards the back of the market in the center row of shops.

Bumblebee Lotus opened inside the market on Wednesday, April 22nd, but will also continue to be present at vendor markets, renaissance festivals, and other big events in Eastern Iowa. For the latest updates, check out their official Facebook page HERE. You can also shop their inventory online HERE.

Located right across from Bumblebee Lotus is another one of NewBo's new shopkeepers: The Soul Book Nook. Previously located in the Cedar Valley, the local book store opened inside of the market back in March.

NewBo's website says that The Soul Book Nook offers "a vast selection of novels, historical fiction, fiction, non fiction, science fiction, out of print, rare works--something for everyone!" It was also the very first African American, woman-owned bookstore to be registered in the state of Iowa since the early 1900s. You can check out their book inventory on their online shop HERE.

Last, but not least, is Sage & Timber, a new shop that I had never heard of before! It's located directly across from Frenchique Boutique, so it's one of the first shops you see when you enter through the main doors and turn to the right.

According to NewBo's website, Sage & Timber is owned by Morgan and Richard, "a husband-and-wife maker team who’ve been together for over a decade." The couple creates a variety of ceramic, stained glass, and wood items, which you can purchase in the shop. They can also do custom creations, too! The site reads:

"If you can dream it, we can make it!"

Sage & Timber officially opened for business at NewBo City Market on April 15th. You can check out their Facebook page HERE.

Shops Opening Soon

There are still two new shopkeepers that are working to open this month (May), and one of them has already made a lot of progress! Wild Lotus Apothecary, which is located in the back corner of the market near Madamchef Delicacy and Aroma Artisan Pizza, looks to be getting closer to opening. Here's the photo NewBo posted on Facebook in March, followed by the photo I took on May 3rd:

While they continue to prep their new shop, Wild Lotus Apothecary can still be found at other vendor markets in the area, as well as NewBo's pop-up vendor area on weekends. You can also shop their inventory online HERE.

The final new shop that's set to open at NewBo is Sliderlicious Sliders. We don't have any updates on their progress yet, but a Facebook post from early this year says they plan to open at the end of May. You can follow along with any future updates on their Facebook page HERE.

Additional Market Changes

Another thing you'll notice if you visit NewBo City Market in the near future is that there's a bit of construction going on. That's because Uptown Coffee Company is having its new coffee shop built where NewBo Beer & Wine was, while NewBo Beer & Wine is relocating to the area previously occupied by Roasters (which moved out of the market earlier this year). In the meantime, both Uptown Coffee Company and NewBo Beer & Wine are operating out of temporary locations within the market.

The last change you'll notice in the coming weeks is that current market vendor Cedar Witch Goods is preparing to relocate! A February post from the shop says that they hope to open at 945 6th Ave in Uptown Marion on May 30th. You can read more about the business HERE.

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READ MORE: All the Big Events Happening in Eastern Iowa in May 2026 [LIST]