URGENT UPDATE: The Union Station Food Court at the University of Iowa’s Iowa Memorial Union will close on March 13, 2027, as part of a significant renovation project. This transformation marks a pivotal shift in dining operations, with plans to convert the food court into a standalone restaurant model.
Director of Dining Services, Don Stanwick, confirmed that the renovation aims to enhance how food is served within the IMU while temporarily disrupting current dining services. The space will evolve from a collection of vendors to a single restaurant, improving customer experience and efficiency.
The renovations will also redesign the former River Room area, introducing made-to-order concepts, including a dedicated sushi counter, and relocating Godfather’s Pizza to a new enclosed patio space near Madison Street. “These changes will create a more accessible dining environment and improve service delivery,” Stanwick stated.
The extensive renovation follows a lengthy delay due to major flooding in 2008, which hindered progress for years. The first phase of construction began after the Iowa House Hotel closed in February 2025, paving the way for a centralized wellness center that will cater to student mental health and medical services.
As part of the renovation process, the IMU’s catering kitchen will also close temporarily. Catering services will relocate to a former restaurant at Sycamore Mall, with operations expected to resume by March 23, following health inspections and a brief transition period.
During the relocation week, catering will utilize a campus marketplace kitchen for smaller events, which presents challenges as Stanwick mentioned, “It’s just really hard to use a marketplace during the middle of the school year when you’re feeding 5,000 students a day.”
Efforts have been made to avoid layoffs during this transition. Student employees affected by the Union Station closure are being offered placement options to maintain their schedules. “We want to make sure everybody still has a job,” Stanwick emphasized.
Third-year UI student Jacob Vosler, who works at Union Station, shared his experience with the impending closure, stating he has already transferred to The Filling Station inside the dental building to stay close to home.
The IMU typically attracts approximately 4,500 visitors daily, and Stanwick anticipates that foot traffic will disperse to other dining locations on campus during the renovation period. In response, Christyn Lamar, manager of the Hawk Shop Cafe and Market, is ramping up preparations by adding food warmers and hiring additional staff ahead of spring break. A new ramen noodle bar is also set to open during the break, aimed at capturing the increased customer flow.
Stanwick expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming changes, stating, “It is really going to enhance the student experience on campus.” With new dining concepts and potential national brand partnerships on the horizon, the renovations promise to revolutionize the dining landscape at the University of Iowa.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as the University of Iowa prepares for a transformative dining experience.
