SOLON — Community pride, smart planning, and a deep respect for local roots were on full display Wednesday June 11, during the “Small Town, Big Dreams – Real Iowa Success Stories” panel at Big Grove Brewery in Solon.
The event, part of the Community Horizon Speaker Series by Greater Iowa City, brought together Solon City Administrator Cami Rasmussen, Eat Shop founder Cheryl Maloney, and Big Grove Brewery co-founder Doug Goettsch to share how Solon became fertile ground for thriving small businesses.
Rasmussen began by tracing Solon’s transformation over the past two decades, from a quiet pass-through town to a thriving destination hub. That growth, she said, didn’t come from one silver bullet but rather years of investment, collaboration, and planning.
“Our slogan is ‘a place to put down roots’ and we mean that,” Rasmussen said. “We want people to connect and come together here.”
Maloney, owner of The Eat Shop, shared how she transitioned from a career in corporate America to entrepreneurship, inspired by her great aunt’s 1930s bakery. After moving to Solon in 2020, Maloney began baking in her home kitchen. Her business grew through word of mouth and wholesale partnerships with the University of Iowa, eventually expanding into a brick and mortar store in Solon in 2021. Today, The Eat Shop has four locations, including two on the University of Iowa campus and a newly opened café in Marion.
“Small towns are the best place to start a business,” Maloney said. “The support here is something special.”
Goettsch, co-founder of Big Grove Brewery, discussed how his background in culinary arts and his rural Iowa upbringing shaped Big Grove’s philosophy. The restaurant opened in Solon with the goal of offering approachable, high-quality food while sourcing ingredients locally. The brewery has since grown to eight locations, with plans for a new location to start up in Omaha this year and Kansas City next year.
“We started with the idea of creating a friendly environment and great food,” Goettsch said. “Now we’re one of the top 70 draft breweries in the U.S., and it all started in Solon.”
All three panelists emphasized the value of investing in people, whether employees, neighbors, or fellow entrepreneurs, as key to sustainable success in a small-town setting. “When you grow with your community,” Maloney added, “there’s no limit to what you can build.”