During his nine-year NFL career, former Iowa Hawkeye kicker Nate Kaeding (MBA15) got the chance to eat at some of America’s best and most iconic restaurants.
Whether sampling Cajun specialties in New Orleans, famous Skyline chili in Cincinnati or the eponymous wings of Buffalo, he came to realize that where and what locals eat help define a community.
Now that his NFL days are over, he and his business partners at Gold Cap Hospitality are working to create uniquely local and authentic Iowa City eateries they hope become part of the fabric of what Kaeding considers “the best college town in America.”
Whether it’s the quirky and moderately upscale Pullman Bar & Diner, fine dining at St. Burch Tavern, or down-home comfort food at the revamped Hamburg Inn No. 2, the goal is to deliver diners not only quality food, but an experience for the soul.
“We want to create places that become synonymous with the Iowa City experience,” Kaeding said. “Our goal is to create concepts that become part of the fabric of Iowa City.”
While Pullman and St. Burch are fresh concepts conceived by Kaeding and his partners, including fellow Iowa alum Ben Smart (BS04), perhaps the most daunting challenge Gold Cap faced was taking over Hamburg Inn No. 2. The legendary diner on Linn Street in the city’s Northside neighborhood had seen dwindling business and frequent closures after the longtime owners sold it in 2016. Following a second sudden closure in 2023, Kaeding’s group snapped it up with plans for a reboot.
“That purchase was a dream for me as an Iowa City kid,” said Kaeding, who recalls sitting in the wooden booths in his youth, eating pie shakes and marveling at the fact presidents like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton once sat in the same seats. “It was also a big challenge, because you want to keep nods to what made it what it is, but you need to make tweaks to position it to succeed for another decade or more.”
The bet appears to have paid off handsomely. While Hamburg retains its homey charm—and the menu still features staples like biscuits and gravy, pie shakes, and corned beef hash and eggs—it has also undergone a facelift and seen new signature dishes added to the menu. Business is also steady, Kaeding added.
“We really wanted to preserve the Hamburg we knew and loved,” he said. “You win by delivering quality, service and experience.”
The Iowa MBA Kaeding earned after his retirement from the NFL prepared him for the challenges of the notoriously fickle restaurant industry.
“Marketing, budgeting, HR, planning, all of it is applicable,” he said. “Tippie taught me how to think with an entrepreneurial mindset and gave me the first principles needed to start and maintain a successful business.”
Kaeding also has a podcast, “Real Success,” where he shares business tips with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Kaeding could have settled anywhere in the country after his NFL career wound down, but he sort of knew Iowa City was where he wanted to launch his second career.
“I’m from here, my folks live here, I met my wife at the University of Iowa,” he said. “Coming home was always on our mind.”
Besides, it makes it easier to get to Kinnick on fall Saturdays.
“I’m really excited for this football season,” Kaeding said. “With the expanded Big Ten, bringing our entire defense back, and new offensive coordinator Tim Lester—this might be the most excited I’ve been before a season in the last 10 years.”