NW Des Moines/Merle Hay Road

[dogbo]

The wife drove down Merly Hay road today and noticed a couple new developments. Anyone have any news?

* BP Gas Station on corner of MH and Douglas has closed. there is a fence around the property with sign that indicates "now leasing retail space".

* just down the street on MH Road, the old Baker's Square building is being torn down.

Any inside info anyone can share?

[DMRyan]

The Baker's Square being torn down is making way for a new Firestone Tire Retail Center, which is replacing the older location on Douglas Avenue, south of Merle Hay Mall.

That NE corner of Douglas and Merle Hay has been purchased by the same entity, which would resemble someone trying to tie together a viable commercial redevelopment parcel.

[sprout]

The BP station moved west on Douglas across from El Rodeo

Wish someone would tear down the old Garcias.

[dogbo]

Here's an article in today's Register on this new development:

Merle Hay, Douglas intersection will be revamped
By JOANNE BOECKMAN • jboeckman@dmreg.com • July 28, 2009
A Des Moines businessman has plans to demolish four structures he owns at Douglas Avenue and Merle Hay Road, including a gas station and bar, and replace them with a one-story, multi-tenant retail center.

The strip mall will have about 15,000 to 16,000 square feet of space and could possibly be occupied by a combination of five or six national chain retailers and restaurants, said Rich Eychaner, who is planning the project.

Here's a link to the entire article: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... ity=dmwest

[DMRyan]

This corridor is starting to clean up nicely with several vacant eyesores being removed. This corner of Merle Hay and Douglas is horrible and needs some major work. Hopefully the city can someday jump on board with some streetscape improvements in the area. I understand the developer saying that major national retail tenants demand newer retail space than what's found in the area, but have to point out that there is a lot of vacant retail space sitting on two sides of that corner as it is. The old mattress/furniture store is a fairly obsolete site for retail because it's so constrained, but the strip mall on the other corner that at one time had a golf retailer is not that old and could be easily retrofitted.

Now, on to doing something to improve the bleak landscape of Hickman and Merle Hay Road as well...

[DMRyan]

More potential clean up in this area, Casey's has submitted a rezoning request for a new store on the long-vacant restaurant site on Douglas Avenue, where Garcia's and Metro Buffet were located.

[Young DSM Social Club]

There was just a story on Channel 8 about redevelopment around Merle Hay Mall. Great to see and I applaud the developers who went through the extra hoops of tearing down old buildings in the area and consolidating lots. As we know, it is so much easier to just sprawl onto more farmland, so this is always nice to see.

[Mototail]

Here's the story link:
http://www.kcci.com/news/21154304/detail.html

Looks like the former site of the BP Gas Station on that corner will be developed along with was a bar and former tire store. I don't know which bar they're talking about.

“You're going to have a whole different street space that will change everybody's view about the neighborhood,” said Rich Eychaner, a developer in the area.

Then at 61st and Douglas they' have gotten the approval for building a Casey's Gen. Store/Gas.

[DMRyan]

Hugh's Jungle Room is the bar they're talking about, which is the old Pizza Hut location on Douglas Avenue.

[Mototail]

Aw okay. I thought that might be the place, but didn't know he closed. He was a unique individual for modeling himself after Elvis. It'll be interesting to see what's developed and who the tenants will be.

[wmjindsm]

If I can find the article I'll repost the link, if I remember he really didn't want to leave and was maybe looking for another location.

[Young DSM Social Club]

I have never been there, but my wife has and thought it was a one-of-a-kind place (in a good way). Hopefully, it can relocate somewhere else. Sounds like it would be a fun place for all over town - Beaverdale, Ingersoll, even downtown somewhere.

[Boeckman]

I think Hugh's Jungle Room is still open. At least, the owner told me in July that he hoped he could find someplace else. He has a lease on the place that's still good for about a year.
This is an abbreviated version of the story that ran in The Register: http://tinyurl.com/ycfskxk

[dogbo]

It seems to me there is no shortage of available commercial space in the metro so I can't see how finding a new location should be a major hurdle.

[DMRyan]

I was thinking the same thing. There's probably no shortage of vacant or even boarded up commercial buildings just on this stretch of Douglas Avenue to move into. One cool idea for a bar would be to convert the soon-to-be-former Firestone Tire location south of Merle Hay and open it into some kind of bar or restaurant. These conversions from former auto uses to tastefully done restaurants/bars can be pretty neat sometimes. Right down the road in Urbandale, there's a closed down Mexican Restaurant that might not make a bad setup for a small bar. The only problem is that it butts up to residential on the south side.

[wmjindsm]

...or the old Ground Round building on Merle Hay, I think its vacant again.

[Mastermind]

...or the old Ground Round building on Merle Hay, I think its vacant again.

There probably isnt a market for it, but that entire area with Dahls, NOVA, Carlo's O'kellys, Big Lots would make for a nice Mixed Used area similar to West Glen. That parking lot is an enormous waste of space.

