Nodo Owner Excited About Downtown Foot Traffic for New Location

Nodo owner Bryan Asklof says that the new downtown location, slated to replace the departing Pizza on Dubuque, will feature more of the same formula that has made Nodo a steady success despite being attached to an Ace Hardware location a long walk away from downtown.

More, as in more footspace, longer hours, and over twice as many seats for diners.

The same, as in the same menu (with a potential for a few additional tweaks) of coffee, cookies, and above all, wraps and sandwiches that have made Nodo a repeat destination for fans. 

Asklof said he isn't worried about the downtown location taking away from his fellowing on the northside. In fact, the location next to Ace will remain open with its current configuration, with a full time prepper readying food for both locations.

"People in this part of town don't really head to downtown for lunch, and people downtown really don't come here all that often, so I don't think it will affect us too terribly much," Asklof said.

Where Asklof expects the new location will affect Nodo the most is by providing the opportunity to tap into all that foot traffic available in downtown Iowa City. Asklof is also looking to offer beer and wine at the downtown location, which he is currently not able to do at the northside Nodo.

Asklof said that work on renovating the Pizza on Dubuque location will begin soon as PoD is moving nearby to another location on Iowa Avenue with the new name "Pizza Pod." He said that he is hoping to open the downtown location by August, but that could vary based on a variety of hurdles that need to be cleared between now and then.

You can find out more about Nodo and its regular menu items at its Facebook page.