If you could travel back in time and walk down Main Street in Ottumwa 50 or 60 years ago, you might be surprised by how different downtown looked.
The streets were filled with shoppers, storefronts, restaurants and businesses. Families came downtown to shop, meet friends, grab something to eat or catch a movie. For many people, spending an afternoon or evening downtown was simply part of everyday life.
Today, many of those businesses are gone, and some of the buildings that once housed them have disappeared. But for longtime Ottumwa residents, the memories are still there.
Ottumwa’s downtown business history goes back much further than most people realize. In 1845, the community had just three general stores, a tin shop, a blacksmith shop, a tailor shop, two hotels and a handful of other businesses. By 1853, the business district had grown considerably, with eight dry goods stores, two drugstores, a bakery, clothing stores, hotels, shoe shops and several other establishments.
As Ottumwa continued to grow, downtown became the place to go for just about everything.
One business many residents remember is Hofmann Drug. The store opened in 1902 and became a familiar stop for generations of customers. It wasn’t just somewhere to pick up medicine. People remember stopping in to visit and enjoy a Cherry Coke. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1940, but the business reopened in a new building.
Department stores also played a big part in downtown shopping. Names such as Graham’s, Younkers, Seifert’s, Libson Shops, Hub and Poling’s Clothiers, Allen’s Dress Store and Cross’ Dress Store are still remembered by former residents. These were places where families shopped for clothing, gifts and everyday necessities.
For some, a trip downtown was an all-day experience. People remember Thursday nights when stores stayed open until 9 p.m. Families would walk from store to store, visit with friends and enjoy everything downtown had to offer.
Entertainment was another reason people headed downtown.
Ottumwa once had several movie theaters, including the Rialto, Zephyr, Ottumwa Theatre and Capitol Theatre. Going to the movies was a popular way to spend an evening, especially for young couples and families.
The Ottumwa Theatre, which later became known as the Capri, suffered a major fire in 1941. It was rebuilt and eventually converted into a four-screen theater. The neighboring Capitol Theatre also suffered damage in the fire. The combined theater operation eventually became known as Capri V, which closed in 2005.
Restaurants and bakeries created their own lasting memories. Former residents remember Williams Dairy, Swenson’s Bakery, Neiswanger’s Restaurant, Willie’s Pit Barbecue and other local establishments. Some remember the ice cream at Williams Dairy, while others still talk about the pork tenderloin sandwiches at Neiswanger’s.
Then there was the Canteen Lunch in the Alley. Established in 1927, the restaurant became one of Ottumwa’s most recognizable downtown landmarks. Over the years, it faced the possibility of demolition more than once, but community support helped keep it standing. Today, it remains a reminder of the downtown businesses that have managed to survive changing times.
Hotel Ottumwa was another important part of downtown. Opening in 1917, the hotel welcomed travelers, businesspeople and visitors for decades. It offered guest rooms, dining facilities and gathering spaces for meetings and special occasions. The hotel closed in 1973 before being purchased and restored in 1982.
So what happened to all those downtown businesses?
There wasn’t just one reason. Shopping habits began changing as shopping centers and malls developed outside the downtown area. More people began shopping where parking was easier and larger stores offered more choices.
Ottumwa also experimented with a downtown pedestrian mall during the 1970s. Portions of the streets were covered in an effort to create a shopping destination, but the project did not succeed and the coverings were eventually removed.
Urban renewal also changed the appearance of downtown, with entire blocks of older buildings being demolished. Population changes and economic challenges added to the difficulties facing local businesses.
Over time, many familiar storefronts closed, and the downtown that generations had known began to look very different.
But those businesses were more than just places to spend money. They provided jobs, supported families and gave people places to gather. They were part of birthdays, holidays, first dates, family traditions and everyday memories.
Today, when you walk through downtown Ottumwa, you may pass a building without realizing what once stood there or what happened inside its walls.
There are still people in this community who remember those days. They remember the stores, the restaurants, the movie theaters and the excitement of a busy downtown.
And perhaps the most interesting part of Ottumwa’s history is that many of these stories have never really been told.
So, the next time you drive through downtown, take a moment to look around. Think about the businesses that once filled those storefronts and the people who walked through their doors.
What downtown Ottumwa business do you remember? Was it a favorite restaurant, a department store, a drugstore or one of the old movie theaters?
