A new multi-use entertainment venue is coming to downtown Iowa City this summer, filling the void left by the closure of SpareMe Bowl & Arcade.
Local business owner Joe Hill has purchased the 16,000-square-foot property at 404 E College St, Suite 101 — located in The Chauncey building — and plans to reopen it as Barker’s Bowling. According to a news release from the Iowa City Downtown District, Mr. Hill also owns Burger Haul in the Pedestrian Mall. He officially closed on the property last month, and construction is currently underway.
The venue will feature 12 bowling lanes split between the main level and upper floor, along with pool tables, shuffleboard courts, and open social spaces. Both floors will offer full bar service and a diner-inspired food menu featuring burgers, pizza, appetizers, ice cream, and shakes. A dance floor and space for live entertainment with DJs and performances are also planned.
The second floor will be available for private reservations, including birthday parties, corporate events, and community gatherings.
Mr. Hill said the project is designed to serve a broad audience — from families and University of Iowa students to longtime residents — with accessible bowling features for younger guests alongside leagues and casual play for teens and adults.
“I look at this as a real opportunity,” Mr. Hill said in a statement. “When this space closed, it left a void in downtown. This is about bringing something back that enhances the district and extends what downtown has to offer.”
Christopher Hunter, director of marketing and communications at the Iowa City Downtown District, welcomed the development. “When SpareMe closed, our community lost a unique place where people came together to connect, unwind, and have fun,” Mr. Hunter said in a statement. “Downtown thrives when we have destinations like this that bring people together, create energy throughout the day and night, and serve as an anchor for community life.”
A grand opening date has not yet been announced.
