QUINCY – Jon and Amanda Morris and business partner Kasey Kenison had no intention of getting into the soup business until they saw a link on Facebook in June to a Muddy River News article about the closing of Zoup! and the retirement of owners Steve and Patti Bunch.

“I just sent a Facebook message to Steve Bunch on a whim… and we made it work,” Jon said.

The restaurant had its last days as Zoup! in late June. Just over a month later, in early August, it reopened as Z!Eats.

“Z!Eats is the new era of Zoup! We are excited to be a part of it,” said Jon.

More than soup

Zoup! was founded in Michigan in the late 1990s. It was acquired by WOWorks, a fast-casual restaurant conglomerate, in 2022. The Florida-based company has several franchises in its portfolio, including Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, and of course Zoup!, now called Z!Eats.

WOWorks announced earlier this year that it would transition from the Zoup! brand to Z!Eats to expand the brand’s offerings. In addition to a revamped repertoire of soups, salads and sandwiches, the Z!Eats menu also features grain bowls, wraps, mac and cheese bowls and flatbreads.

Their range includes classics such as the Lively Chicken Caesar Salad and the Cheese Flatbread, but also unique specialties such as the Baja Mac, the Maple Bacon Ham Grilled Cheese and the Mexican Street Corn Grain Bowl.

As for his favorite item on the menu, Jon is torn between the Loaded Baked Potato soup and the BBQ Pork Mac. Amanda said her favorite is the Turkey Bacon Club with maple mayonnaise instead of regular mayonnaise.

“And the pepper soup,” Amanda said. “…And the gumbo.”

“I mean, I haven’t tried anything here that I didn’t like,” Jon said. “And we have craft drinks too.”

Meet the Morrises

Amanda was described by Jon as a soup lover who prefers Mexican food. Differences in taste are not a problem for the couple, who have opened three restaurants in less than three years – all on Broadway.

Jon and his partners opened Sonic at 1501 Broadway in 2022. Jon, Amanda and Kenison opened Pancheros at 30th and Broadway last February.

Jon started as a cook at Sonic in Keokuk, Iowa at the age of 16 and eventually became the restaurant’s general manager. The then-franchisee wanted to close the location, but after Jon’s successful tenure as general manager turned the tide for the location, Jon became a part owner.

Jon and Amanda still live in Keokuk, but their restaurants are in Quincy most of the work week. Lately, they’ve been spending most of their time at Z!Eats, slowly getting used to the business’ reopening, fully training their new employees, and getting them comfortable with the brand.

Despite the 45-minute drive to and from Keokuk each day, the Morrises say they are happy to do business in Quincy, citing the growing population and friendly people that make the stay worthwhile.

“(Quincy) is kind of like a second home,” Jon said. “A lot of people joke about having work wives. Well, I guess Quincy is kind of like my work home.”

The transition to Z!Eats also includes technology upgrades, the launch of the Z!Eats app and new branding, which Jon says will be implemented in the coming months.

“Quincy can continue to get the food they love from Zoup! with Z!Eats, and we can continue to feed Quincyans in three different locations (with) three different menus,” Jon said. “Maybe we won’t stop here. Who knows?”

Z!Eats, 3430 Broadway, is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Online orders for pickup or delivery are available at EatZEats.com. Guests can learn about the daily soup selections on the store’s website or by calling (217) 577-2020.