The Johnston Brief
Somebody's chasing a dream down the street from you. Here are the newer places that have opened around Johnston, with a lean toward Merle Hay Road and the growing Johnston Town Center. Know one? Go say hi.
A bar-and-grill with a rooftop patio on Merle Hay Road (6201 Merle Hay Rd, Ste 110). It runs a full lunch and dinner menu daily from late morning, plus weekend brunch. One of the newer additions to Johnston's Merle Hay dining strip.
The cannabis-themed sub franchise brought its toasted subs, munchie treats, and a full 21-and-up bar to 5260 Merle Hay Road, opening in late 2024 with an official ribbon-cutting the following spring. It's one of the chain's Iowa locations.
Part of the Johnston Town Center development, this is a Backpocket Brewing taproom on one side and an arcade with games and bowling on the other - food, local beer, and a night out for families and grown-ups both. It sits right in the middle of Johnston's newest gathering spot; more on that district in our Johnston Town Center guide.
If you've got a new spot in town - or heard about a coming-soon sign - reply to the weekly Brief and we'll help spread the word. We track new openings as they're confirmed, especially around Merle Hay Road and Johnston Town Center.
Johnston's newer arrivals cluster along Merle Hay Road and the Johnston Town Center development. Recent openings include Zeke's Rooftop & Grill, Cheba Hut "Toasted" Subs, and Backpocket Pin & Pixel. The weekly Brief flags new ones as they're confirmed.
The weekly Johnston Brief tracks new business openings, groundbreakings, and coming-soon signs around town - especially in growth areas like Johnston Town Center and the Merle Hay corridor.
Johnston pairs a high median household income with steady suburban growth and a busy commercial corridor on Merle Hay Road, which is why both local entrepreneurs and national brands keep adding locations here.
Backpocket Pin & Pixel is in the Johnston Town Center development on Merle Hay Road. It pairs a Backpocket Brewing taproom with an arcade and bowling, so it works for both families and a night out.
Cheba Hut opened its Johnston location at 5260 Merle Hay Road in late 2024, with an official ribbon-cutting the following spring.
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