Old Capitol Mall
Old Capitol Mall, now known as Old Capitol Town Center, is a downtown shopping and mixed-use center in Iowa City, Iowa.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Old Capitol Mall is a downtown shopping and mixed-use center in Iowa City, Iowa, located immediately across South Clinton Street from the University of Iowa's Pentacrest. The property opened in 1981 as the Old Capitol Center after an urban-renewal redevelopment replaced a block containing grocery stores, the Burkley Imperial hotel, and other earlier commercial buildings. Its proximity to the university made it a convenient destination for students, faculty, staff, and downtown residents. At opening, the center followed the conventional regional-mall model. JCPenney and Younkers served as its principal anchors, while more than 70 smaller stores occupied the interior. Early tenants included Foot Locker, Zales, B. Dalton, Musicland, Claire's Boutique, Orange Julius, and the Aladdin's Castle video arcade. The complex also included a movie theater and a mix of apparel, specialty, entertainment, and food businesses. In 1995, the property adopted the Old Capitol Mall name, and in 2000 it was renamed Old Capitol Town Center. The center's competitive position changed sharply after Coral Ridge Mall opened in nearby Coralville in 1998. Coral Ridge offered extensive free parking and larger-format retail space, while Old Capitol Mall's location within the Iowa City Downtown Historic District limited its ability to provide comparable surface parking. JCPenney relocated to Coral Ridge, Younkers added a Coral Ridge location and later closed its Old Capitol operation in 2004, and numerous national retailers followed shoppers toward the newer center. Traffic and occupancy declined, leaving the downtown property with a more mixed tenant base. Local investors helped prevent a bankruptcy outcome in 2003. The University of Iowa subsequently became increasingly involved because of the building's location near campus and its potential to provide academic, administrative, retail, and community space. Between 2006 and 2009, the university acquired 55 percent of the property, representing approximately 207,000 square feet, in three phases. The building consequently evolved from a conventional enclosed mall into a hybrid center containing restaurants, small retailers, health services, university offices, and event or community uses. The property also served an emergency campus role after the Iowa flood of 2008 damaged the Iowa Memorial Union and the Voxman School of Music. Temporary or relocated university operations, including the Iowa Hawk Shop, used space in the center while affected facilities were unavailable. After the Iowa Memorial Union reconstruction was completed in 2015, the Hawk Shop returned to the union, but the center retained a substantial university presence. In the 2010s and 2020s, the tenant mix continued to change. Restaurants and service businesses replaced many of the former department-store and specialty-retail functions. Examples included Pizza Bros., Sparti's Gyros, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Panera Bread, Bartertown Toys and Collectibles, La Hair, Zolly's Grill, and other independent or regional food and service operators. University departments also expanded into formerly retail-oriented areas, including financial aid, student disability services, public-health functions, information technology, registrar services, research administration, and conference facilities. The center is connected to the Capitol Street Parking Ramp, which provides 875 spaces and a pedestrian connection to the building. Its present role is therefore broader than that of a traditional shopping mall: it functions as a downtown commercial property, a university administrative complex, a food-and-service destination, and a link between the university campus and Iowa City's central business district. In 2024, the University of Iowa pursued approval to acquire the remaining 45 percent of the property, further consolidating the building's institutional ownership and long-term campus significance.
History
The site of Old Capitol Mall has long been part of Iowa City's central commercial district. By 1933, several grocery businesses operated on the block, including the Economy Cash Store, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Butcher Bros. Grocery, and Joseph Glassman's Cash Grocery. A three-story hotel known as the Burkley Imperial stood nearby on West Washington Street. During the urban-renewal projects of the 1970s, these earlier structures were removed to make way for a new commercial center. Old Capitol Center opened in 1981. Its location directly opposite the southeastern edge of the Pentacrest placed it close to the University of Iowa campus and downtown offices. The original design relied on large department-store anchors, with JCPenney and Younkers supported by more than 70 smaller tenants. Retailers included national chains, specialty stores, food outlets, entertainment businesses, and a movie theater. The property was renamed Old Capitol Mall in 1995 and Old Capitol Town Center in 2000. The arrival of Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville in 1998 weakened the center's regional-draw model. Coral Ridge provided newer facilities, abundant free parking, and larger spaces, while Old Capitol's downtown historic-district setting limited parking expansion. JCPenney moved to Coral Ridge, Younkers operated a new Coral Ridge location before closing its downtown store in 2004, and other retailers gradually reduced or ended their presence at Old Capitol. The property faced financial pressure in the early 2000s, but local investors helped prevent a bankruptcy outcome in 2003. The University of Iowa then began acquiring ownership because the building's campus-adjacent location made it useful for offices, services, and university-related activity. Between 2006 and 2009, the university purchased 55 percent of the building in three phases, equivalent to about 207,000 square feet. The 2008 Iowa flood demonstrated the value of the property as nearby institutional overflow space. The Iowa Memorial Union and Voxman School of Music were damaged, and affected operations used space in the center. The Iowa Hawk Shop also relocated there until the Iowa Memorial Union reconstruction was completed in 2015. During the 2010s, the center continued to replace departing national retailers with restaurants, small businesses, professional services, and university functions. Specific changes included the closure of Sam's Steamed Caboose Burger in 2013, the arrival of Sparti's Gyros and Pizza Bros. that year, the expansion of UI QuickCare in 2015, and the closure of UniversiTEES in 2016. Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack closed its location in 2018 after weak evening and weekend sales. Freddy's opened in 2019, followed later that year by Panera Bread. In the 2020s, university occupancy expanded further. Student Financial Aid moved into the center in 2020, and Student Disability Services also relocated there later that year. Bartertown Toys and Collectibles opened in 2021, followed by La Hair in 2022. Raising Cane's opened in 2024 in the former Freddy's space, while Zolly's Grill opened later that year after Bollywood Grill closed. The university also pursued purchase of the remaining 45 percent of the property, reinforcing the center's transformation from a conventional mall into a university-connected downtown mixed-use facility.
