Wild Bill’s Coffeeshop, located in North Hall, is celebrating the 100th year of Bill Sackter’s birthday all this week. Sackter, who was born April 13, 1913, ran the coffee shop when he came to Iowa City.

Events throughout the week include a documentary screening, a special art exhibit, literary readings, and a coffee crawl, culminating with an all-day birthday party on Saturday at the Uptown Bill’s, 730 S. Dubuque St.

Wild Bill’s Coffeeshop is a service-learning project in the UI School of Social Work, providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.  

According to the School of Social Work website, Sackter spent 44 years in a Minnesota mental institution. He was discharged in the 1960s and came in contact with a young student, Barry Morrow. Bill followed Morrow to Iowa City and ran a small coffee service now known as Wild Bill’s. He became a celebrity of sorts, and was featured in two TV movies about his life.