Iowa City Restaurant To Close After 60 Years

An unfortunate fact about restaurants and the coronavirus pandemic is that many establishments that had to close their doors, will never be able to re-open. Filling carry out orders can only go so far, and opening to 50% capacity simply isn't an option for many eateries as the weigh the health risks to their customers. A long time restaurant in Iowa City announced on Thursday that they are closing. The Mill is another casualty of COVID-19.

The Mill wasn't just a restaurant, it was an institution. The Gazette reports that after 60 years, the business is set to close for good. The owners made the announcement on their Facebook page yesterday. They praised the community for its support.

As you might imagine, the reaction to The Mill's announcement has been met with sadness. Many people noted how active and involved the restaurant was in the Iowa City community. Many other people simply remember it as a great place to hang out and see live music.

Like many other restaurants in the corridor, The Gazette reports that The Mill did provide takeout starting in March as the coronavirus pandemic shut down restaurants and businesses. Iowa's governor ordered all restaurants to close their dining rooms to patrons. The Mills owners announced in May that they would close completely until it was safe to resume "in-house activities and events." But they would never re-open.

Restaurants were allowed to open back up on May 15th with a 50% capacity restriction. That too was lifted recently and they are now allowed to seat at full capacity. Many are still choosing not to.