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Ashley Montrose, Ariel Rodriguez, and Daniel Thompson

Dr. Matthew Gilchrist

RHET: 1030:0038

November 20, 2015

South Clinton Street: From Cupcakes to Solo Cups

Introduction:

“According to a national survey, almost 60 percent of college students ages 18-22 drank

alcohol in the past month, and almost 2 out of 3 of them engaged in binge drinking during that

same timeframe.” These statistics, provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism, prove the undeniable existence of alcohol misuse within college communities—

including our very own. As the second-ranked party school nationally, the University of Iowa is

home to a proud, stigmatized drinking community. Not only that, but central campus is located

mere minutes from the downtown Iowa City area, occupied by multiple and locally-renown bars.

This easy access to a variety of intoxicating businesses can readily serve as a trigger to alcohol

addiction, especially when the local twenty-one ordinance, an Iowa City legislation not allowing

patrons under twenty-one to be in a bar after 10:00 p.m., is one not heavily enforced by these

same establishments.

At the very front of the downtown area, the interested individual is met with two large

and very popular bars, just a small walk away from one another. Located on South Clinton

Street, The Summit and The Airliner are well-known community favorites. Although both serve

as restaurants during daytime hours, the establishments transform completely at night, becoming

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endless alcohol suppliers until 2:00 a.m. There are, however, other equally celebrated businesses

that occupy the South Clinton Street area. Molly’s Cupcakes, for example, is a famed cupcake

shop located between both The Summit and The Airliner. Even further, the street features Iowa

Book, an eyewear shop, Pancheros, and Mesa Pizza. These locations work against the scandalous

bar atmosphere to promote a family-friendly tone independent of intoxication.

Clearly, the “vibe” of South Clinton Street is confusing. The feel is largely dependent on

the time of day, what day of the week it is, and if a holiday or special occasion is under way.

Also, perspective of the area will vary based on the person and, even further, what age group

they fall under. Therefore, we—as a group—wish to examine the ways in which the ever-popular

South Clinton street does and does not promote the consumption of alcohol. However, being as

The Summit and The Airliner are indeed two of the largest establishments present in the

immediate area of South Clinton Street, alcohol consumption is somewhat an urged activity.

Thus, we desire to inform how the area inevitably encourages alcohol abuse and addiction--

especially on college kids--as well as its vast consequences.

Description of Daily Activities:

On a casual stroll down South Clinton Street, the given individual will probably notice nothing

out of the ordinary. There will be plenty of other pedestrians, passing through on the way to their

destination. Consequently, he or she will hear many voices in the midst of conversations, as well

as the sound of cars driving down the road. The consumer will waltz past various shops, and

maybe even enter one or two. Here, he or she may enjoy a variety of goods: school supplies from

Iowa Book, a big burrito from Pancheros, a famed slice of pizza from Mesa Pizza, and even the

delectable sweets of Molly’s Cupcakes. That same individual could also venture into one of the

two large bars for a cocktail or two, as well as a lovely meal prepared by the phenomenal chefs

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of The Summit and The Airliner--given that he or she visits before the food-serving hours end.

Indeed, this lovely stroll would have to occur during daylight on a weekday, as South Clinton

Street ultimately transforms between various times of day and days of the week.

To begin, both The Summit and The Airliner open at 11:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 a.m. These

establishments serve food during specified hours; The Airliner being until 10:00 p.m. and The

Summit until 8:00 p.m. And, depending on the day, the hungry customer may stop in to enjoy a

sweet deal--the daily special. For example, The Summit hosts a “wing Wednesday” promotion

with discounted wings, while The Airliner has half-priced pizza Tuesdays. Even further, certain

campus fraternities are partnered with The Summit in a meal plan-esque agreement. Also, the

bars serve as popular locations to sit back and enjoy whatever sports games are on. Clearly, the

bars have their busy days, however, they experience even more hectic nights. As The Summit

ceases meal preparations, the business opens their upper area, accessible by a short flight of

stairs. In this upper area, nicknamed “The Jungal”, bar-goers can experience drinks from two

separate bars, as well as a trip to the large dance floor; and, if you are considered “good enough”

by the DJ, you may even be invited to dance on stage. By contrast, The Airliner does not have a

separate area for nightly endeavors. Instead, the business serves drinks from its sole bar, and

offers the same seating situation as during the day.

