Exhile Brewery/Fitch Annex Lofts

[Ex-Chicago]

Looks like the Tursi family (owner's of Latin King) will be opening up Exile Brewery in the Western Gateway area.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/05/13/established-des-moines-restaurant-family-planning-downtown-brewery-and-restaurant/

[wmjindsm]

Looks like the Tursi family (owner's of Latin King) will be opening up Exile Brewery in the Western Gateway area.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... estaurant/

Trying to get the correct building. The building that Google pops up looks correct but the building says 1520 Walnut instead of 1514 Walnut. Near the Crane Building.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=151 ... CBoQ8gEwAA

[DMRyan]

^
This was the site of the Opus_01 project. This along with the eventual renovation of the Crane Building are going to be the lynchpin that really gets redevelopment going along Walnut Street. I would look for some of those smaller historical buildings in the area to start changing hands and getting new restaurant, bar and art gallery tenants over the next few years.

[Ex-Chicago]

^
This was the site of the Opus_01 project. This along with the eventual renovation of the Crane Building are going to be the lynchpin that really gets redevelopment going along Walnut Street. I would look for some of those smaller historical buildings in the area to start changing hands and getting new restaurant, bar and art gallery tenants over the next few years.

I'm all for more restaurants and bars, but I do wonder if there is a limit to how many bars and restaurants the downtown area can support. Just within the last 10 years, there has been a huge increase in the number of bars/restaurants in the East Village and Court Avenue District and to a lesser degree, the Western Gateway area.

I'm all for establishing a healthy Walnut Street, but not at the expense of other downtown areas. Does Des Moines have enough of a population base to keep these areas thriving while still supporting new businesses?

[dogbo]

Just a request from admins. Can we get this moved to its own thread?

We've got so little going on right now, this project seems big enough/worthy of own thread IMO especially given the loft componant. Do not see a lot of reason to bury this in the opening/closing thread.

[Mastermind]

^
This was the site of the Opus_01 project. This along with the eventual renovation of the Crane Building are going to be the lynchpin that really gets redevelopment going along Walnut Street. I would look for some of those smaller historical buildings in the area to start changing hands and getting new restaurant, bar and art gallery tenants over the next few years.

I'm all for more restaurants and bars, but I do wonder if there is a limit to how many bars and restaurants the downtown area can support. Just within the last 10 years, there has been a huge increase in the number of bars/restaurants in the East Village and Court Avenue District and to a lesser degree, the Western Gateway area.

I'm all for establishing a healthy Walnut Street, but not at the expense of other downtown areas. Does Des Moines have enough of a population base to keep these areas thriving while still supporting new businesses?

Well with Wellmark, Meredith and Nationwide, you have 5,000+ people within 3 blocks everyday for lunch.

[DMRyan]

Saw the new banner on this building officially advertising that it will be coming in spring of 2012. Also, the developers have asked for city assistance for the upper floor residential rehab into 7 loft apartments, so things seem to be moving forward on this project.

I'm all for more restaurants and bars, but I do wonder if there is a limit to how many bars and restaurants the downtown area can support. Just within the last 10 years, there has been a huge increase in the number of bars/restaurants in the East Village and Court Avenue District and to a lesser degree, the Western Gateway area.

I'm all for establishing a healthy Walnut Street, but not at the expense of other downtown areas. Does Des Moines have enough of a population base to keep these areas thriving while still supporting new businesses?

I've always been concerned about this too, since we've never had one centrally located, well done entertainment district similar to the Old Market, Bricktown, etc. We've instead got three dispersed entertainment areas in downtown, and all seem to be doing well right now (Court Ave, East Village, Western Gateway/10th Street). I think this Walnut Street corridor is an appendage of the incredible things that are about to happen in the Western Gateway over the coming years, although I hope that it can find it's niche to separate it from the East Village. To me that niche will be a heavy focus on arts. I think there's room for a few bars and restaurants among the existing or future art galleries. There's not that much building stock to work with, so this could never be a huge new district.

I'm also hopeful the Des Moines Social Club can get back to this area some day too.

[dogbo]

All seems quiet on this project last couple times I've gone by. I hope it hasn't stalled.

[dogbo]

I drove by yesteday...seems like a lot of activity is going on again here.

[Young DSM Social Club]

It was just before the Board of Adjustment, so it is definitely progressing.

