Court Avenue Development Efforts

by **Ingersoll1978** on Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:40 am

For $1.6 million, that'll be quite a nice restaurant.

Also, The Spaghetti Works reopens on Monday. I'll have to go check out their remodel...and hope their food has improved with it!

by **BHAZE311** on Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:56 am

Does anyone know the company that will operate the live music venue in the old nacho mamma's building on 3rd and court?

by **Philby** on Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:12 am

B - i've heard that its going to be run by the people who own peoples in ames and all the ak's in DM - and its going to be called "people's court"

PS - welcome to the forums!

by **NOG** on Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:13 pm

Ingersoll1978 wrote:For $1.6 million, that'll be quite a nice restaurant.

Also, The Spaghetti Works reopens on Monday. I'll have to go check out their remodel...and hope their food has improved with it!

The wife and I checked Spaghetti Works out over lunch today. It was not a dramatic remodel. They added a couple walls to seperate the entrance from the bar and restaurant. It looks like the floors were redone. The layout and booths seem unchanged for the most part. The biggest change is that the kitchen is now in the back of the building where the old Comedy Club used to be and a banquet room is now where the kitchen used to be.

by **Ingersoll1978** on Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:22 pm

Is the Fire Engine salad bar still there?

by **RyDW** on Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:29 pm

I sure hope the fire engine salad bar is still there

Sadly, the Des Moines Big Band no longer plays there. They used to play every monday night in that back room where the comedy shows were. They now play at the Adventureland Inn...ugggh. It was great to have quality jazz like that in downtown Des Moines. Does anyone know of any other jazz that plays downtown on a regular basis?

by **wmjindsm** on Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:33 am

I just asked my friend who was there the other night, and he said the salad bar was a truck, but he didn't believe it was a fire truck. Maybe they gave it a makeover. He said there was also some kind of big birdcage that had a table inside for two people.

by **NOG's Wife** on Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:34 pm

RyDW wrote:Does anyone know of any other jazz that plays downtown on a regular basis?

The Continental has jazz fairly often...most nights of the week, I believe.

by **Ingersoll1978** on Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:19 pm

We stopped by Spaghetti Works on Saturday night...and it was a little better. The old firetruck is now just a old pickup truck (it's different all together...and seems much larger). The food was a little better...but I actually liked the old decor better. It's not nearly as "airy" anymore.

by **RyDW** on Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:46 pm

NOG's Wife wrote:
RyDW wrote:Does anyone know of any other jazz that plays downtown on a regular basis?

The Continental has jazz fairly often...most nights of the week, I believe.

Ahh thanks Nog's Wife

by **butters** on Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:06 pm

This weeks Juice has a pretty sizable write-up on all the upcoming entertainment venues opening downtown. It's a pretty good read and it even has the token reader comments from the clueless.

I know we've previously discussed the possibility of Downtown becoming the "it" place to go on Friday and Saturday nights. I think getting media plugs like this is important to getting the west-siders to notice downtown. Downtown is an absolutley superior product (night life wise), but I fear getting people to notice will be a challenge...

by **ISULA** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:36 am

Can anyone post some new pics of the construction/ renovation around Court Ave.? None have been posted in quite some time.

by **dogbo** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:00 pm

butters wrote:This weeks Juice has a pretty sizable write-up on all the upcoming entertainment venues opening downtown. It's a pretty good read and it even has the token reader comments from the clueless.

I know we've previously discussed the possibility of Downtown becoming the "it" place to go on Friday and Saturday nights. I think getting media plugs like this is important to getting the west-siders to notice downtown. Downtown is an absolutley superior product (night life wise), but I fear getting people to notice will be a challenge...

Kudos to Juice! Great coverage (although this is more than just Court Ave projects: : http://www.dmjuice.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /303080002

by **josh** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:05 pm

Good article. I can't wait for inPlay to come, if it's anything like Dave & Buster's it'll be awesome.

by **mistertwister** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:15 pm

Am I clueless????? I was quoted.

I definitely think downtown will retake the mantle as the location to go to on the weekend within the next year or two. It's not an if it is most definitely a when. There will be a critical mass of entertainment and dining options opening in the next year that should push it over the top. And with all the options within walking distance, all it needs is a little positive buzz.

by **butters** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:45 pm

mistertwister wrote:Am I clueless????? I was quoted.