Adversely, the non-alcoholic establishments operate differently. Molly’s Cupcakes, for

example, is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., opening slightly later on

the weekends. Its operation, however, is a twenty-four hour process. As the work day comes to a

close, bakers arrive at 8:00 p.m. to begin their tasks. Staying until 3:00 a.m., these bakers prepare

fresh treats for the following work day. At 5:00 a.m., the center-fillers and pastry artists arrive to

finish off the job, staying until the store opens again. Molly’s also has happy hour deals from

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4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, ranging from a free coffee to a free mini

cupcake with purchase. In the same respect, both Mesa Pizza and Pancheros undergo the

necessary prep and cleaning jobs, but close at the same time as the bars. These businesses, of

course, serve food items throughout the day. As for Iowa Book, they sell various academic and

pro-Iowa supplies during the day. Even further, Iowa Book offers a special of their very own:

ten-cent fountain drinks every Friday--a promotion working against the pro-alcohol rhetoric both

The Summit and The Airliner showcase.

Physical Condition of the Site:

Just as the aforementioned daily activities of South Clinton Street differ between times of day

and days of the week, so does the area’s physical condition. On the average weekday the level of

litter will be minimal, as mostly-empty trash cans are posted every few feet near the edge of the

sidewalk, next to a nearly equal amount of hopeful baby trees and round street lights. This degree

of rubbish may increase slightly as day turns to night, but overall South Clinton remains fairly

tidy throughout the work week. As Thursday and the weekend evenings near, however, the litter

flow increases as people loiter in the area more often and for longer periods of time. This boost is

a result of not only quickly-overfilled trash cans, but intoxicated bar-goers usually lacking the

mindset to properly dispose of waste as well. After all, the main attraction of not only South

Clinton Street, but of the entire downtown Iowa City area on Thursday and weekend nights is

drinking in the various bars and nightclubs. Consequently, on these evenings the South Clinton

sidewalk may also feature vomit, for many bar-goers tend to binge-drink—sometimes resulting

in uncontrollable nausea. However, the following morning the previous night’s waste will have

disappeared, and all will seem normal.

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The sidewalk outside of The Airliner, featuring the aforementioned baby trees and street lamps

Just as the physical condition of South Clinton Street’s surface is dependent on the time of day

and day of the week, so is the condition of some of the establishments themselves. For example,

The Summit and The Airliner tend to lose cleanliness as the work day goes on. Of course, these

establishments serve both food and alcoholic beverages, thus spills will happen. However, once

food-serving hours have passed and the bars transform into the previously-described night scene,

employees may find it harder to keep up with messes. After all, there is a larger flow of people in

and out of the bars as well as more spills due to increased consumer intoxication. As one

anonymous Airliner employee states, “It gets a lot more crowded at night, and it’s harder to clean

because once you clear off a table… people who are drinking go and sit there, even though you

haven’t finished cleaning it yet.” This fact proves true for The Summit as well, for the stairway

leading to the upper night-club area experiences so much foot traffic and beverage spilling that

consumers often slip and fall. Mesa Pizza and Pancheros also encounter this late-night difficulty,

as they close when the bars do. Thus, both establishments usually experience a large, intoxicated

consumer influx late at night—especially on weekends—that often spills but leaves no extra time

or room for employees to clean. On the other hand, different South Clinton Street businesses

preserve a rather hygienic atmosphere. Molly’s Cupcakes, for example, is rarely ever in a messy

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state, and when spills occur they are cleaned relatively fast. While one could argue that this is

true solely because Molly’s closes far earlier than the surrounding businesses, one must also

recognize the grand correlation between alcohol consumption and physical well-being of the

given establishment.

Photos taken of Summit and Molly’s Cupcakes on November 5, 2015, show the difference in condition and

popularity from day to night, as well as the contrasting moods.

