The Unimpaired dry bar locations in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, which were touted as alcohol-free social alternatives to the local nightlife scene, are both currently closed, and the future of the business overall remains unclear.
A sign affixed to the door of the Iowa City location, at 125 E. Burlington St., indicated that the store has been closed by order of the Johnson County Public Health Department until the department has “performed the required inspection and the facility has met all necessary requirements. Or, as such time that the facility has closed permanently.” A staff member with the health department said the county closed the business after its license lapsed and attempts to reach the owner were unsuccessful.
The Iowa City location last posted to social media in late October 2023, promoting an Iowa Music Awards Halloween afterparty. A listing on the Lepic-Kroeger Realtors website indicates the space is available for sublease with the option to purchase the left-behind assets for $175,000.
Unimpaired announced plans in July 2023 to open a Cedar Rapids location, to be called Unimpaired Express, at 415 Third St. SE, formerly the Hawks Nest Sports Bar & Grill. The new location was set to be different from its Iowa City sister, with a smaller format and an emphasis on coffee rather than alcohol-free “mocktails.”
It’s unclear if the Cedar Rapids location ever opened for business, but the storefront now features signs indicating the space is for lease, and the listed phone number is no longer in service. Google lists the location as “permanently closed.”
In addition, Unimpaired’s website URL, unimpaireddrybar.com, is now listed as “parked” by domain registrar GoDaddy.
Unimpaired’s first location opened in Davenport in September 2020. It’s also listed by Google as being “permanently closed.”
Unimpaired had also begun promoting franchise opportunities and announced plans in September 2022 for a truck-based “mobile version” of its Davenport operation, but the truck designed for that operation was listed as being for sale on the Quad Cities Craigslist page in December 2023.
