Downtown openings/closing

[Young DSM Social Club]

This is really the "it" area right now, so I think it's a nice fit. I think it will draw in Wellmark and Meredith people, which is probably more than enough to sustain a business. Will be nice to see another "real" store on this street.

I go to the Subway on Ingersoll a lot, but I like the new one at Drake better -- just seems cleaner. If this one also seems nicer, I'll probably be inclined to go there more as well.

[wmjindsm]

The Register is reporting that the Funky Pickle, the little deli in the 7th and Grand parking garage closed down at the end of the year. Too bad, this was actually a decent little spot.

Register now says a new deli will open October 3. Keller's will serve breakfast and lunch items. Keller is a bread maker in Des Moines.

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

http://www.kellersbreads.com/index.html

[dogbo]

The Register is reporting that the Funky Pickle, the little deli in the 7th and Grand parking garage closed down at the end of the year. Too bad, this was actually a decent little spot.

Register now says a new deli will open October 3. Keller's will serve breakfast and lunch items. Keller is a bread maker in Des Moines.

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

http://www.kellersbreads.com/index.html

I didn't realize the Boesen's has closed too (the one on the skywalk in 801 is still open). From the sounds of it, this new deli will take both spaces. Should be a nice addition to the core. I hope they can do something to jazz up the exterior a bit to make this space a bit more inviting.

Also, the other ground level spot in this same parking garage that used to have the babershop (next to Mr Filet) is now empty (I believe the business merged/moved in with barber in 801 Grand).

[DMRyan]

Will definitely have to give the new place a try since downtown is short on good deli-type places to grab lunch. These businesses at the 7th and Grand parking garage really have all of the odds stacked against them. They're not very visible, they're not in a good looking structure, easily accessible street parking can be tough to come by, and there's plenty of homeless that hang out in the homeless outreach center/coffee shop. Still, it's amazing that some of these businesses like Mr. Filet and Boesen the Florist have hung around this long.

When/if a new development ever comes to this parking garage, hopefully there are a few things that can be easily learned in how to make future retail bays a little more viable and attractive.

[dogbo]

There appears to be a new gym, “Spartan”, (I believe) opening up on the ground floor of the BOA parking ramp @ 5th & Locust. I have to assume it is a different gym than F/X which is located just a few blocks away . Maybe it will be the type that offers training for boxing and/or MMA? Just guessing

[wildbill]

There appears to be a new gym, “Spartan”, (I believe) opening up on the ground floor of the BOA parking ramp @ 5th & Locust. I have to assume it is a different gym than F/X which is located just a few blocks away . Maybe it will be the type that offers training for boxing and/or MMA? Just guessing

It's a second location of Spartan Strength. The original gym is in Clive.

http://spartan-strength.com/

http://www.midwestcagechampionship.com/ ... -champion/

[DMRyan]

Lots of little things happening in the Western Gateway currently. A few of the projects are shown below, but of note is the demolition of the Howard Martin Auto Body shop just to the west of Wellmark. Looking at property records, Wellmark is purchasing up properties to the west of their new headquarters building. I'm not going to go out on a limb and speculate about an expansion, but I think they're trying to clean up their neighborhood and get control over properties that could be accumulated for a future development parcel. I've heard they intend to build an interim green space on all of these vacant properties, once the buildings are demo'd. The old Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Iowa Health Foundation Buildings may be next.

New Subway Restaurant across from the sculpture garden


The Gaslamp is finishing out a little more space for their bar and putting some artwork on the side of the building.

[Mastermind]

Originally Gaslamp had the bay to west for lease. Is it confirmed they are expanding, or has a new business leased the space?

[dogbo]

Originally Gaslamp had the bay to west for lease. Is it confirmed they are expanding, or has a new business leased the space?

There was an article awhile back somewhere (can't find it now) that the area to the west will be a open-air patio area for Gas Lamp.

[dogbo]

Lots of little things happening in the Western Gateway currently. A few of the projects are shown below, but of note is the demolition of the Howard Martin Auto Body shop just to the west of Wellmark. Looking at property records, Wellmark is purchasing up properties to the west of their new headquarters building. I'm not going to go out on a limb and speculate about an expansion, but I think they're trying to clean up their neighborhood and get control over properties that could be accumulated for a future development parcel. I've heard they intend to build an interim green space on all of these vacant properties, once the buildings are demo'd. The old Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Iowa Health Foundation Buildings may be next.

New Subway Restaurant across from the sculpture garden

Opening Wednesday:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... eedfetcher

[DMRyan]

Interesting poll and read on opinions about the new Subway:

http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... tionID=136

What do you guys think about this little mini-controversy?

