The owners of Hamburg Inn No. 2 sold the historic Linn St. restaurant today. This is the first time in its 60-plus year run that the business has left the hands of the Panther family.
The reach of the diner, founded in 1948 and beloved for its brunches and pie shakes, as well as its political-themed decor, extends far beyond Iowa City. It appears in national news during presidential races, when candidates regularly stop by to stump among locals. Hamburg Inn also plays host to the Official Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus and Iowa Coffee Bean Ballot and was featured on political TV show The West Wing.
A manager at Hamburg Inn No. 2 confirmed the sale but was unable to name the new owner. She said that current owner Dave Panther, who bought the restaurant from his parents in 1979, will be “staying on as a consultant for at least a year.”