[DMRyan]

Not much to see from the outside, but I know the owners are trying to get this open by mid-summer. I had a chance to sample some of their food at a recent charity event and was pretty impressed with their chef.

[Mastermind]

Not much to see from the outside, but I know the owners are trying to get this open by mid-summer. I had a chance to sample some of their food at a recent charity event and was pretty impressed with their chef.

Also, it looks like they might be prepping for a patio on the south (opposite) side?

[DMRyan]

They're loading dock is on the SW side of the project. The patio will be in the parking area along Mulberry Street.

[tyrgyzistan]

If I am reading the social media correctly, the bar opens this weekend and the restaurants opens August 17th?

[casbern]

If I am reading the social media correctly, the bar opens this weekend and the restaurants opens August 17th?

I think you are reading this correctly... but from what I understand, their brews are not ready for sale yet.

[Mastermind]

They have August 17th painted on their windows...

[Emil]

any idea on a timeframe for the loft apartments?

[casbern]

They have August 17th painted on their windows...

Just got a look at Exile's dinner menu... looks pretty tasty.

[dogbo]

any idea on a timeframe for the loft apartments?

What/were are the lofts going to be?

[dogbo]

This is just the type of detail that helps a place stand out among the crowded field of restaurants. I'm impressed and intrigued.

Statue of Liberty crown replica will adorn tap room
10:52 AM, Jul 27, 2012


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... om?archive

[hawk61401]

I love it! An art/sculpture piece doesn't have to be sitting in the Pappajohn Sculpture garden, a civic plaza, or the Capitol grounds. It can be right up there on the roof line of Exhile Brewery.

Which begs the question ....

The west side of Walnut Street is where things are happening but the city and the Downtown Community Alliance have plans for Walnut Street only east of 10th Street. 10th Street is the demarcation line, the Berlin Wall. The streetscape west from 10th street hasn't changed since 1940 when the first parking meters were installed. The exception being new sidewalks for Nationwide Insurance.

Once the last bus leaves the transit mall, take out those big ass planters and install some street furniture. Spend some money instead on Walnut street west from 10th Street to 15th Street and the Crane Building. That's where new streetscaping is badly needed, parking meters removed, and this kind of creativity can be encouraged more.

[casbern]

This is really cool. Can't wait to see it!

[DMRyan]

The lofts are no longer a part of this project, at least initially. Originally, there were plans for 7 lofts on the upper floor.

Hawk, agreed on the starkness along this stretch of Walnut Street. It might be the most barren looking stretch left in downtown. There are a few other developers kicking tires on small building rehabs along Walnut Street, which could cause some trees to be installed (at a minimum) along the western portions of Walnut.

[Mastermind]

I think its 13th to 15th that is the problem. I am sure the Crane conversion will clean up half of 14th to 15th.

[DMRyan]

I've seen a rendering of the crown on the building and it will definitely grab some attention. This thing almost dangles mid-air off the SW corner of the building.

[DMRyan]

Exile Brewery all complete (minus the future rooftop sculpture work).

[Mastermind]

Not thrilled with the back, but i'm excited for the sculpture

[DMRyan]

The back will get a little better looking when the landscaping goes in and the mechanicals are screened a little better.

If you haven't been to this place yet, you need to go! I haven't been to every brewery in the state, but I'm going to go out on a limb to say this has to be the coolest. They really knocked it out the park with this, and clearly spared no expense. Definitely not the normal brew pub experience, and they haven't even fully opened the beer hall and beer garden yet.

[Mastermind]

There is a crane on site today, anyone see if the sculpture is going up?

I ate here last weekend, and the rehab is first class. Not thrilled with the dinner menu, but my burger was fantastic.

[ahoff101]

Hello group,

This is Austin at Exile. Thanks everyone for your interest in our project! We just stumbled across this site and are thrilled to see people as passionate about Des Moines' revitalization as we are. We're proud to call Des Moines home and look forward to its continued growth. We wish we would have found this site sooner, but going forward we will try to check back to answer questions.

The crown statue will be completed on Oct. 11. To celebrate, we will be having a ceremony on Oct. 11 and then a 2 day party Friday Oct 12 and Saturday Oct. 13. More info on the event can be found here http://exilebrewing.com/burn-bright/opening-party/. We hope to see you there!

Thanks again for your interest in Exile and Des Moines development.

Cheers,
Austin