KALONA

Renae’s Roadhouse was a quaint bar situated 11 miles northwest of Kalona. But owner Renae Baur-McGuire closed operations in December 2023, promising something new was on the horizon.

Baur-McGuire has delivered. What was once a bar with ample space to sit and drink is now wide open, with plants ready to be brought home and planted.

That’s because Renae’s Roadhouse is now Country View Market Greenhouse, a locally sourced greenery shop with daily specials for food and plenty of plants, flowers, and specialty items for sale.

Baur-McGuire opened Country View in April and is off to a good start.

“I’m getting people in here that I’ve never seen before, and I’m helping them out and they’re helping me out and it’s been wonderful,” Baur-McGuire said.

Since this is Baur-McGuire’s first go at preparing for spring sales, not everything for sale was grown on site.  Baur-McGuire hopes that with time, this will change, and Country View will become a destination year-round for fresh flora.

“My main mission is to grow produce year round, and then just have a fresh produce option in the area, 365 days of the year,” Baur-McGuire said. “I’ll do more fruit trees and flowering trees [as well].”

Currently, Baur-McGuire offers a wide variety of plants, flowers, fruit trees and more.

One aspect of the bar remains, and that’s a rotating lunch menu that changes daily. Some days, Baur-McGuire is flipping burgers, others she’s boiling brats, serving diners from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as they sit just outside the greenhouse, enveloped in a sweet floral aroma.

Following Country View Market Greenhouse on Facebook is the best way to find their daily lunch menu, in addition to special announcements.

In Country View’s first month, they’ve featured numerous local retailers such as Miller Asparagus, Best of Iowa, Rare Bird Soap Shop, Montross Family Meats, Dickey Chick Farms, and Windy Roads.

“I am keeping things local. If I haven’t grown it, then I buy local,” Baur-McGuire said.

Perhaps Baur-McGuire’s most exciting local spotlight is Miller Sweet Corn, a very popular locally grown corn which will be sold exclusively at Country View Market Greenhouse this summer.

Baur-McGuire owned and operated Renae’s Roadhouse for five years. Starting a greenhouse was a massive departure from what she was used to. Despite this, Baur-McGuire finds herself relieved, as she now has more time to spend with her two-year-old son.

Baur-McGuire is the sole employee of Country View -- though she said her husband has been a big help and her son likes to come and help pick flowers – and she does everything from running the grill to tending to the greenhouse. Each and every day has been a learning experience.

“[There’s] nothing better than playing in the dirt; plants don’t talk back,” Baur-McGuire said with a chuckle. “I liked flowers, but I was never really good keeping them alive. I’m learning as I go.”

Baur-McGuire grew up around gardens. Her first experience in a garden was with her grandma.

“My grandma always had a huge garden and as a kid. I remember going out and helping her. Our job was usually to pull tomato worms [off the plants], and to this day I do not like tomato worms,” Baur-McGuire said.

Baur-McGuire lost touch with her gardening past while in her 20s, but found a way back, eventually growing her own large gardens each year. This made owning a greenhouse a no-brainer, allowing Baur-McGuire to transfer her love of gardening to her business.

Country View Market Greenhouse, located at 1747 Black Diamond Rd. SW, is open Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed on Mondays). The grill is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow them on Facebook for daily menu updates and specials.