ThirdSpace Create wins downtown Cedar Rapids' second Race for the Space competition
Dr. Tiffany Carr's immersive art gallery takes first place, winning a storefront and $15,000; Downtown Dogs Canine Social Club wins second place and $10,000.
A new technology-forward art gallery called ThirdSpace Create has won the 2025 Race for the Space competition, earning a downtown storefront and $15,000 in business support, Downtown Cedar Rapids announced.
The competition, organized by the Downtown SSMID in partnership with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and presented by Farmers State Bank, aims to fill empty storefronts and support local entrepreneurs. The winner was revealed at a happy hour event on August 13, 2025.
ThirdSpace Create, founded by Dr. Tiffany Carr, is described as an immersive, technology-forward art gallery offering an alternative to traditional nightlife. Dr. Carr is a veteran art teacher, local artist, and community arts leader, according to the business's website. As first-place winner, she receives a downtown storefront space, business support resources, and $15,000.
Second place and $10,000 went to Downtown Dogs Canine Social Club, a boutique dog daycare and social hub founded by DawnLarie Michel. The business, which is already operating in downtown's Kingston Village, is styled after an early 20th-century speakeasy, according to Corridor Business Journal.
Four finalists pitched during the competition: ThirdSpace Create, DKW Art Gallery, L'Catering Fare Boutique, and Downtown Dogs Canine Social Club. Nearly 20 applicants initially applied.
Judges for the 2025 competition included Heather Armstrong (owner of Lucky's on 16th), Liesl Siebert (Program Manager, UNI Institute for Decision Making), Teresa Jensen (Business Banking Officer, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust), and Nick Glew (Vice President, FSB).
"Each of these finalists presented ideas that would strengthen downtown's vibrancy and give our community new reasons to visit, shop, and explore," said Caleb Knutson, Executive Director of the Downtown SSMID, in a news release.
"Race for the Space is about more than filling a storefront — it's about investing in people with big ideas and helping them succeed downtown," Knutson added in a previous statement.
The first Race for the Space was held in 2022 and was won by KETO Kitchen, owned by Mohamed Nasraddin, according to Corridor Business Journal.
Sponsors for the 2025 competition included presenting sponsor FSB (Farmers State Bank) and supporting sponsors Armstrong Development Company, Aspect Architecture & Design, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Cliff's Dive Bar & Grill, David Maier for Cedar Rapids City Council, and CRST.
Applications for the competition opened May 8 and closed June 30, 2025, according to the Downtown CR website. The exact storefront location for ThirdSpace Create has not yet been disclosed.
Sources
- 1.Downtown Cedar Rapids Announces Winners of Second "Race for the Space" Competition — Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
- 2.Race for the Space - Downtown Cedar Rapids — Downtown Cedar Rapids
- 3.ThirdSpace Create wins 2025 Race for the Space competition in Cedar Rapids — Corridor Business Journal
- 4.ThirdSpace Create – Thirdspace Create — ThirdSpace Create
- 5.Who's Running This Joint? — Downtown Dogs Social Club — Downtown Dogs Social Club
- 6.Revamped Race for the Space returns to downtown Cedar Rapids — The Gazette
- 7.KETO Kitchen named Cedar Rapids 'Race for the Space' winner — Corridor Business Journal
- 8.Caleb Knutson Named Downtown Executive Director — Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
- 9.STAFF - Downtown Cedar Rapids — Downtown Cedar Rapids
This story was researched and drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication. Read our Editorial Standards & AI Disclosure. Spot an error? Request a correction.