Besides cleanliness, the various South Clinton businesses display differing physical tones

as well. While Iowa Book and Molly’s Cupcakes exhibit a brighter complexion, The Airliner and

The Summit show a darker appearance. Specifically, Molly’s and Iowa Book are white buildings

with bright-colored accents, while The Airliner and The Summit are darker buildings with deep-

colored accents. These physical differences in aspects as simple as color completely change the

mood of each establishment, although that will be discussed in depth later in the report.

Additionally, the appearance of The Summit changes drastically from day to night. The already

gloomy appearance of the business darkens even further as prime bar time arrives; the regular

lights are dimmed in favor of neon lights, creating the stereotypical night club look. Meanwhile,

The Summit’s next-door neighbor, Molly’s Cupcakes, maintains its vast amount of light,

creating a noticeable contrast between the two businesses.

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History of the site:

The Summit restaurant and bar has been open for over a decade now, locally dubbed

“The Scummit.” The first two years were slow for the business, as it struggled to make its name

known in the Iowa City community. Then, Brad Temple was hired as the general manager in

June of 2012, completely rebranding the bar. Sales shot up and The Summit made a name for

itself within the local area. Christopher “Topher” Wanek of Des Moines became the new owner

of The Summit in the spring of 2014. Before this famed establishment opened its doors, an

Ethiopian clothing store occupied the space, according to a local native.

The Airliner first opened its doors in 1944, making it a staple part of the Iowa City

community for almost seven decades. The Airliner was founded by Joe and Edris Rinella, pizza

fanatics. They named the bar after a restaurant they frequented near Midway Airport in Chicago.

Over the years, “the bar has earned a reputation as the place in town to grab a pizza and a beer

and catch the big game.” And this is still the image that is upheld by The Airliner; not just a

place to get drunk, but an establishment to enjoy a delicious meal and have a good time.

Airliner Bar in the 1940s

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Molly’s Cupcakes originally started in Chicago by a man named John Nicolaides. He

created the store to honor his third grade teacher, Miss Molly, who on each student’s birthday

would bake them a cupcake. It was said that her cupcakes were the best of the best, with Molly’s

own special recipe. Thus, the business’s mission is to give back to education and the kids. The

owner of the Iowa City location, Jamie Skinner, was a former employee at the Chicago

establishment. Ms. Skinner opened the local Molly’s Cupcakes in 2012, saying that it would

offer a good alternative to the bar scene. With the aforementioned twenty-one ordinance

recently put into effect, Molly’s would attract consumers who are looking for activities aside

from alcohol consumption.

The businesses present today have not always existed, however. Originally, a hotel

known as Saint James Hotel resided at Iowa Book’s location. The business experienced

downfall, as sources confirm: “Competition from the Jefferson doomed the St. James, which was

experiencing physical decline in any event. The University of Iowa rented the upper floors in

1914 as its Iowa Union for students. That lasted but two years for the St. James was leveled by

fire in 1916, making way for the current day Building on that corner.” Additionally, as an Iowa

City native informed us, the street used to filled with men’s and women’s clothing stores, and

before Pancheros stood “...the filthiest Pizza Hut in the world.” For the last century, South

Clinton Street has been a center of activity. Its landscape is ever changing, with businesses

coming and going based off of consumer interest. However, two businesses have withstood the

test of time. The Airliner and Iowa Book have been staple places for consumers to visit over the

past few decades.

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South Clinton Street early 1900’s

Stories from the Community:

Unfortunately, the University of Iowa Police and business owners of the area could not

be reached for comment. Various locals, however, were eager to share their personal experiences

with South Clinton Street. For example, when asked about the prevalence of fake I.D. usage in

the immediate South Clinton area, all interviewees expressed opinions on the matter—but not

necessarily concern. Indeed, all of the interviewed individuals admitted that fake I.D. usage must

be prominent, but due to the nature of not only South Clinton Street but the downtown area as a

whole, the issue is unavoidable. In essence, the circulation of “fakes” is almost expected. And, as

one underage college student informed us, she herself uses a fake: her now twenty-one years old

sister’s former I.D. Pulling off of similar looks and a small age gap, this individual has

successfully used her fake I.D. three times a week, from Thursday through Saturday, for the past

month and a half; the total amount being eighteen occasions over roughly forty-five days.