- 2024
University seeks full ownership
[1]The university requests approval to purchase the remaining 45 percent of the building.
- 2020
University administrative occupancy expands
[1]Student Financial Aid and Student Disability Services move into the center.
- 2015
Iowa Memorial Union reconstruction is completed
[1]The Iowa Hawk Shop returns to the reconstructed union after using space in the center.
- 2009
University completes majority acquisition
[1]The University of Iowa has acquired 55 percent of the building through transactions conducted from 2006 through 2009.
- 2008
Flood displacement creates temporary university uses
[1]The center houses operations displaced by the Iowa flood, including functions associated with the Iowa Memorial Union and Voxman School of Music.
- 2003
Local investors support the property
[1]Local investors become involved and help the property avoid bankruptcy.
- 2000
Name changes to Old Capitol Town Center
[1]The center receives its current commonly used name.
- 1998
Coral Ridge Mall opens
[1]The nearby Coralville mall begins drawing shoppers and retailers away from the downtown center.
- 1995
Name changes to Old Capitol Mall
[1]The property adopts the Old Capitol Mall name.
- 1981
Old Capitol Center opens
[1]The center opens in downtown Iowa City with JCPenney and Younkers as anchor stores.
Products and positioning
A downtown Iowa City mixed-use center serving university users, local residents, visitors, restaurants, service providers, and University of Iowa departments.
Specialty retail · 1981
Retail stores
The center historically accommodated department stores and specialty retailers, including JCPenney, Younkers, Foot Locker, Zales, B. Dalton, Musicland, Claire's Boutique, and other apparel, footwear, book, gift, and convenience businesses. The retail mix has contracted and become more locally oriented as regional shopping shifted toward Coral Ridge Mall.
Food and beverage · 1981
Restaurants and food services
Food service is a continuing part of the center's tenant mix. Present and recent uses have included fast-casual chains, independent restaurants, cafés, Asian food businesses, Mediterranean-American cuisine, smoothies, desserts, and coffee. The category has helped the property remain active despite the departure of its original department-store anchors.
Institutional services · 2006
University services and offices
A substantial portion of the building is now used by the University of Iowa. Functions identified at the center include financial aid, student disability services, public-health offices, information technology, registrar and graduation services, research administration, community engagement, teaching support, conference facilities, and campus safety. This institutional use is a defining part of the property's current role.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Iowa City Winter Market
Iowa City
The center hosted the Iowa City Winter Market in December, combining music, food, and small-business vendors in an effort that supported community activity and downtown visitation.
Outcome. The event provided a seasonal community-use program; broader commercial results were not reported.
Brand decisions
2024
University pursues the remaining ownership interestM&ABackground
After holding a majority stake, the University of Iowa proposed acquiring the remaining 45 percent as part of its longer-term facilities planning.
Action taken
The university requested approval from the Iowa Board of Regents to purchase the remaining interest.
Aftermath
The reported approval would consolidate ownership under the University of Iowa and further institutionalize the property's use.
Purchase price for remaining 45 percent. 20.6 million US dollars (Approved purchase reported in 2024; remaining payments scheduled through October 1, 2027)
2006
University begins phased property acquisitionM&ABackground
The University of Iowa identified the campus-adjacent building as useful for offices, services, and institutional functions.
Action taken
The university acquired ownership in three phases and held 55 percent of the property by 2009.
Aftermath
University occupancy expanded and the center became a mixed commercial and institutional property.
1998
Responding to the opening of Coral Ridge MallStrategyBackground
The opening of a larger nearby shopping center with extensive free parking reduced the competitive advantage of the downtown location.
Action taken
JCPenney moved to Coral Ridge, Younkers added a Coral Ridge location, and multiple retailers subsequently relocated or closed their Old Capitol operations.
Aftermath
The property shifted away from a traditional regional mall model toward smaller retail, food, service, and university uses.
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