John’s Grocery owner Doug Alberhasky stands Wednesday for a portrait at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. He began working at the grocery store when he was 6 years old. John’s Grocery is the last family-owned grocery store in Iowa City. The city has at least 75 “legacy” small businesses like John’s that have been around for decades. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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IOWA CITY — Every year, Iowa City both welcomes and says goodbye to thousands of residents each new academic year at the University of Iowa. Amid its transient feel of being embedded with the campus, some parts of Iowa City never seem to change.

Iowa City is home to over 75 “legacy” businesses, which the downtown district defines as those being in continuous operation for over 20 years. The Downtown District established the legacy business title to highlight long-term small businesses.

Across the northside and downtown, longtime landmarks like John’s Grocery, Catherine’s Boutique, Hamburg Inn No. 2, Prairie Lights and Gabe’s withstand the test of time — although at times their history hasn’t been easy. Legacy businesses in town often have undergone ownership changes and challenges to reinvent themselves, and — like all small businesses — face competition from national and regional brands.

To be sure, some Iowa City icons that seemed like they’d be around forever — like The Mill bar and restaurant, in business for nearly 60 years but razed in 2022 — have disappeared from the scene.

Yet the dozens of legacy businesses that have survived hope to remain part of the landscape of Iowa City by striking a balance between honoring the tradition that made them local icons, while introducing new ideas to stay relevant.

The Gazette spoke with several legacy business owners whose establishments have been around town for nearly 50 years — or more — about what it takes to achieve longevity in a community that is ever-changing. While the businesses vary across industry, one common theme the owners struck: Supporting the community helps the community support the business.

John’s Grocery

John’s Grocery has been around since the 1940s, but the location at 401 E. Market St. has been a grocery store since the 1800s.

“We've been very lucky in the fact that we have generations of customers. And you know, grandpa came here, mom came here and now their grandchildren are coming here and that's pretty special,” said Doug Alberhasky, owner of John’s Grocery.

Throughout the life of the store, the key to John’s sustained success has been a deep commitment to the Northside and larger Iowa City community, Alberhasky said.

John’s is part of various northside events, like the annual Oktoberfest celebration, and regularly sponsors local area youth and high school sports teams.

“I say that the big companies have a hard time keeping up with us because we listen to our customers. We are that small, nimble running back that can get through the line as soon as we see an opening,” Alberhasky said.

A hat with the John’s Grocery logo sits on display Wednesday at the store in Iowa City. John’s is featured in the upcoming movie “Death of a Brewer,” which is planned to be shown in breweries and taprooms across the country. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The store has a following for its selection of craft beer and liquor from around Iowa and internationally. John’s will deepen its connection to beer when it is featured in the upcoming movie “Death of a Brewer,” based on the novel “Beer Money: A tale of the Iowa City beer mafia” that follows a group of local brewers in the midst of the temperance movement in the 1880s. Plans call for the movie to be shown in taprooms nationwide.

John’s Grocery owner Doug Alberhasky holds a photo May 17, 2022, of his late father and previous owner Bill Alberhasky in front of John’s Grocery in Iowa City. Doug is the third generation owner of the store. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

In addition to being known for its beer selection, John’s also is commonly called by the nickname of “Dirty John’s” — which Alberhasky said dates to 1956 when a delivery truck driver threw out a stack of risque magazines onto the sidewalk outside the store.

“Two boys walk up early for lunch. They see the truck go by, they see the stack come out, and they see opportunity, so they steal an entire stack of Playboys. They take it down to junior high in the locker room. They're passing them out to all their buddies, and they're the absolute gods, until the wrestling coach catches them. … The principal calls up grandpa and says, ‘dirty John, what the hell are you doing selling my boys Playboy?’ And the name stuck, scouts honor, true story and that's why we're called Dirty John’s,” Alberhasky said.

Catherine’s Boutique

Catherine Champion, owner of Catherine’s Boutique, considers the store to be a gathering place that also sells clothes. The boutique, at 7 S. Dubuque St., opened in the 1960s and has been selling women’s clothes ever since.

“I call Dubuque Street the handshake to Iowa City. And especially that intersection is so key that it's really like sort of a little nexus between it's the point where the university has always melded with the city. It's like sort of ground zero for town needs now,” Champion said.

The boutique tries to strike a balance of offering classics, such as denim and cashmere, and incorporating new styles to keep the offerings fresh.

