When Bill moved to Iowa to live with Barry Morrow, Bill's new life was just about to begin. Barry's employer at the University of Iowa, Tom Walz, then the Director of the School of Social Work, took a genuine liking to Bill. Tom wanted to help Bill with the one thing Bill desperately needed which was a good stable job. Tom got Bill work doing odd jobs around campus. Eventually, Tom and Barry came up with the idea to have Bill serve coffee in an unused room at the college. The idea was a hit! The students and faculty took an instant liking to Bill and his coffee. Soon it was official, Wild Bill's Coffee Shop was opened in 1975. Bill worked at the shop until his death in 1983.

Wild Bill's coffee shop is located on the University of Iowa School of Social Services campus. Wild Bills enjoys a very loyal following of students and musicians who hold open-mike jam sessions and other activities at the shop on weekends.

Also, the newly created Uptown Bill's Small Mall, is an offshoot of the coffee shop facilitated by Tom Walz, houses several businesses that are operated by people with disabilities. Uptown Bill's has been a tremendous success, has received a lot of local attention and has become a shining example of the potential to create businesses that erase the barriers between people with disability and the general public.