The Oldest Sandwich Shop in Cedar Rapids Is Set to Close

Cedar Rapidians are saying goodbye to the oldest sandwich shop in the city....for now.

Any true Iowan knows that one of the most popular sandwiches that you can get out here, is a Midwestern take on a sloppy joe aka a loose meat sandwich.

It's PROPER name here in the Hawkeye State is a Maid-Rite. These sandwiches were created right here in Iowa nearly a century ago.

Maid-Rite corporation officials strongly believe that this sort of Iowa delicacy has its roots in Muscatine.

Get our free mobile app

The End of An Era

News broke on Wednesday, January 8th that the Maid-Rite West located at 621 1st Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids will be closing its doors.

The current owners of this location shared the sad news on their Facebook page.

"After much reflection, we have made the bittersweet decision to begin a transition period for Maid-Rite West," this social media post reads.

"Owning and operating this iconic piece of Cedar Rapids history since 2020 has been an incredible honor," the owners go on to say.

Maid-Rite West will close its doors in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, January 15th, just a week after the announcement.

What Was the Reason For the Closure?

Not too many details were given regarding this sudden closure. However, the Cedar Rapids team did touch on it in the social media announcement.

"While there are many factors, it ultimately comes down to focusing our energy and resources on long-term goals within our hometown community, where our commitments and future aspirations are deeply rooted."

So... This Is Goodbye?

The current owners said that there is hope for the possible future of Maid-Rite West. It seems like the longtime General Manager of the business, Jill, is interested in taking over the restaurant.

While nothing is set in stone, the social media statement did read that Jill, "...has expressed interest in potentially carrying on the tradition. We’re working closely with her to explore this possibility and are optimistic about what the future holds."

You can read the full social media post from the team at Maid-Rite West down below!

Stay up to date with everything going on in Eastern Iowa by downloading the free station app from your app store. Also, do not forget to follow the station across all social media platforms for the latest local news updates.