A born-and-raised Cedar Rapidan, I spent the majority of my childhood in the Wellington Heights Neighborhood on the southeast side of town. Wellington Heights sits on 1st Avenue, opposite from the historic Mound View neighborhood, where you’ll find Coe College.
As a result, I’ve had a lifelong front-row seat to the dilemma faced by young folks living in the area. Two things are true at once: Cedar Rapids has some great opportunities for higher education — Coe College, Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy University — and the “college town experience” couldn’t be more removed from the one found just down the road in Iowa City.
The fact the University of Iowa is a large, public school in the Big 10 certainly accounts for some of this cultural difference. But the separation between campus and walkable local community in south Cedar Rapids also poses plenty of challenges. Getting from building to building is simple enough — at least in the traditional ways we think about accessibility — but getting to and from campus isn’t so pedestrian-friendly.
Because Coe College is situated on 1st Avenue, traffic in the area is non-stop and often treacherous to traverse on foot or bike, even with crosswalks. Students get free access to the Cedar Rapids city bus with their student IDs, but it’s not as robust as a dedicated campus transit system. As a result, many students feel compelled to take a car to class, adding to their financial burden and creating a deeper divide between campus and college town. In cars, folks may also encounter fewer “third spaces” — spots outside of work, class and home to relax, eat and socialize.
As a result, I wanted to take a look at the local infrastructure and offer some ideas for students, faculty and townies looking to ground their feet in the southside CR community.
The closing of the Hy-Vee at 1556 1st Ave NE resulted in what could fairly be considered a food desert in the area. It was easily the closest and most accessible grocery store to many neighborhoods in this part of Cedar Rapids, and the fallout folks experienced from its closing was, and remains, palpable.
While the Gazette recently reported that the city is working on efforts to draw another grocer to the building left by Hy-Vee, the community, as of December 2025, has been newly served by the Hornbill Asian Market (1445 1st Ave SE).
Customers check out groceries inside Hornbill Asian Market, with aisles visible behind the front registers. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Shelves of dried noodles and rice vermicelli line an interior aisle at Hornbill Asian Market, with packaged products arranged along multi-level shelving. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
An interior aisle at Hornbill Asian Market lined with shelves of sauces, oils, and packaged food products. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Hornbill Asian Market — M.T. Bostic/Little Village
The market offers everything from TikTok viral treats to an extensive produce section. It fills a need in the area, and even better, allows the community to spend their dollars locally when stocking up on necessities for the week.
When it comes to off-campus study spots I want to offer two suggestions: First, the downtown branch of the Cedar Rapids Public Library is only a little over a mile from the Coe campus. Anyone is free to use the library for a welcome change of scenery, but it’s also worth noting that anyone — not just permanent residents of Cedar Rapids — can get a library card and access all of the resources that come with it.
Inside the Cedar Rapids Public Library, natural light filters through tall windows, settling over empty seating and lending the space a hushed, reflective feel. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Inside the Cedar Rapids Public Library. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
The Cedar Rapids Public Library’s southeast-facing entrance. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Snow dusts the plaza outside the Cedar Rapids Public Library, where curved paths and public art sit still between the downtown buildings.
Via the Cedar Rapids Public Library: “Quick Library Card: Three checkouts and five holds. Quick cards are available to anyone, including people without a current ID or proof of address, and those without a physical address.”
During my own college experience, trading the campus library for the local branch provided me with that same quiet and focus I needed to get through my to-do list, but without the persistent vibe of academic pressure found in collegiate facilities. In short, my favorite hack for college students in need of a third space is to become a regular at the local library — you are both welcome and wanted there.
Second, I would encourage folks to keep an eye out for updates from Café Allez — a local “coffee, bakery, and espresso bar” that is set to be moving into the space that housed Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse for many years (1271 1st Ave SE, directly across the street from Coe). Right now, Café Allez operates with more of a pop-up model on Mt. Vernon Road. Still, they are already immensely popular and will offer the area a much-needed alternative to chain coffee houses.
At 1239 1st Ave SE, across the street from Coe, you can find Toy Lair. The collectors’ shop just moved into a bigger space (right next door to where you used to find them!) and houses affordable collectors’ items and retro toys. I am a frequent customer there myself and am always amazed by the variety of fandoms you can find items related to. Batman? Ninja Turtles? My Little Pony? Star Wars? Hot Wheels and Match Box Cars? Nintendo games? Lego? They have it all and the list keeps going.
Xavier Williams, manager at Toy Lair, sits behind the counter as customers browse shelves packed with games, toys, and collectibles. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Arthur “Art” Liebich, owner of Toy Lair, stands in front of the shop’s sign, surrounded by the colors and characters that define the store. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
LEGO sets, figures, and collectibles fill a glass display case inside Toy Lair, creating a sense of playful abundance. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
A long aisle inside Toy Lair leads past glass cases, retro consoles, and hanging shirts, inviting visitors to slow down and explore. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Toy Lair, 1239 1st Ave SE Suite 3, Cedar Rapids — M.T. Bostic/Little Village 
Signs for toys, video games, services, and gifts hang beneath the Pioneer Building’s overhang, catching the late afternoon light. — M.T. Bostic/Little Village
The folks who run Toy Lair have always cut me great deals, and their shop is more physically accessible than most (with ramps to both the entrance and within the store). It’s also clearly welcoming to women — something that is not always a given in these kinds of spaces due to the strong connection some draw between being a collector and boyhood. In short, if you’re looking for a place where your inner nerd will not only be welcome but celebrated, you’d be hard pressed to do better than Toy Lair.
Ultimately, one’s experience in Cedar Rapids is dependent on their willingness to find and foster the gems of the neighborhood.
