Apartments Above (and Next to) Pagliai’s Pizza: What It’s Like to Live in the Building
If you have spent any time in Iowa City, you already know Pagliai’s Pizza. The thin-crust pies have been a Northside fixture for decades, and the building that houses them is the same 1875 Slezak-Holub-Skarda complex that now contains Holub Apartments. Living here means the restaurant is not “nearby”—it is in the building. Laundromania shares the ground-floor commercial space as well. That arrangement is unusual enough that people search for it specifically. Here is what it is actually like.
The practical realities
Units sit above or adjacent to the commercial space. Some bedrooms are directly above the restaurant. Pagliai’s has operated in the building since the late 1960s/early 1970s, so the structure has long accommodated both commercial and residential use. Modern renovations have added updated kitchens and baths, central air (SpacePak system), keypad entry, and better finishes, but the building remains a historic mixed-use structure. You will hear some activity from the ground floor at times—especially during peak restaurant hours. Most residents who choose the building treat this as part of the character rather than a surprise. If you need absolute silence, this is not the place. If you like the idea of pizza being a short walk downstairs and do not mind occasional ambient noise, it works well.
On-site convenience
Laundromania is in the same building, so laundry is literally downstairs rather than a separate trip. Shared building laundry is also available. The restaurant and laundromat create a small amount of foot traffic at the entrances, which most people experience as normal urban living rather than a problem. Secure keypad entry and a security camera system cover common areas.
Neighborhood context
The building sits at the corner of Bloomington and Linn Streets in the heart of the Northside. Hamburg Inn No. 2, The Webster, Oasis Falafel, coffee shops, and The Haunted Bookshop are a short walk away. The Pedestrian Mall and University of Iowa campus are an easy stroll. You are not living in a quiet residential side street; you are living in one of the neighborhood’s longest-standing commercial buildings, which is precisely why the location feels lively.
Who it suits
People who like walkable, character-filled Northside living and do not mind being above a well-known local restaurant tend to do well here. Students, young professionals, and others who value proximity over suburban quiet are the typical fit. The renovations mean you get modern comforts (central air, updated kitchens and baths, fiber internet in many units) inside a building with real history rather than a generic complex.
If you want to see specific units, check current availability or schedule a tour. Living above Pagliai’s is not for everyone, but for the right resident it is one of the more distinctive apartment experiences in Iowa City.