[dogbo]

Interesting poll and read on opinions about the new Subway:

http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... tionID=136

What do you guys think about this little mini-controversy?

There's a big article on the front page of the Register today too. I guess I'm in the plus/minus crowd with the pluses winning out. That building was previously empty and looked bad too. You can see a lot of money was put into this place to get it ready for business. I don't think it looks bad and although the signage was a bit larger than I would have expected, I don't really have a problem with it.

Here's Register article with pic: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... eedfetcher

[DMRyan]

Today's article in the Register says it all. Wellmark had an opportunity to buy the property just like they've done with all of the other nearby properties, but passed it up due to cost. This building had set empty for years in disrepair.

Honestly, this is a place holder of a building. While the improvements to the building no doubt raised the value of the property, I doubt this would stop the next $100+ million office building developer from buying it and building here.

I also object to the statement in the article about development in the Western Gateway stalling. There may not be a huge corporate office expansion under construction right now, but how many of those do you get in little ol' Des Moines? The fact that we're seeing new small businesses pop up in the area, in conjunction with Hatch's renovation to 1408 Locust Street and Hubbell wanting to bring back their proposal for the Mitchell Transmission building indicates that the area is really on fire. Add the Crane Building and Exhile Brewery development just one block south, or even the new fire station and CISS shelter into the mix and you won't find another corner of downtown with as much going on right now. Microsoft is opening an office down there for chrissakes. If you want a stalled development, do a story on the Village of Ponderosa or something.

[Mastermind]

Definitely not ideal, but i dont have a huge problem with it. I dont mind the awnings, but the glossy black tile on the facade is hideous.

[dogbo]

Good point on this building being a "place holder". I guess that was my thought too..and I'd rather have some activity in that building in the meantime, vs. having it sit empty and rot for the next half dozen years or so until a big development is put in its place.

[4th&Court]

I'll give them this:

Subway will survive and be open for a long time, unlike all the failed downtown ventures that have attempted to target the non-existent wealthy, young, ultra-liberal vegan market.

[casbern]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere, but it appears that Mars Cafe is opening a "Satellite" location in downtown.

I can almost see it from here:

https://twitter.com/#!/MarsSatellite/status/154640255889317888

[Downtown Ryan]

Mars Cafe would be a great addition to downtown. What building is that? I can't quite tell.

Any word on anything going into the Bank of America building besides the wellness place?

[dogbo]

That's the Hyatt Place. Pic appears to be pointed up at the space on the skywalk (which was empty, but I believe something has recently already gone in there).

[Mulder.DSM]

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/05/mars-cafe-is-setting-up-downtown-location/

[dsmspence]

Looks like work is progressing on Mars Cafe's new location...

[casbern]

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but I sure have... 4th Street Chicago Beef appears to have wrapped up operations.

Also, on a brighter note, it appears that the Surf Shack space is available for rent.

[dogbo]

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but I sure have... 4th Street Chicago Beef appears to have wrapped up operations.

Also, on a brighter note, it appears that the Surf Shack space is available for rent.

i could be wrong, but I believe it has moved to GasLamp.

[Downtown Ryan]

Dogbo is correct....The little restaurant on 4th street was owned by Frankie's dad (owner of Gas Lamp). Gas Lamp is currently expanding in the other half of the building to make room for a full kitchen and indoor/outdoor patio area.

[Mulder.DSM]

Looks like work is progressing on Mars Cafe's new location...

I think this idea already closed up. This morning it looked like the signs were gone and they weren't open.

[casbern]

Don't count it out just yet.. https://twitter.com/#!/MarsSatellite/status/160394166663266305

[casbern]

It appears that the short lived Alternative Fuel Coffee Shop in the former Cuppy's location is closing it's doors.

[Mototail]

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

Here's the blurb in the DMR.

[wmjindsm]

According to Joanne Boeckman at the Register, Flour will be closing its doors after this week. However, they say Tony lemmo (Cafe di Scala) has something planned for the space.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... this-week/

[SFO2DSM]

Terrible shame. They had some really great pizza, and it was different than everyone else in town. I hate to say it, but the logistics of the place never made sense to me. They tried to imitate how pizza is sold in Italy with one unfortunate exception. There always seemed to be a 10-15 minute wait between ordering and receiving your pizza. In Italy it's more like 30 seconds. Should be fun to see what Tony has planned!

According to Joanne Boeckman at the Register, Flour will be closing its doors after this week. However, they say Tony lemmo (Cafe di Scala) has something planned for the space.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... this-week/