I definitely think downtown will retake the mantle as the location to go to on the weekend within the next year or two. It's not an if it is most definitely a when. There will be a critical mass of entertainment and dining options opening in the next year that should push it over the top. And with all the options within walking distance, all it needs is a little positive buzz.

That comment was aimed at the people that offered useless insight such as this:

"I think the part that is lacking the most is the west side. Sure they have some of the newer places popping up, but nothing really affordable for someone, say, coming from the south side of Des Moines."

"An area with several bars all within walking distance so bar hopping without driving is an option."

"Still not enough to make me want to leave the West side."

by **Ingersoll1978** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:56 pm

It was a great write up for Downtown. Good job Juice!

by **DMRyan** on Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:05 pm

That was the best issue of Juice ever! Loved the write up and more detailed information about each of the new places opening up. They might've missed a few places planned in the East Village though.

by **DMRyan** on Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:41 am

An update of the 4thStreet Condos/Marketplace Lofts project by Hubbell.

by **dogbo** on Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:30 pm

The 101 Lounge on 3rd Street (old depot building shared with Hessan Haus) has added a very nice deck on the front of their building and now has a sign up near the street. If the new sign is to be believed, they are now serving food.

by **4th&Court** on Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:37 pm

This restaurant name has been on the signage for awhile, but I couldn't tell where they were trying to say it'd be.

by **dmluvr** on Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:02 pm

this is in the new building that's being constructed now correct??
and then that spanish(i think is that right?) going in there too (???)

by **Better Life dude** on Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:45 pm

dmluvr: yes on both questions. A very nice restaurant on street level, right on the corner.

by **4th&Court** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:33 am

That place seemed to be quite active the other night. Here here!

by **kgb1972** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:44 pm

I currently live in Detroit and I will be relocating to Des Moines at the end of this month. I am looking for a downtown loft/apartment and was hoping the people that actively contribute to this site could offer some suggestions for me. I am interested in the Court Avenue Lofts and possibly the Hubble Tower Apartments. I was in Des Moines the entire month of August so I am familiar with both neighborhoods but haven't seen any of the units in either building. Any feedback would be great.

If there is another topic that better suits my goals, please let me know.

by **rasmeth** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:53 pm

Try this link: http://live.downtowndesmoines.com/

by **dogbo** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:01 pm

kgjb972 mentioned two places that are rental only, so I assume he/she is interested in renting, not buying. Is that correct?

I'd suggest checking out the Downtown Community Alliance website and click on "I want to live here" to get ideas:

http://www.downtowndesmoines.com/index.php

by **kgb1972** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:43 pm

Thank you both Rasmeth and dogbo for the info. Dogbo, I will check out the link you posted as you are correct, I am looking to rent because my job is transitional and I'm not certain how long I will be in Des Moines.

I knew I could count on this site for some helpful information. And btw, my name is Keith (so that would be a he)

by **Ingersoll1978** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:47 pm

First off...WELCOME to Des Moines!

If you want to live Downtown...those are two good options. It really depends on if you want to live in the nightlife or not. That is really the determining factor between those two areas. Also, Court Avenue will be next to the riverwalk...but Hubbell is close to the Gateway West Park area. On Court...you have the market...East Village has one too...and the Gateway West area is close to Gateway Market. If you like independent coffee, Court has Java Joes...East Village has the EV Coffee Bean...and if you like Starbucks...it is in the Gateway West area. There are actually several more rental options to look at too (10th Street Lofts, East Village Square, Vine Street Lofts, Arlington Hallet...etc.).
other options in the Downtown area to look at.

by **kgb1972** on Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:54 pm

I knew that website sounded familiar. I have checked out that page, but I'm looking for more "inside" information. Someone that has been to or lives in either Court Ave, or Hubbell Tower (or somewhere similar) that can give me the skinny.

I will be moving by myself so I won't require a ton of space, but enough for a single man to be comfortable. With what I've seen listed, I'm hoping to find something in the $600 - $750 range.

If anyone has the lowdown on either Court Ave or Hubbell Tower...

Thanks again to those that have already replied.

Court Avenue Development Efforts

Live Music venue

Court Ave.

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