Iowa City Businesses We’ll Miss Forever
By IM Staff
Hawkeyes remember the shops, restaurants, and spaces that made Iowa City feel like home.
Businesses close; new storefronts open—but the memories made within those walls stay with us for decades.
We asked Hawkeye alumni and friends what businesses they missed the most, and some places—like Things & Things & Things, Paul’s Discount, Soap Opera, Bushnell’s Turtle, Great Midwestern Ice Cream Company, The Mill, and Brown Bottle—came up time and again. More than 1,500 comments made one thing clear: These Iowa City institutions made a lasting impression.
Bushnell’s Turtle
PHOTO: IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY DIGITAL HISTORY PROJECT
Bushnell's Turtle, a former restaurant located on College Street in Iowa City's pedestrian mall, is pictured in the 1980s.
“Bushnell’s Turtle for soup and sandwich!”
—Mary Delaney (79BBA)
“Bushnell’s Turtle for soup and sandwich!”
—Mary Delaney (79BBA)
“Bushnell’s Turtle. They had the most wonderful carrot cake of all times.”
—Holly Meis (83BSN)
—Holly Meis (83BSN)
“Bushnell’s Turtle. I miss their vegetarian submarine sandwich on whole wheat and amazing carrot cake!”
—Kathy Maxey (87BBA)
—Kathy Maxey (87BBA)
The Mill
PHOTO: TIM SCHOON/UI OFFICE OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
The Mill bar and restaurant was an Iowa City institution from 1962 until it closed in 2020.
“There is no other answer. From my first beer on my first night in Iowa City as a freshman, to using it as a meeting venue for campus and town projects, to coming back to watch bands play and have vegetarian lasagna. It represented all that Iowa City and the University of Iowa was all about.”
—Sarah Jones (79BGS)
“There is no other answer. From my first beer on my first night in Iowa City as a freshman, to using it as a meeting venue for campus and town projects, to coming back to watch bands play and have vegetarian lasagna. It represented all that Iowa City and the University of Iowa was all about.”
—Sarah Jones (79BGS)
“The Mill. Just great pizza and food. Those roulades from the Cottage Bakery were magnificent. They also baked my wedding cake! Orange-raspberry. Pearson’s Drug Store soda fountain was fun! There was also a fabulous deli on Dubuque St that made excellent sandwiches…”
—Kristine Yager-Rushton(94BA)
—Kristine Yager-Rushton(94BA)
“The Mill was such a big part of my years at Iowa. I loved that place. I also miss Atlas and the Yacht Club.”
—Stephanie Gugliemo Lynch (20PhD)
—Stephanie Gugliemo Lynch (20PhD)
“My husband and I met in class at Iowa 10 years ago, so for Christmas this year, I gifted him prints of our favorite places we would go to when we first started dating: Quintin’s (which I think is still open) and The Mill.”
—Taylor Stepanski
—Taylor Stepanski
Things & Things & Things
PHOTO: IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY DIGITAL HISTORY PROJECT
The shop Things & Things & Things, pictured here in 1972, was located along South Clinton Street in downtown Iowa City.
“A great place to find unique clothes. They had the most wonderful chocolate truffles in the world. I have lots of great memories with my friends shopping there.”
—Merry Doty (83BM, 86MA, 88DMA)
“A great place to find unique clothes. They had the most wonderful chocolate truffles in the world. I have lots of great memories with my friends shopping there.”
—Merry Doty (83BM, 86MA, 88DMA)
“A great shop to find fabulous ‘things.’ I still have Christmas ornaments and dishes/cooking tools from the store.”
—Anne Carella (63BA)
—Anne Carella (63BA)
“My favorite place to shop in the late ’60s as an impressionable high school kid.”
—Tom Daufeldt (80BA)
—Tom Daufeldt (80BA)
“One of the most innovative and creative stores I’ve been in. Beautiful modern architectural building with three floors of great furniture, clothes, and items.”
—Karen Chappell
—Karen Chappell
Iowa City Restaurants Hawkeyes Miss
“A Sunday evening ritual for me and my friends was to hit The Best Steakhouse. It was located where St. Burch is today. For a couple bucks, you could get a chopped steak, potato, and Texas toast. For cash strapped students, it was a perfect restaurant. They were friendly but focused on moving tables. So glad The Best Steakhouse was there in the ’70s. Not sure how it would fare today.”
—John Nevins (78BBA, 80MBA)
—John Nevins (78BBA, 80MBA)
“Devotay was our special place restaurant. Loved trying all the different tapas. Best crème brûlée (they let me take the dish home and bring it back the next day). Really loved that place! 😢”
—Jill Tompkins (76BA)
—Jill Tompkins (76BA)
“Mondo’s! It was the perfect place to bring your parents when they visited. The vibes were refined and upbeat, and the menu was absolutely delicious. I can still taste some of my favorites: the blackened chicken sandwich, the chicken alfredo pasta, the unlimited chips and salsa, and, of course, their famous oatmeal pie with cinnamon ice cream. Now I know that Mondo’s lives on (somewhat) in spirit via Reunion, but the OG was the place to be in the early ’90s (full disclosure: I worked there for two years).”
—Jason Wolf (92BBA)
—Jason Wolf (92BBA)
“Atlas: Their buffalo chicken burritos were so good I still make them at home 20+ years later.”
