On Iowa City’s Northside, residents move from shop to shop along East Market Street, weaving past brick storefronts and crowded patios in a district defined by both its history and its steady evolution.
One of Iowa City’s oldest commercial buildings, located at 203-205 N. Linn St., continues to see new business, with Gavin Mercantile and Bread Worthy moving into the building this summer.
Peter Kessler, co-owner of Goosetown Café, which closed in 2023 and previously operated in the building, said this older style is what makes the Northside successful and stands out.
“You don’t get this much in many newer areas. I think of neighborhoods in Chicago, where there’s a bar and a restaurant on corners that are residential, and those are always my favorite places to go — the neighborhood spot. The Northside is the neighborhood spot for the Northside community and for the downtown community at large,” Kessler said.
According to an Iowa City Downtown District release, the building dates back to 1862, when it first opened as the Union Bakery. Over decades, it evolved alongside the Northside, housing a tavern, hotel, café, and a range of local businesses — from hardware and electronics shops to bookstores and restaurants, including Goosetown Café.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, the building reflects more than a century and a half of continuous commercial use in Iowa City.
“We are so thrilled to be able to restore some of this building’s history in the gorgeous Northside neighborhood, surrounded by so many other inspiring small businesses,” Bread Worthy posted on Instagram when announcing its move to the Northside.
While businesses come and go, Kessler said the Northside maintains its character because of the people. He added that the sense of community extends beyond business transactions.
“It isn’t always transactional,” he said. “It’s also just on a human level. You get to know your neighbors.”
Iowa City’s total downtown area has seen an increase in foot traffic over the last year, with visits increasing from 8.5 million in 2024 to 9 million in 2025.
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However, Northside owners pointed to a post-COVID-19 pandemic spike in interest, particularly with the introduction of portions of Linn Street that are closed to traffic, creating space for outdoor dining and community events, including Northside Saturday Nights, a live music series that draws crowds to the neighborhood.
As these new businesses come to the Northside, Christopher Hunter, director of marketing for the Iowa City Downtown District, said the organization expects to see foot traffic in the area continue to increase.
“It definitely sets it as a destination for people to seek out,” Hunter said. “With Bread Worthy Bakery coming and Gavin Mercantile, people will definitely be traveling to experience that Northside neighborhood. It will become a destination for people in Iowa and even beyond, as more people learn about these new businesses coming.”
Gavin Mercantile, along with bakery Bread Worthy, will occupy 205 and 203 N. Linn Street, respectively, filling the space that previously housed Goosetown Café before its closure in 2023.
Hunter, referencing a history compiled by Peter Byler, owner of the building, said the first-floor storefront space was originally constructed to house two separate businesses, but later was transformed into one large space, which is how it was used by Goosetown Cafe, its previous occupant.
“We are ecstatic that these two new businesses will be coming to the downtown district and the Northside district,” Hunter said.
Hunter is excited to see these new businesses coming into the district, bringing new energy into the downtown area, and filling a beautiful, previously vacant space. He has received much attention and positive feedback from the community and other businesses in the area.
The present renovations will restore it to two separate storefronts for Bread Worthy and Gavin Mercantile. The process has uncovered much of the building’s architectural history, such as a beautiful set of columns that will be kept as an ode to the building’s past.
Annie Aasen, owner of Bluebird Diner, said new businesses highly impact foot traffic.
With the increase in foot traffic, Austin acknowledged rising costs in the area but said she felt lucky that her rent is locked for the foreseeable future.
“It definitely increases foot traffic to have more businesses in the area,” Aasen said. “Whenever I see a new sign going up, I’m always excited.”