Iowa City residents and University of Iowa students trickled into The Union Bar & Grill on Friday night, over opening weekend of the bar’s return.
The two-story bar contains a winding and dimly lit staircase that led to the upstairs section of the bar, where the customers flocked. The bar opened on Feb. 19 after an Instagram post Feb. 18 informing users the bar would host its grand opening.
The original The Union Bar closed in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bar was originally located in the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall on East College Street in what is now Stuffed Olive and Double Tap. The new location is at 118 S. Clinton St., the former Cactus 3 location next to Giddy Up.
Google still lists the old Union when searched, and there is currently no website for The Union Bar & Grill, which co-owner Tracy Barkalow says is something he is still deciding on.
“Facebook is our primary website,” Barkalow said. “I don’t know if we’re going to have an actual website or not.”
As of now, there is no contact information listed for the bar or its hours of operation. Barkalow says the bar will be open every day from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Barkalow, who also owns the Fieldhouse Bar & Grill, said he plans to appeal to college students with the Union’s nightclub and dance bar concept, compared to Fieldhouse’s sports bar concept.
Similar to Fieldhouse are their menu offerings, as both Fieldhouse and Union have signs advertising pizza for $15. However, Barkalow said this is temporary, and the Union will get a new and original menu in about a week.
Barkalow said he is currently working with a local food distributor to create the new menu.
Customers on the second night since opening had positive thoughts to share about the bar during its opening weekend.
Fourth-year University of Iowa student Makaila Jurgens said the first thing she noticed was the size of the bar.
“My first impression is the bar is very big,” Jurgens said. “It seems like it’s gonna be really fun when it’s packed.”
Jurgens also pointed out the elevated dance floor located near the back of the upstairs portion of the bar and recognized that the concept they want to have is a dance bar.
Jurgens said the bar will be popular because of how well-liked the old Union was. While Jurgens didn’t get to experience the old Union firsthand, she said her mother has told her how much she and her friends loved it.
Fourth-year UI student Madelyn Boerst said she loved the new Union and said she liked the upstairs section of the bar, which is larger than the main floor and contains a longer bar, multiple televisions, arcade games, and an elevated dance floor.
“It’s kind of like secretive upstairs,” Boerst said. “I like it.”
Mattea Skinner, a Minnesota resident, said she was impressed with the new Union.
“I think it’s good nightlife,” Skinner said. “I like it so far.”
Skinner was in town visiting family and is originally from Iowa, so she had good memories of the old Union and thought the new one was a fun new option in the Iowa City bar scene.
Iowa City resident Christian Delgado liked the new location of the Union compared to its old one. He said the previous bar was too crowded and things would always get knocked over, while the new space feels much better.
Delgado said on its second night of being open, the Union is already one of the best dance bars in Iowa City.
“I definitely say top two in Iowa City right now,” Delgado said.