While many people go to South Clinton Street to drink, interview subjects did not

consider alcohol abuse exclusive to that area or particularly worse than other areas of the city.

Simply, the opportunity to drink exists in the South Clinton Street area, so people take advantage

of the availability of alcohol. As one middle-aged Iowa City citizen said, “...alcohol is part of the

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reason the area exists...” This individual explained even further that the bar-scene of both South

Clinton Street and the downtown area prove more positive than negative, as many find it

appealing. “...I think that when public spaces are vibrant...that’s very high quality of life. And the

fact that some people are drinking or not...I think the benefits of that….always outweigh the

downside.”

Additionally, according to some users of this area, not much difference exists in South

Clinton Street from day to night on weekdays, but a difference can be seen on the weekends.

Come night time on Thursday through Sunday, vomit and spilled drinks can be seen in the South

Clinton Street area, and the bars—being The Summit and The Airliner—look particularly

unclean. As an anonymous Iowa City resident stated, “(Over the weekend), there’s a lot of vomit

sometimes, it’s not very clean…, but once the week comes, it’s kind of cleaned up…” In

addition to varying levels of litter, consumer behavior differs as well. As an Iowa City woman

mentioned, “...late at night, there are more people that...congregate on the sidewalks...whereas in

the middle of the day or morning, it’s more likely that people are just walking down the street to

get from point a to point b or...go into one of the businesses.”

The business practices of South Clinton Street also encourage employees to partake in

consumption. Bar employees receive a discount on drinks, and have easy access to the alcohol

served at the bar. When an anonymous South Clinton Street bar worker was questioned over

changes in her personal drinking habits upon employment, she explained how her usage has

increased: “....after work, you’re already at a bar, so it’s really easy to just get a drink right

away… Employee discount makes it even cheaper, so it’s a lot easier to drink at your

workplace…” She also claimed that being exposed to new beverages sparked her curiosity, and

she tries many of them.

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The Summit, advertising drink specials enticing even to employees (via Facebook)

Public Space’s Argument:

The overall argument put forth by the South Clinton Street area revolves around the

consumption of alcohol. The interviews of the anonymous employees of both The Summit and

The Airliner (especially The Summit) painted a stark contrast between what the law expects of

bar owners and what actually occurs in these businesses. For example, serving an individual

under the legal drinking age is against the law, and could lead to charges pressed against the

bartender, establishment, or both. Additionally, serving individuals who are clearly intoxicated—

even border-line poisoned—is not legally prohibited. According to the interviewees, bartenders

do not cut people off unless the person clearly appears to be harming himself, herself, or others.

Also, one anonymous employee told us that they have served friends who they know are under

the age of twenty-one. The difference between what the law demands and what actually happens

in these areas present an interesting picture of the University of Iowa culture.

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The space’s argument is not limited to physical South Clinton Street. Even the social

media feeds of Molly’s Cupcakes, The Airliner, and The Summit, for example, offer insight into

the arguments put forth by the various businesses along South Clinton Street. The Facebook feed

of Molly’s creates the atmosphere of an approachable family business. Highlighting their famed

cupcakes, their social media features family-friendly updates and pictures of current business.

Occasionally, images of staff and the shop at any given time of the day are uploaded as well.

Next, The Airliner’s Facebook and Twitter profiles take a similar approach, showing primarily

pictures of the food and the environment inside of the bar. Every so often they might post a

picture of alcohol, but the main approach of The Airliner’s social media is promoting special

deals offered by the restaurant and advertising their food products. As for the University-

affiliated Iowa Book, their website creates a sole, academically inclined feel through highlighting

their various Hawkeye pride gear and school supplies.

