MOLINE — A SouthPark Mall favorite is celebrating its 20th year in business by expanding to a new location.
Owners of Habanero’s Mexican Grill & Cantina, 4500 16th St., Moline, will open another restaurant in Geneseo.
Josue Cruz is the current owner of Habanero’s Mexican Grill and Cantina in SouthPark Mall. He is looking to expand to Geneseo in the coming months.
Roots of Habanero’s stretch back to Jalapeno’s, a Mexican eatery that was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. Josue Cruz was working for Jalapeno’s when owner Angel Moran tragically died in a motorcycle accident in 2001. From there, Jalapeno’s changed hands, Moran’s family opened Habanero’s, and Cruz worked his way up to become the current owner of Habanero’s SouthPark.
Now, two decades later, Cruz has his sights on expansion. He discovered the upcoming location in Geneseo at a friend’s suggestion. The building at 1225 S. Oakwood Ave. was formerly occupied by Lionstone Brewery, and, most recently, by Great Revivalist Brewery.
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Renovations will consist of a full build-out, but Cruz is looking forward to the outdoor seating, expanded bar and new kitchen.
The new Habanero’s will be located at 1225 S. Oakwood Ave., Geneseo.
Cruz said everything will continue to be made fresh in-house using traditional family recipes. The SouthPark Mall location will remain in business.
No official opening date has been set, but Cruz is hoping for mid-July.
Yoso Modern Japanese closes temporarily
Yoso Modern Japanese, 1591 Grant St., Suite 101 in Bettendorf, is closed until further notice.
The restaurant, which opened in December, 2022, announced on its Facebook page that it would close temporarily as of May 6.
“Our goal has and will always be to provide our guests with the best dining experience possible and because of that we need to take time to remedy some issues we’ve been facing,” the post said.
The owners declined to comment further at this time.
The restaurant was highlighted earlier this year in the “Best Thing I Ate This Week” series by Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus reporter Gannon Hanevold. His March 12 feature praised the lobster crispy rice and ambience of the restaurant, which he described as the “perfect place to stop for a late-night date night.”
Odds and ends
AWAKE Coffee Company, 4320 N. Brady St. Suite 103, Davenport, will hold a grand opening at 10 a.m. Saturday featuring giveaways and the release of an exclusive energy drink. The business also has a location at 1430 4th Ave., Rock Island.
Iron Tee Golf, 6909 Iron Tee Way, Bettendorf, will hold its grand opening Tuesday. The year-round entertainment and recreation venue promises 58 climate-controlled outdoor hitting bays for golf, across three floors with up to six players allowed per bay.
What BBQ & Bar, 106 S. Cody Road, LeClaire, will close on May 19 with plans to reopen in another location in the future. Catered and other private events dates will be honored, according to a social media post from the business.
Peppercorn Pantry in Aplington has been named one of ‘America’s Best Restaurants.’ The ABR crew came to the restaurant to film a segment and interview owner Mary Meyer
Restaurant owners aren’t feeling fully prepared for weather-related damages: Here are their top stressors—and what they can do about it
Restaurant owners aren’t feeling fully prepared for weather-related damages: Here are their top stressors—and what they can do about it
In a survey conducted in January 2024 and February 2024, Next Insurance gathered insights from 1,000 restaurant owners across the United States. The survey sought to understand their perspectives on insurance for weather-related damages and the top stressors they face as small-business owners.
The results reveal the multifaceted challenges restaurant owners face in protecting their businesses. Here are the key findings.
48% of small restaurant owners experienced weather-related damages last winter
Forty-eight percent of restaurant owners reported experiencing weather-related damage to their small businesses during the winter months, from November 2023 to the first week of February 2024.
This data underscores the real impact weather events can have on the operations and financial stability of restaurants.
While this may seem like a high percentage in a short time frame, it aligns with recent national weather trends. The U.S. continues to experience an unprecedented number of weather and climate disasters — tallying $92.9 billion in 2023 — that have affected people’s livelihoods.
58% of restaurant owners question their preparedness for weather-related damages
When asked if they felt adequately insured for weather-related damages such as snow damage, water damage, fallen trees, flooding and more, 42% of respondents said that they felt very prepared for severe weather compared to 34% that did not feel prepared and 24% that felt somewhat prepared
Awareness of extreme weather insurance coverage
A significant number of respondents were uncertain about whether their business insurance covered extreme weather events at all (26%). This lack of awareness suggests a potential gap in understanding the specific coverage and limitations of their insurance policies.
Additionally, 29% of respondents say they do not have business insurance. Without business insurance to help cover costs, restaurant owners would have to swallow out-of-pocket weather-related damages themselves.
The lack of confidence in insurance coverage and insurance knowledge is a continuing issue for small-business owners. In a previous survey, Next Insurance uncovered that 90% of small-business owners — across industries — aren’t confident that they are adequately insured for their business risks.
Inflation and talent shortages continue to stress restaurant owners in 2024
When asked about their top stressors or business risks, restaurant owners continued citing issues that have affected operations since 2020: inflation and talent shortages (21% and 19%, respectively). Injuries to customers or employees (17%) rounded out the top three challenges.
What restaurant owners can do to reduce winter-related risks
Moving forward, it’s crucial for restaurant owners to:
Prepare for winter weather before it hits. Investing in preventive measures goes a long way toward bracing for winter and reducing weather-related damages.
Review their insurance policies. Regular coverage review helps protect their changing needs and circumstances. It helps identify any gaps in coverage and allows owners to make adjustments to avoid being underinsured or paying for unnecessary coverage.
Seek clarification on coverages. Carefully read a policy’s terms and conditions, specifically looking for sections that mention coverage for weather events. If unsure, contact your insurance agent or company directly to understand coverage.
Explore additional measures to mitigate risks. This could take many forms, including adding endorsements to your insurance, implementing risk management strategies and conducting regular risk assessments. Restaurant owners can also shift risk by signing indemnification agreements with vendors or outsourcing high-risk tasks to specialized organizations.
Learn more about preparing for winter and reducing your risks. By staying informed and adequately protected, restaurant owners can navigate the uncertainties of weather-related damages and focus on running successful and resilient businesses.
This story was produced by Next Insurance and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.