The Different Tastes of Iona’s Cafe & Grill
Springfield, MA — It’s good to be different, and there’s always something different at Iona’s Cafe & Grill.
Almost every day customers can expect a taste of something new. Tuesdays the focus is smoked food such as brisket, ribs, or turkey. Wednesdays and Sundays are about soul food. Friday’s feature is a seafood dish.
“I like to do different things because that gets people to come back,” owner Kelly Dobbins said. “I try to keep a variety all the time so when people come in they never know what to expect.”
A Different Location
The most different thing right now is the location. Iona’s recently moved to 439 Main Street in Indian Orchard. The new site is less than a mile from its previous spot on Oak Street.
To celebrate the new location, there will be special events August 20 through 22. The grand opening weekend will feature live music, karaoke behind the band, and other festivities. The Stand Out Truck® will cruise through area neighborhoods with a list of upcoming events and letting people know that Iona’s has moved.
A Different Layout
Dobbins started the restaurant in 2016. He’s both owner and chef, preparing breakfast, lunch and light dinners in view of patrons through a new open kitchen. This feature of the new location gives him more freedom to connect with diners.
““For me in business I love to interact with my guests,” he said. “I just like cooking everything, whatever puts a smile on somebody’s face.””
The high tempo pace of breakfast is one of his favorite times of the day, but he enjoys just making customers comfortable. One way he does that is with live jazz music on certain nights.
“I like my customers when they come in to feel like they’re at home,” he added. “To keep the atmosphere going you’ve got to have the ambiance.”
The Stand Out Truck® Difference
Dobbins has utilized the Stand Out Truck® on several occasions, primarily because it’s different.
“It’s unique,” he said. “When you have advertisement on the go, I think that’s an eye catcher.”
Having something that’s eye-catching, such as a bright truck passing through a neighborhood, is something that Dobbins feels will make people notice the advertising similar to impulse shopping at a store.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Dobbins said.
The Legacy of Iona Dobbins
Dobbins named the restaurant for his grandmother, an enormous influence on his life. With her name on the building he’s keeping her presence alive.
“She had a big impact on my life,” he said.
Iona Dobbins was an educator, so in her memory Dobbins gives back to students through an organization he created. SOS stands for Serve Our Students. The organization initiates events for families to receive a free meal and hear community speakers. The organization also provides scholarships to area youth and Dobbins finds opportunities to donate books to local children and encourage reading. Then he donates 500 meals to those in need every Thanksgiving. Contributing to the community is something he believes is important to making a difference and honoring his grandmother.
“People see then that you’re invested in the community,” he said. “I love the community, and whatever I can do to help the community I don’t mind doing.”
Iona’s Cafe & Grill is open Tuesday through Sunday at 439 Main Street in Indian Orchard.
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