PROGRAM:
President Barb Thomas introduced today’s speaker, Doug Alberhasky. He is the 7th generation of his family to live in Iowa City and the 3rd generation to own John’s Grocery. He is a gradudate of Iowa City High and Kirkwood Community College. Doug started working at John’s Grocer 50 years ago, at age 6.
Iowa City was founded in 1839 and was designed to mimic the grid layout of Washington, DC. A dry goods store was founded in 1848 in the space where John’s Grocery is today. There has been a grocery store at that location for 172 years. A fun fact - at the time of the store’s founding, Iowa City had 3 breweries and 40 bars for a population of 7,000 people.
Doug’s grandfather was one of seven children, who were born and raised on the Northside. John’s brothers owned other pubs and tap houses in Iowa City, including Bernie’s Fox Head Tavern. Doug’s grandfather, John Alberhasky served in the US Navy during WWII, but was never shipped out of Hawaii. He worked odd jobs and earned enough to purchase the grocery store. John’s Grocery was established in 1948. The family rule was that you were hired as soon as you could see over the counter. The family worked there 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
The name Dirty John’s comes from a story surrounding it being the first store in the area to sell Playboy Magazine. When the magazines were delivered one day, some junior high boys took them and distributed them until they were caught by the wrestling coach. Thinking John sold the magazines to junior high boys, he called him Dirty John.
They’re also the King of Bier and started the Iowa City Brewfest in 1996. The Northside Oktoberfest was started in 2011, returning beer home to the Northside, with all the proceeds going to charity. John’s Grocery are the last remaining family owned grocery store in Iowa City and they’re so grateful for the support of our community.
The meeting ended at 1 PM as President Barb Thomas led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
MEETING:
Visiting Rotarians included: Amy Nicholson (Iowa City AM); Gary Wicklund (Vail, CO)
Guests of Rotarians: Barbara Vinograde (Barb Thomas); Will Downing (Sarah Richardson); John and Shelagh McDonald (Tara Minetos); Jeff Dancer (Ryan Bell); T’Shailyn Harrington (Barb Thomas)
Program: Devin van Holsteijn; Attendance: Nancy Droll
Please forward any newsworthy items and/or photos to Jon Brown or Janice Baldes to include in the weekly slide decks emailed to members prior to each meeting and shown just before Rotary meetings at the Club. You can send information to: Janice Baldes janicebaldes@gmail.com or Jon Brown at mjonBrown@taxesplusiowacity.com
It is our policy to have all members silence their cell phones before the meeting and refrain from answering their cell phones during the meeting out of respect to the speaker and fellow members.
