South District Market Now Open in the Heart of South of 6th Business District

We are excited to announce that South District Market is now open in Pepperwood Plaza, bringing year-round business opportunities to Iowa City’s South Side. Located at 947 US-6, this nearly 39,000-square-foot space offers four restaurant and retail spaces, a food court, and a self-storage unit, all designed to meet the needs of our growing community.

The transformation of this former Slumberland Furniture store into a vibrant market is the result of collaborative efforts between property owners, community members, and city officials. When Wendy Ford, Iowa City’s economic development coordinator, heard the property owners initially planned to convert the entire building into self-storage, she advocated for a space that would better serve the community.

“The city suggested that they do something to activate the storefront area,” Ford said. “The suggestion was made to put that storage in the back portion of the building.”

Thanks to community feedback, the property owners announced in July 2022 that the space would become a year-round indoor market. Angie Jordan, Executive Director of the South of 6th Business District, emphasized the importance of creating a central gathering space for residents.

“We’ve never had a place to sit down and eat and meet in this part of town before,” Jordan said. “You had to travel outside to do that.”

As Executive Director, Jordan works to unite businesses, increase foot traffic, and foster excitement within the district. Her goal is to continue revitalizing the area south of Highway 6, making it a destination for both residents and visitors.

Chris Villhauer, commercial property manager at SouthGate Properties, shared the vision for the market’s future. Plans include a coffee shop, a bakery, and a space where local artists can showcase and sell their work.

“To expand on that is to have people who would do local artwork, you know, pictures, so they can hang on the wall to kind of decorate the walls,” Villhauer added.

The market also features two floors of climate-controlled self-storage with 600 units accessible via Bluetooth technology.

The first vendor to open in South District Market is Johnson County Board of Supervisor Royceann Porter, who launched her soul food restaurant on March 25. The grand opening was a resounding success, with the community showing strong support.

“Today has been very overwhelming, very overwhelming. But it’s awesome, the support. The love of the community has been tremendously wonderful,” Porter said.

We’re proud to welcome South District Market as the newest addition to the South of 6th Business District, and we look forward to seeing this vibrant space become a cornerstone of our community.

This article is adapted from an original piece by Hannah Lipski, News Reporter at The Daily Iowan.