If you live in Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Hiawatha, you won't have to make a road trip to enjoy the wonderful food and beer selection of Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom much longer.

The restaurant chain is expanding in Iowa and will be adding three new locations, including one in Cedar Rapids. Old Chicago is home to thin crust and deep-dish pizzas, salads, calzones, pasta, and over 30 craft beers. There are currently seven Old Chicago restaurants in Iowa. The closest ones to Cedar Rapids are in Coralville and Cedar Falls.

Jeff Ruppel of ROC Taproom bought four current Old Chicago Restaurants and signed an agreement six months ago to open three more. In addition to Cedar Rapids, Old Chicago will open new restaurants in Dubuque and West Des Moines. Ruppel told Restaurant News Release,

We are very excited to be partnering with such a great franchise.  We researched several other franchises and we felt Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom far surpassed the others in their operations, loyalty program, and marketing.”

Started in Boulder, Colorado more than 40 years ago (1976), there are now more than 100 Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom locations in 22 states. Sixteen locations have opened in the last two years and the three new restaurants planned for Iowa are a small part of the 48 that have been agreed to in 2017 for the chains future growth across the nation.

There's no word on where the Cedar Rapids restaurant will be located or when it will open. Stay tuned.

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