Court Avenue Development Efforts

[bluegroupman]

I don't know if 101 is a particular problem or not, but I do know the city has a proven way to deal with bars that have consistent problems with fights that spill out onto public property. Declare them a nuisance and put them out of business. So my advice to them would be to beef up their security.

[hawk61401]

Here's a good follow up story by the Register about Friday night's beatdown.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090713/NEWS/90713055

This is rather chilling:

A police report said about 60 people were involved. Officers said they have received little cooperation from witnesses.

If this is what the police are saying, I can't believe that not one person (male or female, drunk or sober) couldn't take one pic. Look at the thousands of people last month in Tehran who were being shot, beat up, arrested, and they still managed to take thousands of images on their cell phones. Are we suppose to cower on the streets in downtown Des Moines more than the brave souls in Tehran?

[dogbo]

According to the Channel 13 news last night, the guy that got beat up had a previous warrant out for his arrest. It seems he head butted his ex-girlfriend recently . Once he gets out of the hospital, he'll be going to jail.

I suddenly have lost all sympathy for him. It also makes you wonder, given his obvious character flaw, if he didn't do something to bring this upon himself. NOTE: I'm not saying in anyway he deserved this, but it just seems that certain people attract certain "attention".

[spacebetween]

This is tragic, no doubt. But, there are fights in bars all across the metro nearly every night. What makes this unusal? Because it is on Court?

You've got to be kidding. This was a particularly barbaric act. These people acted like a pack of wild dogs. Some of the 60 people in the crowd could have shouted and demanded that it be stopped. Some, if only one, of the 60 people should have had their cell phones on record for the police. If the man dies, those 60 people who stood around watching should feel a twinge in their stomach and conscience.

If it happened anywhere in Des Moines, it doesn't lessen the severity. But it also happened in our beautiful downtown where we have a special pride for the progress made in the past few years.

Hawk, I never questioned the barbaric-ness (I realize that is not a word) of the event...in fact I stated that it was-in-fact tragic. Yet, I was pointing out that this does happen more often than not, granted not to the level of this instance and not always with 60 people cheering the fight on. I was just saying the only reason this appears to be in discussion is because of the location. Had this happened on Army Post it would not be discussed here. I realize it is because we all have a passion for Court Ave and hate to see anything like this go down there. But, it could happen any night of the week and it is an end result that is, unfortunately, going to be expected when you mix booze and large crowds. I hope we never see something like this on C ave again, but I doubt that is realistic.

[hawk61401]

Arrests made: http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-bea ... 4858.story


You heard it here first ..

It looks like Mr Welch was making a name for himself a month ago: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:qMk ... clnk&gl=us

[Better Life dude]

Arrests made: http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-bea ... 4858.story


You heard it here first ..

It looks like Mr Welch was making a name for himself a month ago: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:qMk ... clnk&gl=us

If I'm reading the story correctly it says arrest warrants issued, not arrests made.

[wmjindsm]

This this is close to Court Avenue I thought I'd post this here. The Des Moines Business Record is saying that it looks like there will be a Hampton Inn & Suites going in by High Life Lounge at 101, 121 and 114 S.W. Second St.

http://businessrecord.com/main.asp?Sect ... cleID=8482

[dogbo]

This this is close to Court Avenue I thought I'd post this here. The Des Moines Business Record is saying that it looks like there will be a Hampton Inn & Suites going in by High Life Lounge at 101, 121 and 114 S.W. Second St.

http://businessrecord.com/main.asp?Sect ... cleID=8482

Great news! IMHO I think this is big enough to have its own thread rather than burying it in here. Given the slow economy, it is not like we're having a run on new thread topics. Just my two cents.

[Mastermind]

Agreed!

[lunksmoo]

Wow! If this becomes a reality, score a hit for the Court avenue Area!

Oops. Think (and proofread) before you post!

[DMRyan]

It's on the other side of the river, north of the Brown Camp Lofts.

[wmjindsm]

I started a new topic on the hotel (hopefully thats OK).

[hawk61401]

Nothing sounds more beautiful in downtown Des Moines than the sound of new construction.

What a difference two weeks makes. This is more positive and definite than the overall downtown hotel market that was reported in the Business Record on June 27.

[dogbo]

According to this review on Smashburger in Cityview, future locations in the metro include the old Judge Roy Bean's building:

Carstens said he’s opening a Smashburger in Ankeny this October and has others in the works in Ames, Mason City, Dubuque, Coralville, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and in Des Moines on East 14th St. and in the old Judge Roy Bean’s on Court Avenue

That's definately a change from what was originally supposed to go in there. I'm a bit concerned that a place like this won't do as good a job restoring the building facade closer to its original or work to open up the upstairs. I guess we'll see.

link to full article:
http://www.dmcityview.com/2009/10/01/food/fooddude.html

[JMsioux]

I'm sure they have their reasons, but why wouldn't the QC or Sioux City fit into their plans but Mason City somehow does?

[Boeckman]

According to this review on Smashburger in Cityview, future locations in the metro include the old Judge Roy Bean's building:

Carstens said he’s opening a Smashburger in Ankeny this October and has others in the works in Ames, Mason City, Dubuque, Coralville, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and in Des Moines on East 14th St. and in the old Judge Roy Bean’s on Court Avenue

link to full article:
http://www.dmcityview.com/2009/10/01/food/fooddude.html

Nope. Smashburger is NOT going into Judge Roy Bean's old place.
http://tinyurl.com/yax8fzs

[wmjindsm]

Ingerosol Square would be a good place for a Smashburger.

[Mototail]

I think this is the quickest I've seen DMR "smash" a rumor!!

Ingersoll Sq. would be a great place, but I'd say the eyesore of the old Hardees next to Taco Johns would be a great one.

[DMRyan]

Chain or not, I'm ready for more quick restaurant choices on Court Avenue finally. If this could land downtown, especially on Court Avenue, I would bet that others would follow suit as more spaces become easily available.

[dogbo]

Wow...how many sports bars can downtown support? We pretty much went from zero a few years back to....how many now???

4th Down Sports Bar had a soft opening Tuesday at 207 Fourth St. in Des Moines and celebrates its grand opening tonight, Friday.

It’s in the underground space on the east side of Fourth Street – 4th down, sports, location – get it?

Anyway, the bar has six 50-inch flat screen TVs that will run all pay-per-view games and, beginning Feb. 6, UFC fights.

Drinks and shots are $3 all day, all the time. Beer is not on tap. Domestic beer is served in tall-boy cans; imports and specialty beers in bottles.

full article link from the Register: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... rt-avenue/

[dogbo]

Trying to answer my question from last post.

Johnny's HOF, Legends, Heroes, Fanatics, 4th Down....for strickly sport's themed bars (am I missing any?) How many others aren't true sports bars, but normally have the games on? Shorty's, Royal Mile, CABCo's bar, High LIfe, Racoon River, People's ...on and on and on....

[DMRyan]

What kind of name is "The Beefburger Barn" for a restaurant? I can't ever fault effort, but I just don't understand some ill-conceived business ideas. It's like you can just predict a quick demise sometimes. I've always laughed when I see the store called Dress Barn, now I can add this restaurant to the list. Hopefully it works out, because a "Beefburger Barn" is better than an empty restaurant space.

Not sure if this was mentioned elsewhere, but it looks like the former Judge Roy Beans building is at a standstill and has a for sale or lease sign up. Glad the owners could rip the siding off the building to provide a bigger eyesore to Court Avenue than what was there previously before not pursuing immediate plans for the site. Not that this is on the immediate horizon, but I have to say that the mini block of buildings containing Sbrocco and the old Judge Roy Beans could get the wrecking ball for a larger suitable development and I wouldn't shed a tear.

[dogbo]

I noticed the sale/lease sign on the Judge Roy's building as well. Curious.

I hope someone buys and renovates that building (using both floors) to bring it to its full potential. I would much prefer that to a new building. We just don't have enough of these old ones left downtown. This could be such a great venue if an upper floor could be redone and have it open up to a second floor balcony that would go over the little alley between it and the Legend's patio.

[wmjindsm]

They could use the building as a new location for Buzzard Billy's maybe?

[DMRyan]

That's an excellent idea! If not Buzzard Billy's, the next venue for the Full Court Press guys. I'm not sure where the rumblings were that Buzzard Billy's may be looking at the commercial space in the Rumely Building, once it's completed, but I thought I remembered seeing that here somewhere.

The guys behind Full Court Press need a key to the city or something. What they've done for downtown's nightlife scene is incredible. We would be left with strip mallesque places (Pelican Bar, Legend's) and sports bars for an entertainment district, if not for the effofts that these guys have put in.

[dogbo]

That's an excellent idea! If not Buzzard Billy's, the next venue for the Full Court Press guys. I'm not sure where the rumblings were that Buzzard Billy's may be looking at the commercial space in the Rumely Building, once it's completed, but I thought I remembered seeing that here somewhere.

The guys behind Full Court Press need a key to the city or something. What they've done for downtown's nightlife scene is incredible. We would be left with strip mallesque places (Pelican Bar, Legend's) and sports bars for an entertainment district, if not for the effofts that these guys have put in.

Buzzard Billy's to Rummely? Hummm....I think I've mentioned it (as a suggestion only...no inside info) no less than maybe 3 or 4 times on this forum. (Sometimes I think you're just messin' with my head DMRyan.)

Also, "mallesque"? What does that mean?

[dogbo]

I noticed today when driving down 3rd St that the 101 Lounge has a sign out front on deck that says "Hawaiian Grill". I wonder what is up with that?

[DMRyan]

Wasn't this the name of the same Hawaiian Grill that opened in Clive in a new strip mall along University Avenue?

[dogbo]

Wasn't this the name of the same Hawaiian Grill that opened in Clive in a new strip mall along University Avenue?

yes...minus the "Alohana". Not sure this means there's any relation.

http://www.examiner.com/x-7297-Des-Moin ... estaurants

[DMRyan]

There was a sandwich board sign in front of Lounge 101 that said Alohana Hawaiian Grill I think. I'm going to try it next week since I've never been to Hawaii and I don't believe I've had Hawaiian food before.

Sadly, I just get the feeling that this is one of those business plans that will have a pretty short shelf life.