DOWNTOWN GIFT CARD
About Us
What We Do

Experience Downtown
Locate Here
Get Around

Experience Downtown

All Listings Eat & Drink Shop Services Events Stay Downtown Venues & Meeting Rooms Get Around

Arts & Culture Public Art Live Music Museums Art Galleries All Listings

Experience Downtown
Locate Here
Get Around
What We Do

Experience Downtown
Locate Here
Get Around

1920-x-1080-Allman-Betts-Band

Search Our Site

Search for:

Facebook

X

Instagram

Legacy Business Month may be over, but the appreci

Legacy Business Month may be over, but the appreciation is just getting started.

All month long, we honored the downtown staples that have stood the test of time—fueling our cravings, styling our closets, decorating our homes, pouring our drinks, and becoming part of our personal stories.

From nostalgic memories to heartfelt thank-yous, your handwritten notes reminded us that these businesses have shaped experiences, built traditions, and helped define what makes downtown feel like home. These community-rooted, family-owned, and locally operated businesses are the heart of Downtown Iowa City and that’s something we champion all year long. 💌

Whether you filled out a dining passport, wrote a love letter, shopped small, or simply stopped in to support your favorite spot—thank you. Supporting Legacy Businesses means supporting the soul of downtown.

Until next year, let’s keep showing up for the ones who’ve always been here. ❤️

Mini golf is taking over Downtown Iowa City tomorr

Mini golf is taking over Downtown Iowa City tomorrow! Round up your crew, throw on your free sun visor, and get ready to swing through custom-built holes inside your favorite bars & restaurants. 🏌️‍♂️

Ticket holders get exclusive food + drink specials, all-day fun, and the perfect excuse to spend a sunny Saturday puttin’ around downtown. 😎

Team tickets for up to 4 players are still up for grabs—don’t get left in the sand trap and get yours now at the link in our bio.

With an event this popular, it takes over 150 volu

With an event this popular, it takes over 150 volunteers to make the Downtown Block Party a success. To give back to those who put in the work, we provide donations to our volunteer groups. Whether it’s @uidm, @occrd, @uiowamobileclinic, or @kapsi1911, our volunteers are the unsung heroes of event execution. This year, we’re thrilled to have @riversidecasino as our official Volunteer Sponsor. Not only are they helping to support the event, but they’re supporting 15+ local non-profits and university clubs. Thank you @riversidecasino for joining us for your first-ever Block Party! See you on the streets on June 28th.

PS We have a few volunteer shifts remaining! Email katie@downtowniowacity.com if you’re interested in volunteering at Block Party in exchange for a donation. These dollars are a great way to support the continuous needs of every non-profit. Plus, no matter the task, we promise you’ll have fun being involved in this unique event.

Don’t forget—submit your completed Legacy Dini

Don’t forget—submit your completed Legacy Dining Passport by this Saturday for a chance to win a $200 Downtown Iowa City gift card! And while you’re at it, let’s take a bite out of one of downtown’s most flavorful icons: @pancheros.

Before there were 75+ locations across 13 states, there was just one. In 1992, Rodney Anderson opened the first-ever Pancheros on the corner of Washington and Clinton Streets in Downtown Iowa City—and unknowingly launched a burrito empire, one fresh-pressed tortilla at a time.

Inspired by Chicago-style taquerias, Pancheros found an instant home in Iowa City, thanks to its bold flavors, handmade tortillas, and friendly counter service. From late-night study sessions to post-game bites, it quickly became a college town staple.

Pancheros changed the burrito game in 1998 with fresh-pressed tortillas made right before your eyes. Then came Bob the Tool® in 2007, designed to mix every bite just right. These simple innovations helped define their philosophy: Burritos Better Built®.

But Pancheros is more than just a burrito spot—it’s a community pillar. From hosting $1 burrito days, to supporting the Children’s Miracle Network, to partnering with Hawkeye athletes through its NIL program, Pancheros continues to give back to the place where it all began. It’s even the official burrito of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Today, while Pancheros has grown across the country, its heart remains in Iowa City—where fresh dough, Midwest values, and community care have always been on the menu.

Here’s to 32 years of burrito greatness—and many more to come.

This month, hosts Anna and Charlie sit down with T

This month, hosts Anna and Charlie sit down with Tony Branch, Youth Engagement Director at @unitedactionforyouth, for a powerful and inspiring conversation about his work, his passions, and what keeps him rooted in Iowa City.

Originally from Barbados and arriving here by way of Toronto, Tony was recruited to Iowa City without ever having visited before—but it didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the community. In this episode, he shares how UAY supports our youth through a wide range of programs, including a downtown youth center focused on music and the arts, health education partnerships with the school district, and a diversion program that helps young people find a better path forward.

Tony also talks about why having UAY in the downtown area matters—calling it a central hub where young people can access resources, connect with the community, and feel visible and valued. The conversation highlights how collaboration between local partners, nonprofits, and cultural institutions like the Englert and the Iowa City Public Library plays a key role in uplifting youth.

