Oh Look, I Found One of the Last Diamond Dave’s Surviving in Iowa

There is a soft spot in my heart for Diamond Dave restaurants. There used to be one in Quincy, Illinois and another in Keokuk, Iowa. I honestly thought they were completely gone, but low and behold I found one still hanging in there in Iowa. I also found a retro t-shirt, too.

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Diamond Dave's was a staple in the Quincy Mall for many years. It was in the eastern part of the mall not far from where the movie theaters are. If you entered the mall through the doors between Diamond Dave's and the theaters, the smell of Mexican food would overwhelm you (in a good way) as you walked by (or in).

I don't remember when Diamond Dave's finally closed, but I think the location in Keokuk, Iowa survived a while longer before also closing. (*sad face*). There is good news if you don't mind a bit of a road trip. As of this writing, there is still a Diamond Dave's open in the mall part of Muscatine, Iowa.

From what I can tell, it's still very open, but their Facebook page hasn't had any activity in a couple years. Oh, and look at this retro Diamond Dave's t-shirt I found on Amazon. It's sold by a company called "Bygone Brands" which probably doesn't bode well for the future of Diamond Dave's.

There are certain memories in life that bring with them a smell. When I look at the Diamond Dave's t-shirt, I can remember the smell that used to permeate the Quincy Mall. I miss those days.