Camp-themed bar, pizza restaurant duo opens in downtown Iowa City

IOWA CITY — A new pair of bars with a full pizza menu are bringing the outdoors to the city.

Camp and Scout’s Honor, a duo located at 217 and 219 Iowa Ave., respectively, started opening in October to replace former tenants Eden Lounge and Players Sports Bar and Grill, which closed around July.

With coherent themes that go beyond the average bar in downtown Iowa City, owners Josh Immerfall and Nick Carroll hope that they stand out from the crowd.

“I can tell you branding and theming bars in Iowa City isn’t something we’ve seen a ton of. That was something we’re intentional with,” Immerfall said. “Our opening was having a certain concept and driving a theme of a bar downtown. That isn’t necessarily something that exists in Iowa City.”

Camp

With a hidden entrance down an alley, Camp’s quiet corner offers a space away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown district. A full line of canned beer, brandy old fashioned cocktails on tap and a curated selection of well-done appetizers, means you won’t have to go into the woods to find some relaxing moments.

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Antique coolers sourced from Facebook Marketplace across Iowa line shelves along the ceiling’s perimeter. Flannel-lined booths provide a closer look at vintage beer ads framed on the wall, and a basic jukebox has music just loud enough for the cozy space.

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Whether you’re sipping on a can of Hamm’s or eating Wisconsin-inspired cheese curds, some giant focal points in the tiny space give you something to break eye contact during conversation. Namely, the 16-foot canoe above the entrance, and the giant adirondack chair in the corner that will undoubtedly serve as a placemaker for social media photos.

With Busch Light and Big Grove’s Easy Eddie on tap, the majority of their beer selection is canned: Montucky, Modelo, Rolling Rock, Great Belt, Hamm’s, PBR, Old Milwaukee, Bud Light, Budweiser and Natty.

“On the Camp side, we serve beers people have strong emotional attachments to — the brands you would take camping,” Carroll said. “Not the trendy new stuff.”

The small menu features a burger, grilled cheese, loaded waffle fries, cheese curds and a few cocktails on tap like the Camp-tini with vodka, raspberry simple syrup, Champagne and Sprite. If you want to get a jump start on the evening, try the s’mores shot with liquor equivalents of chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers.

The old fashioned style, made with brandy sweeter than the typical whiskey, is served from a prebatched keg in a style Carroll gleaned from time managing stores in Milwaukee and Eau Claire.

“This side for sure has a more mature crowd than what Iowa City is used to,” Carroll noted. “We’re a little cleaner and more intentional about the cleanliness of the place (in both establishments). I think it will attract some young professionals as well, not just the college demographic.”

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Scout’s Honor

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On the other side of the wall, Scout’s Honor hosts a much larger space lined with modern wood paneling and spacious booths centered around a tow-behind camper and a small dance floor full of disco balls.

“Even though they’re sister bars along the same vein, (Camp) is much more chill — sit down and relax,” Carroll said. “(Scout’s Honor) is going to be more upbeat, more dancing.”

“Pizza by day, party by night” is the tagline they hope will stick for a variety of audiences as they try to make the sister bars more of a destination than a stop along a bar crawl.

With fresh pizza, their handmade menu stands above the typical frozen pizza served at their dive counterparts still sporting wood paneling from its first wave of popularity. Diners can select from 12 options like the Buff Chick with Buffalo sauce and chicken, or the Spicy Sinner with Canadian bacon, pineapple and jalapenos.

“That’s something we take a lot of pride in,” Immerfall said. “When you think of pizza, that’s what this is. It’s not necessarily thick crust or thin crust, just pizza done well.”

Build-your-own options start at $14.

The menu also features a full line of appetizers, salads and warm grain bowls, sandwiches and desserts available through the evening.

Wash it all down with signature cocktails like the State Fair Lemonade served with Pink Whitney in a mini bucket, or choose from one of 10 taps serving local craft beers.

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How it started

Both owners have been involved in staples around Iowa City and the Corridor for decades.

Carroll owns Hatchet Jack’s in Iowa City, and Pat and Fran’s Irish Pub in Coralville. Immerfall owns Donnelly’s Pub in the Ped Mall, and Goldfinch Tap + Eatery in Marion.

“We both existed in the downtown (Iowa City) sphere for a long time. We were always kicking the tires on opportunities,” Immerfall said. “We’ve had a beer here and there for a few years. This spun up, and here we are.”

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.