The Summit, however, takes a vastly different approach to their social media. Being a bar, The

Summit obviously offers alcohol—and their social media pages unapologetically inform

customers that alcohol is enjoyable. The bar is quite blunt on Twitter, saying that “If you’re not

drinking, there’s something wrong with you,” at 11:00 a.m., and “Bad News: You can’t drink

away the devastation of a loss. Good News: You can still try!” These tweets, along with other

posts, advocate unhealthy drinking habits by use of peer pressure. They also argue that it is okay

for people to attempt solving personal problems through alcohol. Although The Summit’s

Facebook page adopts a slightly more conservative approach, it inevitably highlights the

drinking culture of Iowa City.

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Tweets from the Summit Twitter Page, (Oct. 21-31, 2015.)

In all, many of the establishments in this area do not encourage alcohol addiction. Rather, they

argue for a nice lunch, delicious treat, or Academic success. However, The Summit and The

Airliner argue something completely different. While the businesses serving alcohol may

advertise it as a secondary product, consumption is clearly encouraged. After all, business is

bigger at night, and as drink distribution increases so do earnings.

Advocate for a Change:

The active policies in the local community should be enough to prevent alcoholism and

its resulting issues, such as underage drinking/fake I.D. usage, injury, and sexual assault from

occurring. But the laws and regulations are not well-enforced throughout the downtown area,

including South Clinton Street; and the environment on campus does little to help. An interesting

dynamic exists regarding the local, campus culture. Many students view the University of Iowa

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as a party school, so they act in ways to live up to the name; as do residents of Iowa City. This

current, stigmatized environment tempts many (under-age) students into visiting bars on the

weekend, despite the possibility of expulsion by University of Iowa policy and the threat of

punishment for underage drinking in possession laws. As the picture below demonstrates, the

past few years experienced large numbers of alcohol-related incidents—not to mention all counts

that go unnoticed or unreported. And although the pictured statistics suggest a fall in alcohol-

related crimes over time, one cannot assume that alcohol consumption, specifically by college

kids, has lowered as well. Rather, one must question the likelihood that reported incidents are the

sole alcohol-related issues to occur, and how effectively these problems are addressed.

The table shows alcohol related incidents over the past few years

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Thus, rigid implementation of local public policies, such as the recent twenty-one

ordinance, must commence. After all, claiming that all underage individuals leave the bar by

10:00 p.m. is certainly different from actually enforcement of the rule. To do so, bouncers and

employees could scan the given bar more thoroughly for underage “markers” as 10:00 p.m. hits.

Even further, these establishments, like The Summit and The Airliner, could implement under-

age distinguishers more noticeable than a simple “X” in marker on the hands—one that can

easily be washed away. Also, for the non-alcoholic businesses, like those on South Clinton

Street, this encouraged alcohol addiction could be further suppressed by refusing service to the

clearly and overly-intoxicated consumer. After all, businesses such as Molly’s Cupcakes and

Mesa Pizza are popular regardless of customer intoxication level.

Regardless of how well existing policies regarding alcohol consumption are

implemented, they are not the sole factor behind the stigmatized drinking culture we experience

as a campus. If we truly wish to see change in not only the South Clinton Street area, but

throughout campus and Iowa City as a whole, we—the individuals—must be the change. It is us

as citizens who inevitably decide what policies are implemented through not only our actions,

but our voices. We are all well aware of the deadly consequences of alcohol addiction and abuse.

We know that, according to U.S. News, “alcohol poisoning kills an average of six people a day”

throughout the United States; or at least we should. We are aware that, as Campus Safety

Magazine states, “43% of the sexual victimization incidents involve alcohol consumption by

victims and 69% involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrators”; or at least we should. Of

course, the consequences mentioned throughout this report are not always direct results of

alcohol abuse and addiction alone. Various other factors play into why an individual assaults

another, or why an individual injures him or herself. However, it is important to note the relation

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between the described consequences and alcoholism—for although alcohol may not be the direct

cause, it definitely acts as encouragement. Thus, we as a community must be the reckoning force

behind change. As the contemporary lyricist Macklemore phrased best, “No law’s gonna change

us—we have to change us.”