Tiphanie's: Downtown Restaurant Explodes With Color and Fun
Story and Photos by Jonathan Turner
Loan Product: Small Business Loan
Loan Product: Small Business Loan
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When you step into Tiphanie’s in downtown Davenport, Iowa, you’re guaranteed a memorable experience. The combination restaurant, bakery and bar offers a lively, one-of-a-kind atmosphere unlike any other in the region. Formerly known as Oh So Sweet, the business relocated from Main Street to its much larger space in 2023, expanding both its offerings and square footage with the help of a small business loan from Bridge Investment Community Development Corporation. In August 2023, the business rebranded as Tiphanie’s, embracing a new identity with an enhanced menu and updated concept.
Owned by the energetic, tireless Tiphanie Cannon, the business has grown significantly since it first opened in 2013. Now located at 210 E. 2nd St., it spans over 3,000 square feet in the new location, and staffing has increased from six to seventeen full- and part-time employees. The expansion allowed Tiphanie’s to add a bar and offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. With the addition of a new chef, the restaurant shifted its focus to lunch and dinner, while still retaining some favorite items from its bakery and deli roots. In October 2023, the bar was redesigned to reflect a playful nature. The bright restaurant has a fun, maximalist vibe, complete with glittering disco balls and a vibrant, colorful atmosphere that has become a hallmark of the restaurant’s unique appeal. “It’s kind of over the top – I’m trying to create something that hasn’t been seen in the Quad Cities,” Cannon says, noting an exuberant party atmosphere. Tiphanie’s has become a popular venue for private events – hosting everything from birthday parties, engagement parties, and bachelorette parties, to bridal and baby showers, graduation parties, and dinners. “We really tailor each event and customize to the customer’s preferences,” she says, noting that guests can choose custom food and drink options not normally on the menu. “That’s the fun of the parties, customized the food and drinks for them.” There’s also no fee to rent the room, Cannon says, making it a sought-after spot for special gatherings. The holiday season is always busiest, including holiday parties and employee get-togethers. The restaurant’s location on 2nd Street has proven advantageous as well, drawing in patrons from nearby businesses and residents living downtown. “Second Street is like the coolest street in downtown,” she says of Davenport. “With the Last Picture House anchoring it down there and we’re anchoring it on the other end. All the businesses in between – from MRDC to the Half Nelson to Great River, they’re all so unique and all within walking distance too.” Tiphanie’s outdoor patio, located adjacent to the RiverCenter (a special event center), attracts both locals and visitors alike. Rebranding from Oh So Sweet has posed challenges in attracting the dinner clientele, Cannon says, noting many still associate the business with its bakery/café origins. “It is going to take a hot second until the wheels catch,” she says. Her favorite dinner items include unique dishes like an open-faced Beef Wellington, hot honey bacon jam salmon, and a chicken tender flight featuring Southwestern, Garlic Parmesan and Korean flavors. Cannon was introduced to Bridge Investment through another local business owner and she credits Bridge Investment’s support with helping her complete the renovations and acquire essential kitchen equipment. “I didn’t know that funding was available; they were great, easy to work with,” Cannon says, noting she also got traditional bank financing. “Bridge was literally the bridge I needed, it was great,” she says, highlighting that the funding complemented other funding she received from the city of Davenport and traditional lending sources. “They came through when I needed that final piece to complete the puzzle.” Tiphanie’s has embraced creative marketing strategies to build public awareness. In September 2024, she started hosting the monthly Eclectic Market featuring over 30 vendors, held on the last Sunday of the month, from noon to 4 p.m. The event is part of Cannon’s broader effort to attract more attention for people who still may not realize they’re there. In August 2024, Tiphanie’s also began to offer a specialized effort for teachers, a promotion inspired by Cannon’s own background as a former 3rd-grade teacher. Her journey into the food industry started as a creative outlet while she was a stay-at-home mom. Self-taught, Cannon honed her culinary skills through hours of watching the Food Network, and reading cookbooks, blogs and magazines. “I watched them all, absorbed it all,” she says. “I bought all their cookbooks, read all the magazines, all the blogs and it was great.” What began as a passion for making cakes and other baked goods evolved into a full-scale restaurant that now focuses on creating memorable experiences and hosting customized private events. “To be honest, it’s easier to make money on a party than a cake, so that’s where I put my attention,” she says. As a regular on Paula Sands Live on KWQC for over a decade, Cannon’s culinary talents were recognized on a national level when she appeared on the Food Network, in Los Angeles, in 2019. That’s a milestone she proudly shares on her business website, https://tiphanies.com/. |
“Bridge Investment was literally the bridge I needed, it was great. They came through when I needed that final piece to complete the puzzle.” - Tiphanie Cannon |
“I didn’t know that funding was available; they were great, easy to work with,” Cannon says, noting she also got traditional bank financing. "