When one door closes, three swing open — literally — as Iowa City’s downtown bar scene gets a major plot twist.
Following a brief hiatus, The Fieldhouse reopened Thursday, Nov. 6, at its new and larger space at 138 S. Clinton St., next to YoTopia and across from the Old Capitol Mall.
Fieldhouse’s former location didn’t stay empty for long. Hazzard County American Saloon, a Cedar Rapids-based country-themed bar, opened its second location on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 118 S. Dubuque St. on the Ped Mall.
Now, owners and operators behind both bars, Tracy Barkalow of Fieldhouse and Brian Hughes of Hazzard County, are teaming up to revive The Union Bar and Grill.
The Union Bar and Grill to open in Iowa City in the winter
The raucous nightlife spot first opened in 1993 at 121 E. College St., now home to The Stuffed Olive, and closed in April 2020 after a 27-year run. The Tailwind Group, the developer of The Nest and The Quarters, purchased the building that housed The Union in 2017 for $2.9 million. Today, Tailwind lists only one Ped Mall property, 113 E. College St., now ReUnion Brewery.
The Union Bar and Grill’s comeback will happen at 118 S. Clinton St., next door to Fieldhouse, and is slated to open by the end of 2025 or early 2026. It will take over the former Cactus 3 building.
“I went to the Union even more often than the Fieldhouse… It had this big city nightclub feel,” Hughes said. “We are trying to bring that back with these bars, so people can get a taste of what we used to have… Fieldhouse and Union are cornerstone names of bars in Iowa City. We felt that they should be represented the way we remember them.”
For Barkalow, the revival of The Union strikes a nostalgic chord, as his uncle, Harry Ambrose, formerly owned the College Street Club at The Union’s former location from 1980 to 1990. Three years later, The Union took over the space, though the building had previously served as home to other nightlife iterations.
The Union will be intrinsically different, not necessarily a revival, but a second life. Themed nights are anticipated to return, and a full food menu will debut. Barkalow and Hughes declined to comment on concerns about Iowa City’s Ordinance 09-4341 that prohibits new “drinking establishments” from opening within 500 feet of an existing one.
“We meet all the code requirements, and more importantly, all state laws and city requirements,” Barkalow said. “We’re not going to go into detail on that at this time.”
Fieldhouse sees early success at new three-story location
Barkalow owns both the current Hazzard County and the current Fieldhouse properties. Barkalow acquired the 118 S. Dubuque St. commercial space and purchased the 138 S. Clinton St. property a few years ago, previously home to Active Endeavors, which has been vacant since 2021.
Barkalow owns the name and rights to Fieldhouse, a bar that “holds a special place” in his heart as a lifelong Iowa City resident, he told the Press-Citizen in July. He took over ownership following the death of the original owner, Mark Eggleston, in 2024.
The three-floor sports bar aims to appeal to everyone. In quintessential sports bar fashion, large TVs line the walls, but it is also spacious enough for dancing. The music is not limited to one genre, playing a mix of everything, along with bar games like darts, pizza offerings, and of course, drink specials.
Hazzard County has experienced relative success since opening in 2025.
“It’s been exciting for the students and the locals to get something different. It’s been a while since a newer concept has come to town,” Hughes said. “We’re bringing old names back to town, but with a new player, and the excitement we’re seeing is huge.”
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Fieldhouse returns in new spot as owners vow to revive The Union Bar. What to know
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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