About: Bowery Street Grocery Store

The Bowery Street Grocery Store, also known as Helmer's Grocery and as the New Pioneer Food Cooperative, is a historic building located on the east side of Iowa City, Iowa, United States. The building's construction is consistent with those built in the mid-19th century. The single-story wood-frame structure with the false front was a popular commercial style building that was built in Iowa from that time period. Beginning about 1897 the city directory lists this location as a meat market and grocery store. It would continue to house that type of business, under a variety of owners or renters until 1975. The New Pioneer Food Co-op was the last grocery to occupy the space, beginning in 1971, until it relocated to a larger facility. At some point it was illegally converted into student housi