Old Capitol Mall in IC

[The-Dude-Abides]

We had a great lunch. On our way back to my car, there was a couple of folks that needed help with a jump start. They had the jump pack but had no idea how to use it. I set down my leftovers and the 6 pack that I planned on taking home, and got their car started. It took like 3 minutes. When I went to the other side of the car, my leftovers and beer were gone. WTF

No good deed goes unpunished. On an unrelated note, I found a free lunch and some beer just sitting on the sidewalk today in Iowa City. I think it was from Pullman's, super tasty. Crazy that someone would just put it out for the free taking like that.

 

[Igor Stravinsky10]

Doodle, you get it. You are AWESOME!

 

[Herky T Hawk]

I remember going as a kid and thinking it was the coolest mall because it was two stories. All I’d ever visited with regularity were my hometown mall, Northpark mall, and Southpark mall previously.

The only way they can put an arena where the mall is, is if they make it rectangular where there are far fewer baseline seats than sideline seats. Think, IU’s Assembly Hall on a smaller scale. The mall is about 500ft long by 320ft wide, not counting the parking lot. The seating portion of Assembly Hall is about 400x350ft, not counting the extra office space.

So, it is possible, but that is a lot of office space that would have to be replaced. 100s of millions of dollars to invest in the arena, plus probably another 50-100 million on the office space. All for a sport the AD hasn’t treated as a priority in decades.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Diamond Dave's and Orange Julius definitely pop from that list for me

Orange Julius rules. I had a shit ton of orange and strawberry as hangover cures back in the day. Late 80’s early 90’s.

It’s almost impossible to find one now.

 

[GOHOX69]

Orange Julius rules. I had a shit ton of orange and strawberry as hangover cures back in the day. Late 80’s early 90’s.

It’s almost impossible to find one now.

Dq bought it. That's why. It is now a brand, available at dq.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Dq bought it. That's why. It is now a brand, available at dq.

Yep, but not many of them. I was home in WDM recently and all the ones that claimed they had Orange Julius didn’t.

Wish we could buy those in a grocery.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

Dq bought it. That's why. It is now a brand, available at dq.

Orange Julius was garbage the last time I got them years ago and a DQ/OJ store. Never tried again after that. Really went downhill after DQ bought them. Used to be great back in the day.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I would think city and county officials would have concerns with the entire mall becoming tax exempt under U of I. But I don't live down there anymore, so there might be more to the story.

ISU does give a shit about local businesses with their new Fan Zone that will be competing against property tax payers

 

[QChawks]

I remember going as a kid and thinking it was the coolest mall because it was two stories. All I’d ever visited with regularity were my hometown mall, Northpark mall, and Southpark mall previously.

The only way they can put an arena where the mall is, is if they make it rectangular where there are far fewer baseline seats than sideline seats. Think, IU’s Assembly Hall on a smaller scale. The mall is about 500ft long by 320ft wide, not counting the parking lot. The seating portion of Assembly Hall is about 400x350ft, not counting the extra office space.

So, it is possible, but that is a lot of office space that would have to be replaced. 100s of millions of dollars to invest in the arena, plus probably another 50-100 million on the office space. All for a sport the AD hasn’t treated as a priority in decades.

It’s fun to think about, but it’s never happening

The university wants to keep all their sports together as much as possible that’s why you have football basketball baseball all in one area

And then soft ball, soccer and field hockey just a short drive over off Melrose

 

[GOHOX69]

Orange Julius was garbage the last time I got them years ago and a DQ/OJ store. Never tried again after that. Really went downhill after DQ bought them. Used to be great back in the day.

80s food and drink in general was better. Pizza, Orange Julius, Chinese food etc come to mind.

 

[ICWestfan]

With the number of ramps downtown, parking would probably be easier. Closer for most, anyway. You’d obviously also include a pretty large ramp as part of the arena complex.

Already a ramp next to/attached to the mall.

 

[Ferentz_Fan]

Used to have a movie theater and good arcade.

 

[jberesford]

2 bucks??? You must be as old as I am 😁

I think it was 4-6, might have been limited days as well but that was still a thing when I lived downtown in '04. Toppings cost extra and they usually made their money back on guinness from me. And even that was cheap too.

 

[ThorneStockton]

Great album of historical IC photos:

Then and Now - Iowa City

A collection of historical photographs of Iowa City locations. For educational use.

www.flickr.com

 

[Doodads and Hoohah]

Athletes Foot.
Foot Locker.
Radio Shack.
B Dalton's.
Center Amusements.
Aladdin's Castle.
Diamond Dave's.
Arby's.
Orange Julius.
Wilson's leather.

