8th/73rd Street News

[MusicMan]

So I don't know if I'm allowed to do this, but I'm creating a separate topic for this corridor since there seems to be renewed activity in the area.

That place on 8th Street in West Des Moines, where Town Hall Tavern/Border's used to be, is opening today as The Q, a barbecue place and bar. http://tinyurl.com/md6dnz

I ate here last night. I had the cod sandwich (basically a Po Boy), one person I was with had beef and another had chicken. Lots of sides and great BBQ sauce (four varieties at every table). Finished it off with some homemade bread pudding. The food and service were great - and prices were very reasonable. I hope this place makes a go of it.

Also, the hotel it is connected to is now a Days Inn.

[MusicMan]

I heard that the former Skybox/Coaches Corner/Fratellos/8th Street Cafe building may soon be home to Raul's. I don't think they've had a physical location for a while - but I'm excited to have it back!

Also, the sale sign is down at at the old Quality Ford building and there as been some activity inside. Not sure what is going on...

[Keepgrowingdsm]

Quality Ford was being looked at for two things. One was an Iowa based grocery store, the other was a banquet hall for weddings. Neither plan is moving forward at this time. The old skybox spot was going to be torn down for a fast food restaurant but I haven't heard anything on that for a while either.

[MusicMan]

It looks Raul's opened today in the old Skybox location

[DMRyan]

Sad to hear that Jimmy's American Cafe is finally closing their doors for good. This has been a staple on 8th Street for 27 years now and one of the few restuarant/bars on the 8th Street strip that has been a constant. They had one hell of a brunch and was one of the metro's foremost 'Parrothead' patio bars.

[dogbo]

Trivia question: if I was going to open a restaurant, which area would be my LAST choice in the metro? Wow….this street appears to be death to anything right now.

I'd forgotten that Mark Rogers (owner of Legends, Fireside, & Stadium Grill) was the latest owner of Jimmy's. With this announcement (and his comments related to the whole teacher episode at his downtown restaurant) he doesn't exactly give me a warm fuzzy feeling about the health of his restaurant empire. He made a comment during the teacher's episode on how hard the economy has been on his restaurants. Now in this article about Jimmy's closing, he mentions "they're hanging on". Not exactly a vote of confidence.

I think this is the reason the construction on the Stadium Grill at Drake has pretty much come to a full halt. Also, have you noticed he hasn't replace the big patio awning that got damaged this winter at his downtown location of Legends? I have to believe it is a cost saving move and unfortunately, makes that space much, much less appealing.

[mistertwister]

I think Mark got hit by the too big too fast bug. It seems like he went from two or three restaurants to 20 and all about the time the economy tanked. I definitely think he'd be much better off concentrating on a few higher performing places and less on blanketing the entire metro with subpar sportsbars.

The 5th Street corridor used to be THE restuarant row in Des Moines (which shows you how bad it used to be in this town). Now it is definitely not a dining destination. Hopefully some serious redevelopment takes hold of this area as right now it is a hodge podge of industrial, aging retail, residential, and commercial.

[MusicMan]

Jimmy's had started to go downhill the past couple years. The food was still good, but the place looked like a dump. I sat out on the north patio last fall it looked like it hadn't been taken care of all summer. There was minimal marketing (besides trying to push Jimmy Buffet night). I really hope someone takes over this place quickly - and maybe even revives it as Jimmy's. They had a great Mahi sandwich.

Rauls is has been packed the past few weeks and The Q seems to be going strong as well.

[MusicMan]

They have site plans on the WDM P&Z site about a new project in this district... Hurd is developing the old Quality Ford property into a new expanded Kum & Go (just south of the current building on the open lot) and the existing building will house a physician and another tenet. Excited to see some movement here and for the old Kum & Go to finally come down - it is horrible.

[MusicMan]

The old Quality Ford building is coming along nicely here.

Also, the old Ski Chalet space (most recently Myst, The Loft, etc.) is empty again.

[MusicMan]

Sad to hear that Jimmy's American Cafe is finally closing their doors for good. This has been a staple on 8th Street for 27 years now and one of the few restuarant/bars on the 8th Street strip that has been a constant. They had one hell of a brunch and was one of the metro's foremost 'Parrothead' patio bars.

There is a lot of work happening in the old Jimmy's space right now. Anyone know if it is a new concept, or just a reopening of Jimmy's?

