Java House Owner's Fresh Salad Bar Venture Open For Business

owner Tara Cronbaugh said she came upon the idea for Heirloom Salad Co.-- a new Iowa City option for freshly made take out salads -- by accident.

"I had no intention to start a new company," Cronbaugh said, sitting at a table Wednesday in the eatery she never saw coming. "The idea just blossomed."

A year ago, Lyla's Boutique picked up shop and moved to Coralville, vacating the space at 211 E. Washington St., right next to the Washington Street Java House. Meanwhile, Cronbaugh was on an East Coast vacation.

Where she enjoyed salads freshly made to order.

Hmm.

And noticed tall communal tables not commonly seen in Iowa City restaurants.

Interesting.

And the Lyla's Boutique is now vacant, you say? Could these ideas be combined to fill a niche in the Iowa City food industry?

She'll find out soon enough.

After more than nine months of labor, Heirloom Salad Co., sister company to the Java House, was born Tuesday, officially opening its doors for business.  Cronbaugh said the debut went well, with Heirloom already serving freshly made salads to over one hundred customers.

"It's gone really really well," Cronbaugh said. "We've been thrilled."

Cronbaugh's idea for Heirloom is to combine the unique elements she enjoyed in restaurants in places like New York with the proven, your-order-made-right-in front-of-you appeal of the Java House.

Customers at Heirloom can choose from several types of greens to start: bibb lettuce, spinach, iceberg, romaine, or mixed greens. This then can be customized with additional ingredients and a choice of several homemade dressings. The customer then has the option of having their salad tossed or chopped.

She said they are still trying to learn about pricing based on the options people choose, but the average cost per salad after customers have added all of their additional ingredients is $7 or $8 dollars.

The idea, Cronbaugh said, is to provide food that is quick, healthy, in a way that is a little different than other locations in Iowa City.

"To bring fresh, healthy, alternative was just a no brainer to me," Cronbaugh said. "Having the salads made fresh in front of the customer made so much sense to me.

Heirloom also offers custom noodle bowls, homemade soups and sandwiches. Cronbaugh said by the fall they hope to offer an omelette bar and additional breakfast options.

The space, decorated with several black and white photos featuring scenes from Iowa City's past, is also accessible from an open portal in the Java House location. With recently added new windows, the additional room acts as an overall upgrade to the Java House space, increasing the occupancy from 100 to 165, with a section in the back with where private meetings can be held to be added later.

Coming soon, if they can the kinks out before students arrive in the fall, online ordering and possibly even delivery.

"We really want to take our level of service up to the next level," she said.