Harry’s Bar & Grill in downtown Iowa City has quietly shuttered with little explanation.
The all-day breakfast spot, which served classic diner dishes reinvented and inspired by East Coast flavors, opened in the fall of 2023 at 116 E Washington St. in downtown Iowa City. Harry’s Bar & Grill, owned by Hart Epstein, was an homage to his father and his return to the restaurant industry post-pandemic. Epstein was previously an owner of the Bluebird Diner, the Daily Iowan reported in 2023.
The restaurant appeared to be closed as of Tuesday, Feb. 17. A Google alert says the business is “permanently closed,” while Harry’s Bar & Grill’s Instagram and Facebook pages have been deleted.
Rumors of the restaurant’s closure first began circulating on social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook, suggesting Harry’s was closing in December.
Epstein dispelled the rumors in a comment in the Iowa City Area Foodies group.
“Harry’s is still open,” Epstein said on Facebook. “Any unverified info disbursed through less-than-legitimate channels (such as Reddit) is gossip.”
Harry’s closes quietly in Iowa City
It is unclear when Harry’s Bar & Grill officially closed. No information is posted on-site at the building, and no furniture can be seen inside.
The restaurant’s equipment is available for bidding in an online auction through Backes Auctioneers. Auction information says the “owner has decided to close this facility and liquidate all of the equipment.”
The Iowa City Downtown District has not responded to the Press-Citizen’s request for comment.
(This is a developing story.)
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, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City’s Harry’s Bar & Grill closes with few details
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
