August 4, 1936 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that Charlie James has purchased Donnelly’s (formerly known as Joe’s Place) and is restoring the original name back to this popular tavern.

When Prohibition officially ended in 1933, Iowa City, after seventeen ‘dry’ years, began issuing liquor licenses once more. While dozens of new taverns opened for business over the next six years (1933-1939), today, only four of those taverns still remain. Joe’s Place is one. Can you guess the other Iowa City watering holes that have survived all these 85+ years?

After Joe Vitosh – the original owner of Joe’s Place – sold his bar to Harold Donnelly in 1935, Donnelly changed the name to Donnelly’s. It’s only when Charlie James – in 1936 – bought the signage from the original Joe’s Place when the bar “officially” re-opened under the Joe’s Place name. So, in fact, while the name – Joe’s Place – goes back to 1933, the “continuous service from 1933” date can not be claimed. In truth, it’s “continuous service from 1936”!

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