Changeover hits Iowa City Pedestrian Mall

IOWA CITY - Iowa City is seeing changes in its iconic downtown pedestrian mall with a shuffling and turning over of several businesses.

Allen Best is one of 13 employees that work at Digital Artefacts, a firm that creates cognitive testing platforms and other software. The company recently relocated from the University of Iowa Research Park in Coralville to the penthouse of the new 14-story, Park@201.

The office offers a 360-degree view of the city from the airport to the university hospital to the rooftops of the rest of the buildings that make up downtown. 

"Being downtown is great," said Best, the operations director. "Not only is it vibrant with so many activities, but being downtown around young people into software development has introduced them to our company, and it is easier for our clients who are around here, too." 

Digital Artefacts is one of six businesses - all located within a couple hundred feet of each other - that participated in a grand opening and open house on Friday afternoon. The businesses also include MetaCommunications, Buzz Salon, French Connection, Sicily, and Forbidden Planet.

The new businesses are a mix of retail and software firms that have had soft openings in the last few months, and one that will open in the coming weeks.

Two of the new businesses, Forbidden Planet and French Connection, have new concepts but remain under previous ownership.

Forbidden Planet replaces the Tobacco Bowl, which stood for nearly 25 years before closing this spring. Co-owned by Luther Moss and Cory Ingle, Forbidden Planet will offer vintage arcade games, pizza and drinks. It is due to open in about two weeks, but provided a sneak peek on Friday evening, Moss said. 

French Connection will carry products of London-based fashion clothes retailer French Connection-UK, which specializes in modern style men's and womenswear. The store's decor carries the 'connection” theme with several Union Jack markings, including on the carpet at the entrance.

'It's high quality garments, but not for a million bucks,” owner Catherine Champion said.

It replaces the former Cheap and Chic clothing store, which was also owned by Champion.

The most visible change is the new glass-sided high rise, Park@201, located where a Wells Fargo Bank had been. Buzz Salon jumped from one side of the pedestrian mall to the spacious ground floor with loft in Park@201. Sicily moved into the former Buzz location.

Meta Communications, a firm that develops planning software for creative and marketing teams, brings about 40 employees to floors two, three and four in Park@201. The minimalist look with polished concrete floors, wall length windows and open concept allows staff to collaborate and enjoy the view. 

"Each floor has its own unique identity," said Pasha Kuznetsov, the lead software engineer. 

Nancy Bird, executive director of the Iowa City Downtown District, said all the changes were cause for a celebration. 

'There's a lot of new projects going on, and it's brought interest from new investors and new visitors,” Bird said.