What else am I missing?

Z'barro

 

[GOHOX69]

Z'barro

S'barro brah.

 

[JMNSHO]

Upstairs bathroom, south side, towards the parking garage was a great place to take a dump back in the day.

 

[beanerhawk]

Yep, but not many of them. I was home in WDM recently and all the ones that claimed they had Orange Julius didn’t.

Wish we could buy those in a grocery.

If you look up orange julius recipe on line it's very easy to make at home. Used to do it all the time it's hard to find a DQ that has it on hand. Try it a couple of times and after you get good at them they are just like the real ones.

 

[torbee]

Upstairs bathroom, south side, towards the parking garage was a great place to take a dump back in the day.

The absolutely #1 best place for an emergency dump in downtown Iowa City/central campus was inside the Von Maur inside the Old Cap mall.

Quiet and tucked away. Wooden doors on the individual stalls that had like full walls between them not just dividers. Pleasant muzak playing from ceiling speakers. Warm white lighting.

It was like a poop palace.

 

[GOHOX69]

The absolutely #1 best place for an emergency dump in downtown Iowa City/central campus was inside the Von Maur inside the Old Cap mall.

Quiet and tucked away. Wooden doors on the individual stalls that had like full walls between them not just dividers. Pleasant muzak playing from ceiling speakers. Warm white lighting.

It was like a poop palace.

For a long time, they had a real piano player High class.

 

[Doodads and Hoohah]

For a long time, they had a real piano player High class.

I used to beg my mom to bring me to sycamore mall around Christmas time listen to the piano player at von maur

 

[jellyfish10]

For a long time, they had a real piano player High class.

College square in CF as well. Von Maur is damn near the only thing in the mall anymore.

 

[Igor Stravinsky10]

I used to beg my mom to bring me to sycamore mall around Christmas time listen to the piano player at von maur

As I drove around IC yesterday, I stopped by Sycamore Mall. That is an absolute garbage dump.

I did stop by Thoma's Meat Market after that. Great food there!

 

[QChawks]

Campus III was a great little movie theater

I saw ET and Back to the Future there

 

[torbee]

Campus III was a great little movie theater

I saw ET and Back to the Future there

Got a few handies there in the dark from randy co-eds

 

[The-Dude-Abides]

Got a few handies there in the dark from randy co-eds

I didn't know Lauren Boebert went to Iowa.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Got a few handies there in the dark from randy co-eds

 

[Igor Stravinsky10]

I didn't know Lauren Boebert went to Iowa.

Can I have my beer back? You can keep the Reuben and fries leftovers. 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺😁

 

[cigaretteman]

It's essentially the unofficial Asian Student Union nowadays.

 

[The-Dude-Abides]

Can I have my beer back? You can keep the Reuben and fries leftovers. 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺😁

 

[MikeyHawk]

Went to JCPenny a lot my years at Iowa, the mall was pretty cool and nice to walk through when it was cold.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Got a few handies there in the dark from randy co-eds

Pic of said co-eds?

 

[torbee]

Pic of said co-eds?

It was the early 90s - so variations on this theme:

 

[Huey Grey]

Pic of said co-eds?

Then or now?

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Then or now?

How about both? We can see which ones preserved well.

 

[Huey Grey]

It was the early 90s - so variations on this theme:

That's mainlined 90s style right into your veins.

 

[Ree4]

The absolutely #1 best place for an emergency dump in downtown Iowa City/central campus was inside the Von Maur inside the Old Cap mall.

Quiet and tucked away. Wooden doors on the individual stalls that had like full walls between them not just dividers. Pleasant muzak playing from ceiling speakers. Warm white lighting.

It was like a poop palace.

I don't remember a Von Maur, I could be mistaken but I though it was just Younkers and JC Penney at Old Cap, Von Maur was at Sycamore.

Don't forget Claire's & Cookies and More, Victoria's Secret, Zales & Musicland

 

[RileyHawk]

It was the early 90s - so variations on this theme:

Where's Randy?

 

[Herky T Hawk]

I don't remember a Von Maur, I could be mistaken but I though it was just Younkers and JC Penney at Old Cap, Von Maur was at Sycamore.

Don't forget Claire's & Cookies and More, Victoria's Secret, Zales & Musicland

Yeah I have no recollection of Von Maur downtown, only at Sycamore. There were only spots for two department stores.

 

[Colonoscopy]

Yeah I have no recollection of Von Maur downtown, only at Sycamore. There were only spots for two department stores.

I see what you did there