BREAKING: The Union Station Food Court at the University of Iowa’s Iowa Memorial Union will close on March 13, 2027, as part of a major renovation project that will dramatically transform dining operations on campus. The closure is poised to disrupt food services temporarily while ushering in a new era of dining experiences.
Director of Dining Services Don Stanwick confirmed that Union Station will transition from its current food court setup to a standalone restaurant model, streamlining food offerings for improved service. The renovations will not only change how food is served but also enhance the overall dining atmosphere within the IMU.
The first floor will see the former River Room area redesigned to include made-to-order concepts like pasta and a dedicated sushi counter. Additionally, Godfather’s Pizza will be relocated to an enclosed patio space near Madison Street, broadening the variety of dining options available to students and visitors.
Stanwick emphasized that the changes are part of a broader renovation plan initiated after the Iowa House Hotel closed in February 2025. This project, which has faced delays since severe flooding in 2008, aims to create a centralized wellness center that will provide essential mental health and medical services to students.
The renovation is expected to take significant time, with food services projected to resume in early summer 2027. Catering services will also be impacted as the IMU’s catering kitchen temporarily closes. To maintain operations, catering will relocate to a former restaurant space at Sycamore Mall, with full operations anticipated to resume around March 23, following a brief transition period.
During this relocation week, catering will utilize a campus marketplace kitchen for smaller events, which Stanwick noted presents challenges, especially as the university serves approximately 4,500 visitors daily. “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,” he stated.
Stanwick reassured that avoiding layoffs was a priority during this transition. Student employees affected by the Union Station closure have been offered placement options that allow them to maintain their current schedules if they wish to continue working. “We want to make sure everybody still has a job,” Stanwick affirmed.
Third-year UI student Jacob Vosler, who works at Union Station, shared his experience of the upcoming changes: “I learned about the closure about a month and a half ago and chose to transfer to The Filling Station inside the dental building because it was closest to my home.”
The IMU’s foot traffic is expected to disperse to other dining locations during construction. In anticipation, Christyn Lamar, manager of the Hawk Shop Café and Market, is enhancing her team’s capabilities by adding equipment like food warmers and hiring additional staff ahead of spring break. The café is also set to introduce a ramen noodle bar, which is expected to open during spring break, further boosting their capacity to serve students.
Lamar expressed excitement about the projected increase in customers, stating, “There are days when we are really slow. We won’t have any breaks now.” Meanwhile, Stanwick is enthusiastic about the innovations coming to the IMU, including new dining concepts and the incorporation of technology, which could potentially attract national brands. “It is really going to enhance the student experience on campus,” he said.
As renovations unfold, the University of Iowa community is bracing for significant changes that promise to elevate the dining experience while making adjustments to accommodate students and staff during the transition. Stay tuned for further updates as this renovation project progresses.