[mastermind2]

Sad to hear that Jimmy's American Cafe is finally closing their doors for good. This has been a staple on 8th Street for 27 years now and one of the few restuarant/bars on the 8th Street strip that has been a constant. They had one hell of a brunch and was one of the metro's foremost 'Parrothead' patio bars.

There is a lot of work happening in the old Jimmy's space right now. Anyone know if it is a new concept, or just a reopening of Jimmy's?

I saw a job posting for a restaurant called Palm.

[SFO2DSM]

Perhaps related to this that never got off the ground? Wasn't Morrow the chef at a the restaurant that failed where Garcia's was? http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/07/23/restaurant-with-latin-flavor-headed-to-old-mondosjosephs-in-wdm/

Sad to hear that Jimmy's American Cafe is finally closing their doors for good. This has been a staple on 8th Street for 27 years now and one of the few restuarant/bars on the 8th Street strip that has been a constant. They had one hell of a brunch and was one of the metro's foremost 'Parrothead' patio bars.

There is a lot of work happening in the old Jimmy's space right now. Anyone know if it is a new concept, or just a reopening of Jimmy's?

I saw a job posting for a restaurant called Palm.

[Mastermind]

[quote="SFO2DSM"]Perhaps related to this that never got off the ground? Wasn't Morrow the chef at a the restaurant that failed where Garcia's was? http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/07/23/restaurant-with-latin-flavor-headed-to-old-mondosjosephs-in-wdm/

Probably. Good find

[dogbo]

Beating MusicMan to the punch. From this week's Cityview....

Food Dude
May 12, 2011 | By Jim Duncan CVFDude@aol.com
Eighth Street rising

Eighth Street in West Des Moines was our first trendy suburban restaurant zone. Cork & Cleaver, Jimmie's American Café (JAC), Eighth Street Seafood, Cabo San Lucas, Fratello's, Toscano, and Pain, Pane all launched there within three blocks of the freeway. Garcia's thrived after moving from Douglas Avenue. Sam & Gabe's buzzed a block off the street on University Avenue. All are gone now. Several were direct victims of a 1995 sexual harassment lawsuit won by Kelly Ayers (daughter of CIETC scandal's Ramona Cunningham) over Jimmie Lynch (JAC). Others were indirect victims as a falling tide lowers all boats, and JAC had been the mother ship. In April, JAC's long-vacant parking lot filled with construction trucks as Tommy Mauro (Pelican Club) hustled to reopen the place, this time with Italian menus

Link to full article: http://www.dmcityview.com/2011/05/12/food/fooddude.html

[MusicMan]

New Kum & Go is open, its a great looking store with MUCH easier access from 8th Street than before. I asked about the old building when I was inside and they said it was coming down... but they've painted it and repaved the parking lot so I'm not sure. Maybe this is where the Jimmy Johns that someone mentioned is going? I hope it doesn't just sit empty like the old Kum & Go on Hickman east of 86th St.

[dogbo]

New Kum & Go is open, its a great looking store with MUCH easier access from 8th Street than before. I asked about the old building when I was inside and they said it was coming down... but they've painted it and repaved the parking lot so I'm not sure. Maybe this is where the Jimmy Johns that someone mentioned is going? I hope it doesn't just sit empty like the old Kum & Go on Hickman east of 86th St.

Agreed. That is now a major eyesore for the area.

[conquistador2]

Anybody know what's going on with The Art Store on 73rd? We stopped by about a week ago and the parking lot was empty. There was a "for lease" sign in the window, but also a handwritten sign on the door stating that they would re-open the week of June 6th. Are they perhaps downsizing or moving somewhere?

[Keepgrowingdsm]

Jimmy Johns is taking a vacant bay in the former Quality Ford Building. If they don't find a user for the old Kum and Go store, it will be torn down. I don't know how long the deadline is though.

[DMRyan]

I can't believe how much better a small stretch of 8th Street now looks with the new medical office building and Kum and Go. Hopefully a few of the remaining restaurants can have some staying power, perhaps even seriously invest in upgrading the buildings that they're in. If Jimmy's American Cafe couldn't make it, I don't know what will long term.

[dogbo]

If Jimmy's American Cafe couldn't make it, I don't know what will long term.

Established name or not, how many restaurants with regular rotating ownership groups make it long term?

