Iowa River Power Restaurant is Closing Later This Year

UPDATE: 8/4

Iowa River Power Restaurant owner Danise Petsel has spoken to KCRG about the impending closure of the restaurant, and she says she was "blindsided" after being told by the building's owner Randy Ward that she had to be out of the building by January 7th of 2024. Her statement in the article reads:

“My lease was originally from 2002 to 2022. But then we extended the lease in 2008 when the flood hit. That’s not the part he’s contesting, the part he’s contesting is he didn’t receive my option to renew the last 5 years. So he’s saying in October of 2022 he never received it.”

Randy also spoke to KCRG, saying that Danise never signed the 5 year extension and was leasing month-to-month. He initially asked her to terminate the lease last October, but "she didn’t want to."

Iowa River Power Restaurant's last day in business will be November 26th.

ORIGINAL STORY: 8/3

A popular Corridor restaurant that opened back in 1977 will reportedly be closing its doors in November. Iowa River Power Restaurant at 501 1st Ave in Coralville confirmed in a Facebook comment that they are set to shut down in late 2023.

Lots of rumors have been circulating on Reddit and Facebook the last several weeks as to the cause of Iowa River Power's closure, but as of right now, there is no official statement from Iowa River Power on their website or social media accounts. The only confirmation comes from the response to a comment on Facebook from user Kristina Yeigh. She asks in a photo comment, "Are you really closing for good in November?" and Iowa River Power Restaurant responded with a simple, "yes."

Just last week, Iowa River Power Restaurant was welcoming RAGBRAI riders to dine on their patio overlooking the water. In addition to the views, the eatery is also beloved for its Sunday brunch. It boasts a 4.5-star rating on Google with nearly 1,400 reviews! The website says Iowa River Power is currently owned and operated by Danise and David Petsel and has been a popular dining destination for more than 40 years.

When more information about Iowa River Power comes to light, we will be sure to update this article with the latest details.

According to a 2022 article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Flannigan's Bar & Grill, which once shared a building with Iowa River Power Restaurant, closed sometime last year. It was also owned by David & Danise Petsel.