Champion, in part, credits Catherine’s success to the ability to be open to change while also staying true to quality brands and materials. The boutique has some brands it has kept in stock for over 20 years, along some its kept in stock for less than a week.

“We exist because we serve a need, or are filling in some sort of space for people. And that's cool. And the one thing that I will say, which is so tremendous, is that Iowa City has an amazing acceptance and adoption of local businesses. And I cannot say that about every community at all,” Champion said.

Hamburg Inn No. 2

While Hamburg Inn No. 2, located at 214 N. Linn S., has been around since the 1940s, a piece of its acclaim started in 1992 when former President Ronald Reagan came and ordered a slice of blueberry pie before he ordered meat loaf. Since then, the restaurant has been known for its “coffee bean caucus” and presidential and campaign decor.

While the Hamburg Inn No. 2 still is going strong, it’s early in its next chapter after coming under new ownership in 2023.

Goldcap Hospitality, which also operates Pullman Bar and Diner as well as St. Burch Tavern in Iowa City, are now the owners. Each restaurant under Goldcap is independently operated.

“A lot of us grew up coming here, a lot of us grew up in through college coming here, and we have really great memories of it,” said Stephanie Brietbach, Goldcap’s director of hospitality. “And Iowa City didn't feel like Iowa City without Hamburg. So we wanted to help continue that legacy. … And you can't do that without not only supporting the community, but also without the support of the community.”

Breitbach said the ownership group is committed to preserving the legacy of Hamburg while also being open to innovative ideas.

One of the changes made under the new ownership was to return to grinding beef itself for hamburgers and sausage, a practice that began when the restaurant first opened. Hamburg Inn No. 2 also uses coffee from Daydrink, a local roaster in Iowa City.

“I think all that we can do is try every single day to give the best experience that we can, take care of our community, take care of our employees, take care of the product that we have, and hopefully that shines through. And that's kind of how we focus on longevity, right? If we can focus on those things, then the proof is in the pudding,” Breitbach said.

Prairie Lights Books

The bookstore portion of Prairie Lights, located at 15 S Dubuque St., opened in 1978 and the cafe portion upstairs — previously a Java House location — was established in 2010.

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa was established in 1936, ultimately making the city known globally for its literary culture. But after Prairie Lights opened, the city burnished its reputation by becoming a UNESCO City of Literature in 2008 and the university continued to add arts and literature programs.

“All those programs have started and thrived since Prairie Lights has been here,” said Prairie Lights owner Jan Weissmiller. “And so, you know, we are in a very good place to be able to support a bookstore.

Weissmiller and her late business partner took over the bookstore in 2008. Prairie Lights offers a variety of other products such as planners, jigsaw puzzles and local art, but the bookstore still is primarily in the business of selling books.

“It's a very small percentage of our inventory. Some bookstores have a lot more of that kind of thing, and I suppose if our readership would decline, we could rely on that. But it's nice to be able to stay in books,” Weissmiller said.

Prairie Lights doesn’t sell many coursebooks for the UI, except for literature students buying novels. The bookstore is active in other markets, as a stop on the Midwest indie bookstore tour and a stop for various touring authors.

“One of the reasons that we hear that famous writers like to come and read here is because we have such well-read audiences. It's just fun, even if you're just going to be quiet, it's fun to listen to questions as well and you can meet the authors,” Weissmiller said.

Gabe’s

In the past decade, Iowa City’s live music scene has changed with the closure of both The Mill and the Yacht Club, which changed owners and morphed its business model.

Gabe’s, at 330 E. Washington St., has continued on after Pete McCarthy and his business partners took over the place in 2012. It originally was established in 1974, though under a different name.

“Bands want to play there, and it's, you know, it's kind of off the beaten path. It's out of the Ped Mall. And it's just, it's just kind of been there for a long time, and it's pretty much it's like a historic place, you know, and it really needs to exist, it really adds a lot to what downtown Iowa City is,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said Gabe’s relies on all parts of the Iowa City community — from students to longtime residents coming out to support live music. Continuing to engage a wide base will be crucial for continued success, he said.

“It's kind of a place for everyone and I think that is reflected in the music that we book. We do every kind of music, and like I said, there's something for everybody there. So just as long as people keep going out and trying new things and supporting live music, I think we should be OK,” McCarthy said.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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