A Popular Dyersville Restaurant Has Closed for Good

Unfortunately, another Iowa restaurant has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a new article from KCRG, Country Junction, located at 913 15th Ave in Dyersville, has closed its doors after three decades.

The bad news was announced on Country Junction's Facebook page on the first of the year. The statement directly names the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for the closure. The post also looks back on the restaurant's history, which was a staple in the community. It reads:

"Country Junction was established in 1990 as a family-style restaurant located in our beautiful town of Dyersville, Iowa and quickly became an icon in the community. Visitors have flocked to visit our Midwest destination. From former presidential candidates to sports icons to national news personalities, the Country Junction Restaurant has been a must-see (and taste) attraction."

Country Junction isn't the only restaurant that's been struggling this past year. KCRG reports that around 110,000 restaurants have been forced to close, according to the National Restaurant Association. The article says:

"...many of those businesses were well established in their towns with an average age of 16 years. 16% percent of the businesses were serving food for 30 years or more, like Country Junction."

The pandemic isn't over yet, so the next time you're looking to eat out or order carryout, please consider supporting a locally-owned restaurant. I enjoyed food from Gianna's Italian Beef and Zeppelin's Bar & Grill in Cedar Rapids this weekend and had a great experience at both places! You can check out some of the other awesome Eastern Iowa places I've eaten at this past year HERE.