Business

SOLON– There are many things to love about Italy: its wine, its warm people, its masterful historic artists, bold history and ancient architecture.
Its food.
The Red Vespa Italian Restaurant now brings some of those fine Italian qualities to the heart of downtown Solon.
Aziz and Angie Longou are the couple behind the venture, the long-anticipated eatery that opened Aug. 25. Aziz has many years of experience as a chef and restaurateur in the Corridor area.
“I started cooking in 1978, and I think I did a good job,” said Aziz.

NORTH LIBERTY– Cody Chen is used to serving up hot, delicious Chinese take-out cuisine.
Now, he and a family member can also create a beautiful kitchen counter on which to serve it.
Cody, owner of Yang Chow Wok, and his cousin, Lam Chen, have established a second business in the North Liberty area, L&C Marble Granite Supply.
Lam learned the trade of cutting and installing beautiful stone– primarily marble and granite– in Hong Kong, where Lam’s family has a long-established business in the industry.

SHUEYVILLE– When Connie Semotan reopened her Shueyville barber shop in March, a lot of her clients were walk-ins, and many would tell her stories about a great gal that used to cut hair at that very same location years ago.
When she heard these stories, Semotan would smile and laugh as her customers would slowly realize that that same great gal was standing right in front of them.
“I get all kinds of people who just come in and ask, ‘are you my Connie?’” Semotan said. “The response has just been so fun.”

NORTH LIBERTY– It’s appropriate that Julie Phye’s shop is called Leash on Life.
The Iowa City business owner’s life took a whole new direction after she adopted Rosie the Labrador retriever from a shelter in 2002. Adding Rosie to her family ultimately led Phye to leave her job at the University of Iowa to open her own pet supply business.
Because of Rosie, Leash on Life is not just about selling pet products.

ELY– St. John Lutheran Church in Ely has a lot to celebrate this spring.
The church recently completed a building project that brought a new sanctuary, office space, Sunday school rooms and updates to the existing fellowship hall. A dedication of the new space will be held on Sunday, April 26, and everyone is welcome.
St. John pastor Erika Uthe said the expansion was the result of an extensive self-study conducted by the entire congregation, which began in 2011.