—Matthew McGee (03BBA, 05MS)
—Matthew McGee (03BBA, 05MS)
“Small business shout-out to Joe’s Bagel Buggy on the Ped Mall late ’70s to early ’80s. A few may remember those 2 a.m. toasted cinnamon-and-raisin bagels topped with cream cheese and strawberry jam.”
—Cathy Broderick Medina (82BA)
—Cathy Broderick Medina (82BA)
“I just talked about Secret Pizza the other day. Did anyone ever figure out its location?”
—LeaAnn Randall Henry (83BFA)
—LeaAnn Randall Henry (83BFA)
“Mama’s Deli. I think my non-Hawkeye husband was won over to Iowa City through the power of their reuben. Their food was so delicious and the environment so inviting.”
—Olivia Garrison (10BA)
—Olivia Garrison (10BA)
“I miss going to Gringo’s Mexican Restaurant on the pedestrian mall. The taco bar, inexpensive margaritas, and apple empanadas were all favorites. It was all complemented by the quaint interior. We often found ourselves dining there in the mid-’80s.”
—Mike Malake (87BS)
—Mike Malake (87BS)
“Great Midwestern Ice Cream Company! Great food (thanks, Pam), great window on Washington St.”
—Philip Zell (83BS, 91PhD)
—Philip Zell (83BS, 91PhD)
“Vito’s needs some more upvotes! The menu was fantastic: calzones and chicken couscous. But also, the bar scene: free champagne, dime draws, bottles at the door.”
—Jacqueline Kiple (92BBA)
—Jacqueline Kiple (92BBA)
“The Brown Bottle, where the food was delicious, and, if it wasn’t busy, they never pressured you and your friends when the conversation extended well past the meal. There was also Rossi’s Cafe on Gilbert, which was a great place for breakfast, and the Maid-Rite on First Avenue. The Green Pepper on Second Street in Coralville had great pizza and one of the best salad bars I’ve ever experienced. The upscale restaurant at the Highlander offered superb chicken Kiev, which I always ordered when attending Dr. Richard Caplan’s Sherlock Holmes group. And who doesn’t miss the lasagna and music at The Mill? In short, there are so many great memories and more restaurants and diners from yesteryear that I’ve just touched the surface.”
—Mark Burkert (78BA)
—Mark Burkert (78BA)
“Baldy’s! It was THE absolute best. While Dan, the former owner of Baldy’s, still runs Short’s, I yearn for the memories and flavors of Baldy’s.”
—Carrie Wall (03BA)
—Carrie Wall (03BA)
“Lots of good memories from One-Eyed Jake’s. I also saw a lot of great live music and had some great food and drink at The Mill. Sad that University Camera is no longer there, too.”
—Darren Driscoll (99BA, 03JD)
—Darren Driscoll (99BA, 03JD)
“Gotta be Magoo’s, a bar that was at 206 N. Linn St. I was there the night they set a world record for the most upside-down margaritas served in one night! Good times. Honorable mention to The Burger Palace; its proximity to old business school building made it the perfect spot for pre-class Coca-Cola and an after-class study area.”
—John Higgins (85BBA, 87MA, 87MBA)
—John Higgins (85BBA, 87MA, 87MBA)
“Big Mike’s $.26 loaves of bread got me through the days in college where money was better spent on beer and I needed something in my belly besides beer. 😂 Best bread ever!”
—Lindsay Leonetti (00BA)
—Lindsay Leonetti (00BA)
“The two-story Burger King downtown and Hardee’s for late at night (early in the morning).”
—Katie Welter (02BA)
—Katie Welter (02BA)
Businesses Hawkeyes Miss
“There is no single shuttered Iowa City-area business I miss more than Tailgate Clothing Co.’s flagship store in downtown Iowa City. Spearheaded by revered fashion leader and Iowa State University alum Todd Snyder and University of Iowa football star-turned-Iowa City serial entrepreneur Nate Kaeding, the store was a homegrown success story before being sold to American Eagle, which later shuttered it and the other stores that followed Iowa City’s opening. Should Tailgate ever make a comeback, I'll be the first one in line at its grand reopening.”
—Quentin Misiag (16BA)
—Quentin Misiag (16BA)
“‘Attention, KMart shoppers!’ Who didn’t love a blue light special? I worked at the Coralville KMart (store #7433) from its grand opening until shortly after my graduation. I worked full time for four years to pay for my tuition. My grades and social life suffered as a result, but it was all worth it to get that Iowa diploma in my hands. Along the way, in addition to running those blue light specials, I met so many great people. Our store was staffed by a wonderful array of locals and university students. One time, I even got to help Coach George Raveling stock up on promotional basketballs. He was so friendly and kind!”
—Terry Smith (84BA)
—Terry Smith (84BA)
“My mom used to take me to the Soap Opera growing up, and I loved it so much. It always felt so special to me. Then when I was a student at Iowa, if I was having a bad day or just needed a pick-me-up, I would always stop in there. I was so sad when it closed.”
—Melissa Harmeyer (08BA)
—Melissa Harmeyer (08BA)
“I miss Campus 3 cinema, the little movie theater in the Old Capitol Mall. I saw so many great films there when I was in college for cheap! It’s part of why I still love movies so much. ❤️”
—Cassey Shindelar (09BA, 13MSW)
—Cassey Shindelar (09BA, 13MSW)
