So long, loose-meat sandwiches: The Iowa Cafe closes after 33 years in northeast Mesa

The Iowa Cafe, a popular northeast Mesa dining destination for more than 30 years, has closed, the restaurant announced on Facebook.

The cafe, which already had closed for the summer, was known for its Midwest favorites like Maid-Rite loose-meat sandwiches, breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, and massive pies.

The Iowa Cafe made its debut in 1985 on McKellips, between Higley and Recker, and immediately became popular with winter visitors, especially those from the Hawkeye State.

The restaurant always claimed neutrality in the rivalry by the University of Iowa and Iowa State, but the former’s black-and-yellow color scheme was far more prominent in the cafe’s decor.

In 2005, owner Dani Tonti-Johnson sold the cafe to longtime employee Pam Ohsman, who moved it to a slightly larger location about a mile away on the southeast corner of Higley and Brown in 2012.

Although Ohsman has sold the building, she says an unidentified party has expressed interest in re-opening the cafe at a new location.