You’ll also hear about Tony’s love for Iowa City’s biking community (he’s on the board of the Iowa City Bike Library), his favorite local spots, and UAY’s Spark Program, which takes kids out for incredible outdoor experiences like hiking, canoeing, and even backpacking trips in the Yellow River Forest.

And don’t worry—Bill is back with another round of “Have You Heard?”

Tune in to hear why Tony thinks Iowa City is a hidden gem and how he’s helping shape the next generation, right in the heart of downtown.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music.

Summer’s just getting started, and so is the fun

Summer’s just getting started, and so is the fun! The Summer Shop Crawl is happening this Friday, and it’s your perfect excuse to treat yourself to a night out in Downtown Iowa City.

We’re talking moscato punch, rosé spritzers, iced tea, and spiked flavored lemonades… plus sweet deals like 20% off storewide, discounted jewelry at select shops, and more. It’s retail therapy meets summer happy hour, and we can’t wait!

Every ticket comes with this year’s adorable Shop Crawl glass, locally made lip balm, and access to all the sales and sips at 15+ participating shops.

Gather your friends, grab your tickets before they’re sold out, and let’s make a night of it. 🛍️☀️🍹

This Thursday’s Legacy Happy Hour celebrates Dow

This Thursday’s Legacy Happy Hour celebrates Downtown Iowa City’s iconic establishment: @bojamesbar . As the bar and grill celebrates turning 42, the festivities feature prizes, $4.20 cheeseburger baskets, $4 mimosas, $4 double wells, $4 Big Busch Lights, and of course, birthday cake to top it all off.

When Bo-James opened its doors in 1983, it stood as one of downtown’s only dinner houses. Known for its extensive menu, high-backed booths, and loyal lunch crowd that included business professionals and legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry, Bo James became a fixture in the community.

Step inside, and the space tells the story of its history. Original Tiffany lamps cast a warm glow over booths that have seen decades of stories. The handmade neon sign lights the entrance each evening, and at the heart of the restaurant sits a round wooden table, cracked with age and character—the only piece to survive two fires, and still serving guests today.

In the early 2000s, founder Leah Cohen saw the need to adapt. She partnered with student organizations from the University to reimagine the restaurant as a casual sports bar with an Irish twist. The transformation worked, solidifying Bo James as a go-to for game days, birthdays, and late-night meetups.

Still proudly family-owned and operated, Bo James carries on Leah’s legacy. She helped pioneer the concept of sidewalk cafés downtown, and her son, Morgan, who grew up wiping tables and learning the ropes firsthand, is stepping into a leadership role as she prepares to retire. The tradition is alive in every detail from second-generation employees behind the bar to the children of longtime customers now raising glasses of their own.

Bo James has been the setting for countless memories like engagements, anniversaries, reunions, and those ordinary nights that somehow become unforgettable. Patrons often return years later to toast the place where it all began. It’s where Hancher performers came to unwind, where students became staff, and staff became family.

Join us tomorrow to celebrate 42 years of Bo James—a downtown tradition that continues to serve up community, comfort, and a night out on the town.

Today’s your last chance to grab a Legacy Retail

Today’s your last chance to grab a Legacy Retail Bounceback voucher! Spend $200 or more at participating legacy businesses and get $40 back while supporting the downtown staples that have helped shape Iowa City’s charm. To mark the occasion, we’re spotlighting a cherished and curious corner of downtown: The Haunted Bookshop.

Established in 1978, the @hauntedbookshopiowacity has become a cornerstone of Iowa City’s literary life. After locations on South Johnson, East Washington, and North Linn Streets, the store found its forever home in 2013 at 219 N. Gilbert Street, nestled inside the historic 1847 Wentz House. Once home to Caroline Wentz and later Iowa City’s first female mayor, Emma Harvat, the Greek Revival residence is on the National Historic Register—a fitting place for a store brimming with stories.

With ten curated rooms and over 45,000 titles across 80+ genres, The Haunted Bookshop feels more like a literary living room than a retail space. From its cozy reading nooks to cat-sized windowsills, every inch of the shop is designed to invite exploration and quiet connection.

Owner Nialle Sylvan took over the store in 2004 at age 26, captivated by its welcoming energy and history. Since then, she’s lovingly expanded its legacy by merging with other local bookstores—Northside Book Market, The Bookery, and Murphy-Brookfield Books—creating a living archive of Iowa City’s literary past and present.

The shop takes its name from The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley, a novel about booksellers, romance, and mystery. Fittingly, the store is “haunted” not by ghosts, but by stories—and maybe the occasional white cat. Resident felines Esk and Sophie charm visitors with their sleepy companionship, while the elusive Écaille Echo—spotted only by customers—adds a magical touch of mystery.

What sets The Haunted Bookshop apart is its role as a community anchor. “People come to find, bring, or swap out books,” Nialle says. “And because of that, the store has become a channel in which the character of Iowa City passes.”

Follow on Instagram

Downtown Gift Card
About Us

Job Board
Leasing
Add Your Event
Business Resources
Contact Us

© Copyright Iowa City Downtown District | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Sitemap