NEW MAQUOKETA BUSINESS

A NEW BUSINESS IS OPENING THIS SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA.

FORTE IS THE NAME AND FORTE IS LOCATED ON SOUTH MAIN STREET

ACROSS FROM THE THEATRE.   IT IS OWNED BY GRETCHEN MATTOON OF

DUBUQUE.    GRETCHEN IS A MAQUOKETA NATIVE AND GRADUATED FROM

MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1995.   SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF MIKE AND

THE LATE MARY BANOWETZ OF MAQUOKETA.    GRETCHEN'S HUSBAND

WORKS FOR THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE.

THEY HAVE A SON, AGE 15, THAT GOES TO DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD HIGH

SCHOOL.   THEY ALSO HAVE A STEP-SON AGE 15 AND A STEP-DAUGHTER

IN COLLEGE.    GRETCHEN MATTOON  AND HER LATE MOTHER RAN

FLOWER GIRLS FLORAL, LOST NATION, AND IT CLOSED WHEN HER MOTHER

DIED.   SINCE THEN, SHE HAS BEEN TO COLLEGE AND ALSO WORKED AT

AT A RESTAURANT IN MINERAL POINT, WISCONSIN.   SHE DECIDED SHE

WANTED TO OWN A BUSINESS OF HER OWN AGAIN AND CHOSE THE

DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA LOCATION.    FORTE WILL OFFER REGULAR

AND SPECIALTY COFFEES, HOT AND COLD, AND A VARIETY OF SWEETS

FROM THE EAST MILL BAKERY IN DUBUQUE.    THE BUSINESS WILL BE

OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7:00 A.M. UNTIL 3:30 P.M. AND

SATURDAYS FROM 8:00 A.M. UNTIL 3:30 P.M.   IT WILL BE CLOSED ON

SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS.      WELCOME TO THE MAQUOKETA

BUSINESS COMMUNITY GRETCHEN MATTOON!

MORE SEATING IS COMING SOON.