THE BEGINNING
The Harper-Ekdale House was completed in 1852, which makes it the oldest stone home in Burlington, and according to some, the entire state of Iowa.
A few facts about the old place:
In 1842, the lot sold for $5. Ten years later, the house you see today was being completed.
The house was built by Turton J and Joshua Copp, a uncle and nephew outfit.
We get our name from the Harpers and the folks they married, the Ekdales. The home stayed in the Harper and Ekdale family for more than 80 years.
We have an ice house in our backyard! Chunks of ice were cut from the Mississippi River and carried 3 blocks up the hill to be stored in the tri-level ice house. When you walk inside, you can still feel the temperature drop.
tHE REstoration
Knowing you really like an old house and then making that really old house into a restaurant are two totally different things. Since the very conception of Good we have fought passionately to make sure that the Harper-Ekdale house is preserved, restored and recognized as the historic treasure that it is.
The task proved mammoth but not impossible. Thankfully, the Harper-Ekdale home, though nearing 180 years of age, had some good old bones. We just needed to give it a little TLC in order to bring back it’s former glory. With the skill and expertise of Higdon Construction LLC., we began restoration work on the Harper-Ekdale House on December 14, 2018. Work was completed about 9 months later at the end of August 2019.
Major projects included turning the sun room into our commercial kitchen—offering guests outdoors a unique experience of viewing the culinary team at work. Another major change we made was turning the dining room into our bar area, adding a “copper” ceiling, lighting, a custom bar and paint job all while keeping trademarks of the house, such as the textured walls and 1910’s radiator.
BEFORE
tHE RESTAURANT
So, what’s GOOD?
Well, we’re obviously all about good food, good friends and good times, but more than that, we’re about an experience. We’re about feeling at home. We’re about something for everyone. That means having a reading nook upstairs. It means putting our own twist on classic things. It means having all your favorite board games in the Lounge, not just “the basics”. It means offering vegan and vegetarian options and it means that every single nook and cranny of this place has it’s own unique vibe and personality so that every time you visit, you feel like you can find something new to enjoy and explore. We invite you into our space, our restaurant, our “home”. It’s fun. It’s loud. It’s different. It has something for you. Have a Good morning with us and enjoy brunch. Come back for a unique dinner and some board games for a real Good night. Rinse. Repeat. See you there.
AFTER
