Blackstone/Red's Alehouse owners to open IRL restaurant

[Matt F]

Blackstone/Red's Alehouse owners to open IRL restaurant

30hop will be the newest addition to Iowa River Landing, an area of development at the southeast corner of Interstate 80 and First Avenue in Coralville.

The 6,500-square-foot building will have seating for more than 130 people. Construction is projected to start in early November 2012, with a projected opening date of the summer of 2013. Koester Construction is the project's general contractor.

Designed by George Pappageorge of Pappageorge Haymes in Chicago, 30hop will be a "trendy-yet-comfortable, urban-industrial dining and drinking establishment," featuring the area's first rooftop patio. The menu will focus on simple, fresh items and will include 50 beers on tap on the main level and 30 beers on the rooftop.

The name 30hop is a reference to the rooftop observatory of 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City. Craft beer also plays a large role in 30hop's creation and design. In both name and atmosphere, 30hop fuses the popular nickname of the Manhattan area, 30 Rock, with the essential craft beer ingredient, hops.

30hop's menu will include burgers and fries, as well as pasta, steak, seafood, sandwich and salad dishes featuring local ingredients.

The 6,500-square-foot building will have seating for more than 130 people. Construction is projected to start in early November 2012, with a projected opening date of the summer of 2013. Koester Construction is the project's general contractor. Once complete, it will employ 60-70 people.

30hop's partners include Erik Shewmaker, Matthew Swift, Brian Flynn, and Dan Blum. Mr. Shewmaker has been the owner/operator of BlackStone restaurant and bar in Iowa City since its opening five years ago. Mr. Swift is the owner/operator of Red's Alehouse in North Liberty. Before Red's opened, Mr. Swift operated BlackStone with Mr. Shewmaker, was the owner/operator of the Sycamore Mall Pizza Ranch in Iowa City and was the general manager of Sluggers in Coralville. Mr. Flynn has ownership in a number of ventures, including four local restaurants and bars: BlackStone, Joe's Place, Donnelly's, and Vesta. Mr. Blum worked as a manager of BlackStone and helped grow the restaurant from 5,000 to 8,000 square feet and lead many other initiatives.

For more information, contact management@30hop.com.