A pizza fresh from the oven pictured on Friday, July 10, at Traer Pizza Palace. After closing last August, the landmark downtown restaurant was purchased by three local couples and is holding its grand (re)opening today, Friday, July 17. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – If you’re hankering for a pizza in Tama County, you can now officially add Traer Pizza Palace back to your list of restaurant options.

“The dough has continued to rise and we’re ready to put the pizza in the oven,” restaurant ownership triumphantly posted to social media last weekend. “After weeks of training, learning, and two successful soft openings, we’re excited to officially announce that Traer Pizza Palace will open Friday, July 17, 2026! We are incredibly grateful for everyone’s patience, encouragement, and support throughout this journey.”

Prior to shuttering last August, the restaurant, located just off Traer’s downtown at 104 S. Main Street, had been in operation as Traer Pizza Palace for nearly three decades by owners Rick and Brenda Rundel. “There’s been a lot of interest in the business so I don’t think it will [be] gone for long,” the Rundels posted to social media last summer upon announcing their retirement.

True to prediction, the business didn’t sit idle for long. On the final day of 2025, three area couples – operating as Pizza Palace, LLC – purchased the business and the building, including Scott and Jana Monat of Clutier; Jared Hasselmann and Carri Holst of Traer; and Jammie and Kimberly Howard of Buckingham.

After months of work getting the business back up and running, the new owners held a pair of soft openings – the first for mostly family members on Wednesday, July 8, and the second for invited guests the following Friday. Both events went swimmingly, according to co-owner Kim Howard who, for now, is working as the restaurant’s manager.

Longtime Traer Pizza Palace employee Brooklyn Johanningmeier, center, expertly balances an order of cheese bread and a large pizza on Friday, July 10. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“They rocked it,” Kim told the newspaper Friday evening in regard to her young waitstaff’s performance. “The first night went really, really well.”

Pizza Palace’s new waitstaff is led by locals Brooklyn Johanningmeier and Trista Zimple — both of whom previously worked for the Rundels.

“We couldn’t have done anything tonight without Brooklyn and Trista,” Kim said. “They helped train the team.”

Familiar faces Friday evening also included the Rundels themselves who were helping out co-owner Jared Hasselmann in the kitchen.

When asked about the time it took to reopen coupled with the decision to hold two initial soft openings, Kim said the ownership team – all of whom are new to owning and operating a restaurant – wanted to be certain there were no gaps in the process, that equipment performed as needed, and training was sufficient.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“We’ve built a great team with a good foundation. Hopefully we have long-term employees like Rick and Brenda used to have,” Kim added.

In terms of the menu, she said they stuck with what works, including the Rundels’ signature deep dish (pan) pizza.

“Nothing in the recipe has changed (including the dough),” Kim explained. “We’re using the same (food) distributors. It was very, very important to us that the recipe remain the same.”

For anyone who frequented the venue prior to the Rundels’ retirement, the space should remain familiar. According to co-owner Jana Monat, the only changes of note include a new ceiling, some minor updates around the point of sale station, and new internal windows and trim between the first and second dining room.

When contacted via email over the weekend following the two soft openings, Kim said the team “did an amazing job.”

Rural Dysart residents Bob (back right) and Lindsay (back left) Pipho, along with their five children, dine at Traer Pizza Palace on Friday, July 10, during the business’s second of two soft-opening events. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Rick and Brenda made running Traer Pizza Palace look easy, but we’ve quickly learned there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into a successful restaurant. It’s been a tremendous learning experience and an incredibly rewarding journey. As an ownership group, we’ve worked hard to build a strong foundation, put systems in place, and establish processes that will help ensure Traer Pizza Palace continues to thrive for years to come – while keeping the recipes exactly the same. We’ve also been intentional about creating a welcoming gathering place for our community.”

Traer Pizza Palace will hold its grand opening today, Friday, July 17, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Going forward, the restaurant will be open Thursday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. for both dine-in and carryout.

“Seeing guests at the soft opening enjoy the pizza and hearing them tell us it tasted just as they remembered was confirmation that we accomplished what we set out to do – honor a tradition that means so much to our community,” Kim further stated. “The encouragement and support we’ve received along the way has meant more to us than we can express, and we’re excited to welcome everyone through our doors on July 17.”

For more information, including menu offerings and the launch of the business’s website, visit the Traer Pizza Palace Facebook page or call 319-478-2281.

The Knight has returned.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Mike Morrison of rural Traer gives a thumbs up after picking up a carryout order from Traer Pizza Palace last Friday. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER