Openings/Closings outside Downtown

[Ankeny Husker Freak]

The Burger King at 2nd & University is now open. The layout is of the dining area is pretty much the same (I think there used to be tables in the entry area which are now gone. The area has been redecorated wih several tv's on the walls.

TV's at a fast food restaurant Having a TV tuned to Cartoon Network in the playland at McDonald's is one thing, that just seems weird to hear "several TV's on the walls" at a fast food joint.

[tyrgyzistan]

The old Quizno's on Grand and 28th has a new "Now Hiring" sign in front.

The old Michael's building in Beaverdale has a Saints Pub and Patio banner/

[wmjindsm]

The Quiznos on 28th & Grand now looks open.

Also, according to the Metromix, AK O'Connors will be closing after this weekend, the property has been sold.

http://desmoines.metromix.com/bars-and- ... 10/content

[dogbo]

The Quiznos on 28th & Grand now looks open.

Also, according to the Metromix, AK O'Connors will be closing after this weekend, the property has been sold.

http://desmoines.metromix.com/bars-and- ... 10/content

The westside AK's, not Beaverdale AK's (for those that didn't open the link) which remind me. AK's in Beaverdale is going to be getting some new competition soon with Saints Pub opening up across the street in the old Michael's Restaurant spot.

[wmjindsm]

wmjindsm wrote:
The Quiznos on 28th & Grand now looks open.

Also, according to the Metromix, AK O'Connors will be closing after this weekend, the property has been sold.

http://desmoines.metromix.com/bars-and- ... 10/content

The westside AK's, not Beaverdale AK's (for those that didn't open the link) which remind me. AK's in Beaverdale is going to be getting some new competition soon with Saints Pub opening up across the street in the old Michael's Restaurant spot.

Sorry I forgot there was more than one.

[Ankeny Husker Freak]

Looks like JC Penny is going to close one of it's DSM locations.

More inside the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-201 ... 07795.html

Among the moves announced Monday, Penney plans to close stores in Morrow, Ga.; West Dundee, Ill.; Des Moines, Iowa; High Point, N.C.; and Culpeper, Va., as well as a JCPenney Home Store in Duluth, Ga. It will also close 19 outlet stores that carry a significant amount of catalogue merchandise.

[wmjindsm]

Looks like JC Penny is going to close one of it's DSM locations.

More inside the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-201 ... 07795.html

I had to subscribe to see all the link, there is some info here in the Register:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... es-moines/

[Ankeny Husker Freak]

[quoteLooks like JC Penny is going to close one of it's DSM locations.

More inside the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-201 ... 07795.html

]

I had to subscribe to see all the link, there is some info here in the Register:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... es-moines/[/quote]

huh. I just did a google news for it, clicked on the link and had no problems reading it as I don't have a subscription to the WSJ.

[wmjindsm]

The building that last housed a cash advance store at the corner of 42nd and UIniversity is getting a makeover. No signs to what may be going on there.

[DMRyan]

The building that last housed a cash advance store at the corner of 42nd and UIniversity is getting a makeover. No signs to what may be going on there.

It's going to be a Little Cesar's Pizza.

[dogbo]

The building that last housed a cash advance store at the corner of 42nd and UIniversity is getting a makeover. No signs to what may be going on there.

It's going to be a Little Cesar's Pizza.

fyi....some may know this location better as the former People's Records.

Speaking of cash advance stores, why are all of these closing around the metro? Was there a law change that makes them less profitable or did people just wisen up?

[tyrgyzistan]

Little Caesars on 42nd and University has a mailer saying they open Tuesday the 31st.

[DMRyan]

The Register is reporting that Dirty Denim has closed at the Shops of Roosevelt. Not sure what caused the closing, but this type of upscale clothing store was a good type of tenant for the space. Hopefully they owners get this, and the bay being vacated by Adam's Aquatics filled up with comparible stores.

[conquistador2]

Chicago Dog at 6th & Euclid seems to be gone. The tables were all stacked up inside and there are a bunch of for rent signs on the windows. There's a pretty large swath of space available along that block now, as The Flower Shop (which was right next door) closed earlier in the spring.

This restaurant seemed to get pretty good reviews & ratings. One thing that did surprise me is that they weren't open at night, but maybe they did well enough as just a lunchtime destination.

[Ex-Chicago]

Chicago Dog at 6th & Euclid seems to be gone. The tables were all stacked up inside and there are a bunch of for rent signs on the windows. There's a pretty large swath of space available along that block now, as The Flower Shop (which was right next door) closed earlier in the spring.

This restaurant seemed to get pretty good reviews & ratings. One thing that did surprise me is that they weren't open at night, but maybe they did well enough as just a lunchtime destination.

I'm probably too critical about this, because I grew up on Chicago hot dog stands.....but, I didn't think this place every really got it right. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't terrible or anything like that, but it was never anything like an authentic Chicago hot dog/italian beef/gyro place.

I wonder if they're moving elsewhere, the place has a history of moving around.....they originally started out on 24th or 25th St by Drake, in an old fire station building (I think that's what it was). Then they were in a strip mall by Toys R Us in WDM, then on Ingersoll, near the old Tech High School, and finally to their Euclid location.

[wmjindsm]

I wonder if they're moving elsewhere, the place has a history of moving around.....they originally started out on 24th or 25th St by Drake, in an old fire station building (I think that's what it was). Then they were in a strip mall by Toys R Us in WDM, then on Ingersoll, near the old Tech High School, and finally to their Euclid location.

They switched owners in 2003, the original owner opened a different CD&D in Savannah, Georgia.

http://chicagodoganddeli.com/about.html

[urbanlawyer]

From originalgreen.org, "The Importance of On-Street Parking" : http://www.originalgreen.org/blog/the-importance-of-on-street.html

Money quote:

Retail expert Bob Gibbs says that every on-street parking space in a thriving retail district is worth $250,000 in sales to the nearby merchants on that street. People will walk much further along an interesting Main Street to get from their parking space to the store they're going to than they will walk from a parking lot. I blogged about Pedestrian Propulsion a couple years ago; that post explains why this is so. Simply put, if you want to kill the businesses along a thriving commercial street, just remove the on-street parking. Works every time.

I've often thought Highland Park's business district would be much more successful if on-street parking was allowed. I can't help but think that the lack of parking in front of the businesses along Euclid makes it difficult for them to survive. Contrast this with Dogtown, Beaverdale and Ingersoll, all of which have on-street parking. I believe that Euclid may be a state highway, which may force the City's hand on this. Nonetheless, I think allowing 2-hour parking would help fill many of the vacancies along Euclid.

[conquistador2]

Euclid is actually U.S. Highway 6, so that would be a federal road. I don't think a no-parking ban would be put into place by the federal govt, though. I do know that Osceola, for example, allows parking on US 69 around the town square; I would bet there are other examples of this in the state, too...that's just the first one that popped in my head.

[wmjindsm]

Joanne Boekman says that the KFC on SW9th has closed and will most likely be torn down, rebuilt and reopen... sometime.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... eplace-it/

[DMRyan]

That KFC has been closed for most of this summer, one of probably 60 or 70 buildings on SW 9th Street alone that is empty or has space for lease. A tough corridor for retail these days, but glad to hear they're committed to reinvesting there.

[DMRyan]

Also, sounds like KC BBQ has closed once again at E. 14th and Court Avenue. No loss to the restaurant scene, with KC BBQ amounting to nothing more than fast food bbq (hopefully wmjindsm doesn't disagree with my food opinions on this one too ). Sounds like a new business called "Speedy B's Burgers" is the next restaurant idea to fill the space for a year or so until KC BBQ probably deceides to reopen... Why go there for a burger when you can go to Zombie Burger or Big City Burgers and Greens, among other places?

Gourmet or unique burger joints are to 2011 what bbq restaurants were in DSM in 2010.

[wildbill]

I noticed that there's a large dumpster and some "utility" pickups outside the old Stogdill's. It probably isn't anything, but it'd be a nice additional shot to the block after the Franklin Library reopened.

[DMRyan]

The old Stogdill's is being converted into a medical clinic.

[DMRyan]

Another little blow to the reeling Douglas Avenue commercial corridor; Tasty Tacos at 37th and Douglas is now closed. This always was a always an awkward location in terms of parking and it was too small of a store during peak times.

I wonder if they'll plan to open up elsewhere, perhaps on Merle Hay Road, or perhaps they're truly giving up on the NW Des Moines submarket.

[wildbill]

The Library Cafe at 35th and University is closing Oct. 19. The owner and his wife are relocating to Ohio.

[DMRyan]

Lots more closings than openings lately.

Luckily, it sounds like The Library Cafe could be falling into good hands and could remain open.

[Ex-Chicago]

Lots more closings than openings lately.

Luckily, it sounds like The Library Cafe could be falling into good hands and could remain open.

Looks like the Fullcourt Press guys are considering buying it.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/10/17/founder-of-library-cafe-in-des-moines-leaving-looking-to-sell-business/

[wildbill]

Best Place Ever at 24th and University is closing after 10 years. It's been tough for any brick-and-mortar DVD rental store of late, much less an independent one.

[tyrgyzistan]

Is there work going on at The Library?

[tyrgyzistan]

The trees in the closed down gas station at 37th and Ingersoll is a Christmas Tree vendor, not some case of a forest growing by itself in the parking area. There is an ugly Monster Energy drink banner for a new bar or something in the coffee shop place next to it.

Somebody is doing massive interior renovation work at The Library on 35th and University.

Jethro's Waukee tweets that it opens on Tuesday the 6th of December.

Something new is in the restaurant location just north of Lincoln High School but I can't even remember what it was.