JEWELL — U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst has named Juniper & Olive Co., of Jewell, as her Small Business of the Week.

“At the heart of Hamilton County, fellow Iowa State alum Cyndi Gryte founded Juniper & Olive Co., a place that celebrates community and family with a name inspired by two beloved rescue dogs and a crowd favorite cocktail,” the Republican senator said in a written statement. “Where vintage charm meets eclectic fun, this bistro, bar, and bridal boutique serves as a unique space where families and friends gather to create lasting memories together.”

After graduating from Iowa State University in Ames, Gryte worked in New York and Texas, where she gained diverse experiences that would later shape her vision for her own restaurant. In 2020, she returned to her home state of Iowa and transformed a former 1920s speakeasy into a restaurant, bar and bridal boutique.

The business is named after the dogs Gryte and her daughter adopted from a local shelter.

Ernst is the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee.