Attorney: Iowa City’s Hamburg Inn not closing

IOWA CITY — If you’ve never eaten a pie shake, bought a tie-dyed T-shirt or crowded in the doorway to get a table at the Hamburg Inn No. 2, you’ll still have your chance.

The iconic diner is not closing despite what its staff reported last week to the public, an attorney for the owner said Monday.

“There are no plans to close the restaurant,” said Kim Baer, a Des Moines attorney who represents Hamburg Inn owner, Michael Lee. “In fact, his plans are just the exact opposite.”

Hamburg Inn managers told media outlets, including The Gazette, the restaurant was closing because the building in the Northside Neighborhood needed repairs and they couldn’t make contact with Lee, who is in Taiwan.

⧉ Related article: Hamburg Inn set to close in Iowa City

Baer said miscommunication caused staff to think the restaurant was closing.

“They are making some updates and repairs, so they have had limited hours,” she said. “Unfortunately, that somehow was construed as an intent to close the restaurant permanently, which is not the intent.”

Repairs to the roof and other parts of the building are being made and Baer said she expects the restaurant to be open full time in the next few weeks. A sign on the door Monday said the Hamburg was open for dine-in or carryout, but the restrooms were not open.

Michiko Minoura Dobosy, 43, and Joseph Dobosy, 48, both of Coralville, stopped by the restaurant Monday for breakfast. They’d heard the news Hamburg was closing, then saw Baer’s comments that the restaurant would remain open.

They bought a T-shirt and mugs — just in case.

“We’ve been coming here for 15 years,” Dobosy said. “We love this place.”

They ordered the Presidential Breakfast, which is two eggs, hash browns or home fries, choice of bread and choice of protein. They’ve also visited the Hamburg to see presidential candidates, including John Edwards, who was the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2004 and, after losing, ran again for president in 2008.

“We’re news junkies,” Minoura Dobosy said. “We always like coming when we can see a candidate in person.”

The Hamburg has been a frequent stop for political candidates and sitting leaders, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Lee, a native of China and University of Iowa graduate, purchased the restaurant from Dave Panther in 2016. Panther’s family had owned the Linn Street restaurant since 1948. The restaurant first opened in 1935.

Substantial building maintenance needs all mounted at once after the blizzard earlier in December, The Gazette reported last week.

Baer said she had checked with Lee’s accountant to confirm staff have been paid, despite some statements otherwise. “Due to the reduced hours, there has been reduced income, but everyone to the owner’s knowledge has been paid.”

Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com