Tin Rooster restaurant coming to North Liberty

NORTH LIBERTY - A handful of experienced Johnson County business owners have set their sights on a new North Liberty restaurant.

Erik Shewmaker and Brian Flynn, partners with Coralville's 30hop and Iowa City's Blackstone, plan to open a new restaurant called Tin Rooster on the corner of West Penn Street and Community Drive. Brandon Pratt, who owns a handful of area Pizza Ranch locations, also is a partner in the project.

Shewmaker said the full-service, contemporary American restaurant will boast more than 250 indoor seats and a massive 150-seat outdoor patio. The plan is to open Tin Rooster in early 2017, he said.

'North Liberty is really growing into such an important part of the Corridor and it's been underserved by high caliber restaurants for too long,” Shewmaker said. 'Tin Rooster will be a full-service, family friendly restaurant that features a fresh American menu with a large craft beer presence and abundant outdoor seating.”

The North Liberty City Council on Tuesday approved the project site plan.

During that meeting, City Planner Dean Wheatley pointed out the building's impressive design, which includes a large patio, multiple dining areas and ample parking.

'There are a lot of good things going on here,” Wheatley said. 'I think it will be a landmark.”

City Administrator Ryan Heiar said, in addition to the impressive design, city staff were encouraged by the level of experience present in the applicants.

'We all know these folks are very talented in what they do and have had success elsewhere,” Heiar said. 'We're confident that these experienced business owners are going to have a successful business in North Liberty.”

Shewmaker said he plans to take the lessons he's learned at previous restaurants and implement them into Tin Rooster, which will employ between 90 and 100 people.

Of all the elements in Tin Rooster, Shewmaker said he's most excited about the 150-seat patio, which will be elevated and overlook the nearby trail and Liberty Centre Pond.

'We took lessons that we learned at 30hop and we were able to apply them to this patio ... We're looking at kind of doing a hybrid between your typical patio and a rooftop patio,” Shewmaker said. 'One really nice aspect is we're be able to offer a full menu outside as well.”