[mistertwister]

Jimmy's couldn't make it because the quality of food and service seriously deteriorated over the years. I think they also needed to do a little remodeling to change the place up a bit. It's a great space and a great location. With good management, a little rehabing, and a good menu, that place would do well. Actually that whole strip there could be a nice little entertainment/dining destination if even investment pours into it. They just have to continue with the updates and tear downs...I nominate the A frame and former furniture store right by the interstate as the next demo candidates.

[MusicMan]

Things are progressing at the old Jimmy's location - without Tom Mauro who was denied a liquor license. IMO it is good that WDM wouldn't let Mauro open it. Let's try to get someone a little more respectable in the neighborhood....

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... -location/

[Aulus]

Anybody know what's going on with The Art Store on 73rd? We stopped by about a week ago and the parking lot was empty. There was a "for lease" sign in the window, but also a handwritten sign on the door stating that they would re-open the week of June 6th. Are they perhaps downsizing or moving somewhere?

Earlier this week, there was a story on KCCI that The Art Store has gone out of business. There was also a story on that in the 6/11/11 Des Moines Register. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... 1106110318

Sad to see it go, but that spot really killed the business as well as the economy. I can recall when the original owners had two stores, one at MLK and Woodland and in Merle Hay Mall. I patronized it now and then, but not being all that artistic myself, not a lot. It was a good place for ink cartridges for my old Shaeffer fountain pens and they only place in town where I could find sealing wax to use with my signet ring. When my mom was here around Xmas, she also found the nylon chisel tipped calligraphy pens she wanted but couldn't find at home in Rockford, IL. the staff was always helpful, friendly and knowledgable.

[dogbo]

Anybody know what's going on with The Art Store on 73rd? We stopped by about a week ago and the parking lot was empty. There was a "for lease" sign in the window, but also a handwritten sign on the door stating that they would re-open the week of June 6th. Are they perhaps downsizing or moving somewhere?

Earlier this week, there was a story on KCCI that The Art Store has gone out of business. There was also a story on that in the 6/11/11 Des Moines Register. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... 1106110318

Sad to see it go, but that spot really killed the business as well as the economy. I can recall when the original owners had two stores, one at MLK and Woodland and in Merle Hay Mall. I patronized it now and then, but not being all that artistic myself, not a lot. It was a good place for ink cartridges for my old Shaeffer fountain pens and they only place in town where I could find sealing wax to use with my signet ring. When my mom was here around Xmas, she also found the nylon chisel tipped calligraphy pens she wanted but couldn't find at home in Rockford, IL. the staff was always helpful, friendly and knowledgable.

I couldn’t’ find the thread, but I’m sure others will recall that the owner was on this forum discussing their move and potential locations back when that was all occurring. As I remember, a lot of opinions were offered and suggested on the importance of staying closer to the urban core (i.e.….where a lot of artsy folks like to hang out/shop). It is easy to play Monday morning quarterback now, but in the end I think even the owners would acknowledge that whatever pile of cash the bank gave them to buy their former location, in the end, it couldn’t make up for the fact that it is always a challenge to have customers find you and follow you after you’ve moved from a very well-known/visible location.

Bottom-line: IMO they should have probably stayed put.

[Ingersoll1978]

I remember that conversation, too. I have been in there once after they moved. I used to go in there every four or 5 months when they were at MLK/Woodland. It's too bad, as I loved ArtStore for gifts and the occasional "art" project I would do. The new location never had the "wow" factor that that other place did. They also were closer to their competitors. With their new location, they were just as inconvenient for me to get to as Hobby Lobby or Michael's.

[mistertwister]

Store relocation probably hastened the demise of the Art Store but its fortunes are probably more directly tied to the rise of the computer and the internet. Sad to see it go, but not at all surprised. The "Art Store" is a dying breed in retail.

[wmjindsm]

The Register is saying that The Q will be closing at the end of the month. It's noted that an "experienced restauranteur" wants to put a Japanese/Chinese/Sushi restaurant in that spot, and the owners of the property agreed to the terms. Some of the Q's menu will move to the restaurant at the Holiday Inn Mercy Campus. The Holiday Inn, The Q property, and the Days Inn next to The Q are all owned by the same company.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... on-in-wdm/

[MusicMan]

Too bad, they seemed to be making a pretty good run at it. I don't eat meat, but was able to find things there (fish). Glad to hear they'll be opening somewhere else.

[MusicMan]

But there is a new Jimmy Johns opening up next to the Kum & Go.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... etro-area/