[DMRyan]

...or the old Ground Round building on Merle Hay, I think its vacant again.

But then where would Buffalo Wild Wings on Merle Hay go?

[dogbo]

yeah...I think BWW should go in the old Ground Round building (or flatten the current building and build new) while Hugh's Jungle Room could move to the old Hardees building (last used as Lefty's Auto sales) across from McDonalds on Merle Hay Rd.

[DMRyan]

Buffalo Wild Wings is going in the former Ground Round building. The existing building will be torn down for the new construction.

[Young DSM Social Club]

Very nice! All this new development on Merle Hay is great. Now, if the City would just get rid of the POLE signs. Such a shame all these new buildings are going to have hideous pole signs (ya know, the ones that would NOT be allowed in the western suburbs and are a reason much of their developments look better).

[DMRyan]

I mentioned this in the incorrectly located Merle Hay Mall thread, by Joanne Boeckman confirms that Buffalo Wild Wings is moving forward with their location on the site of the former Ground Round/El Dorado Mexican Restaurant site. Again, demo of the existing building, new construction on this site.

[speeder]

Site plan and elevation for NE Corner of Merle Hay & Douglas: Shops At Merle Hay

Type: Retail Space
3801 Merle Hay Road
Des Moines, Iowa, 50310
Lease Rate: $26.00 - 32.00 NNN
Building Size: 11,250
Available Square Footage: 11,250
Zoning: C-2
Parking: Paved
Year Built/Remodeled: 2010
Property Type: Retail

New multi-tenant retail building on the northeast corner of Merle Hay Road and Douglas Avenue in Des Moines, across from newly renovated Merle Hay Mall, Target, Verizon and Starbucks. Build and Finish to suit with tenant allowance for premium retail uses. Construction beginning spring 2009 for Fall 2009 completion.
Information listed is believed accurate, but is not guaranteed. Buyer/Lessee should independently investigate all factors to insure satisfaction with property before completing an offer. Eychaner Properties will present any reasonable written offers to owner.

http://eychanerproperties.com/index.php ... perty&id=2

[speeder]

Site Plan and Elevations for 5824 Douglas-behind (west) of Verizon store on SW corner of Merle HAy and Douglas.

Type: Retail Space
5824 Douglas Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa, 50310
Lease Rate: $20 - 28 NNN
Annual Cams: $1.50
Annual Taxes: $5.25
Building Size: 12,000
Available Square Footage: 1,800 - 12,000
Zoning: Retail
Parking: Paved
Year Built/Remodeled: 2010
Heat: Gas
Air Conditioning: Yes
Dock: TBD
Property Type: Retail

Owner will rebuild site to suit new tenant(s). Could have 1,800-12,000 Square Feet. Terrific Merle Hay and Douglas Center. Join Verizon Wireless, All Care Dental and Quizno's Subs on one of Des Moines' hottest corners! At traffic light by Target and Merle Hay Mall entrance. Mall is undergoing $10 million of improvements. New TIF district covers site. Drive through possible! Call today. This site won't last long!
Information listed is believed accurate, but is not guaranteed. Buyer/Lessee should independently investigate all factors to insure satisfaction with property before completing an offer. Eychaner Properties will present any reasonable written offers to owner.

http://eychanerproperties.com/index.php ... perty&id=9

Now, if only someone would take a shot at redeveloping the 2+ acres available on the SE corner (Furniture Row and Lefty's Auto lot) the whole intersection would be revamped.

[dogbo]

Good to see older areas of town that were looking a little worn around the edges getting some new life.

[speeder]

So, I kept looking at the elevations for the Shops At Merle Hay (NE corner of Douglas and Merle Hay road) and trying to figure out what restaurant the corner unit resembled... and then on my way to work this morning it dawned on me, it looks like a Buffalo Wild Wings building, particularly the one on Delaware in Ankeny. Was this rendering done before BWW's decision to open a new store at the old Ground Round location on Merle Hay (in front of Dahls) and/or just as a marketing reach to attract BWW's to this location instead?

Shops at Merle Hay rendering


Ankeny Buffalo Wild Wings

[DMRyan]

It looks like Eychaner Properties has already made a purchase of the soon-to-be-closed Firestone Tire Center. This is good news if the retail demand continues to warrant new space. A closed down Firestone could really become an eyesore if not redeveloped.

Those sketches of the shopping center do look pretty conceptual.

[speeder]

I am crossing my fingers in hopes that a Panchero's will find its way near these newer strip developments.

[Mototail]

Here's an interesting article about Urbandale promoting growth and renewal.

Merle Hay businesses could receive incentives

The Urbandale City Council has paved the way for businesses in and around the Merle Hay corridor to receive tax incentives over three years for improving their properties.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... /1001/NEWS

[dogbo]

The Buffalo Wild Wings "coming soon" sign is up. There is no sign of any equipment in place yet to demonlish the existing building.