Openings/Closings outside Downtown

[wildbill]

I noticed that The Ingersoll had their windows covered. Their Facebook page confirms that it is closed.

Nov. 28: The Ingersoll has been temporarily closed while changing owners/management and changing the name. Our apologies for the temporary inconvenience. An update will be posted soon. Thank you to all who believed in the old dinner theater.

[DMRyan]

At this point, the space is tainted. Any other marginal attempts to reopen the place on the cheap would only result in additional failure. Part of the problem is the owner of that whole block of buildings not putting money back in them. He also owns the vacant gas station, the burned out coffee shop, and the ugly building where Lime Lounge recently was too.

[tyrgyzistan]

I think Taco Loco closed its 2nd and University location and has its truck parked on East University now.

[tyrgyzistan]

Driving down E. University between E 9th and Penn, I think I saw a place named Big Momma's BBQ Ribs on the south side of the street. Looked like some people working inside and a "coming soon" sign.

I think Taco Loco is parked outside a child care facility on E. University.

[DMRyan]

Iowa Bakery Cafe at the Uptown Plaza Shopping Center closing down...a small blow for the local neighborhood with this being a great, locally-owned breakfast spot.

[MusicMan]

Iowa Bakery Cafe at the Uptown Plaza Shopping Center closing down...a small blow for the local neighborhood with this being a great, locally-owned breakfast spot.

Food was ok there, except they served everything there are Styrofoam. That alone kept me from going their often...

[Young DSM Social Club]

I enjoyed the food there, but rarely ate there. It was apparent nothing was ever reinvested back into the store and it was very dated. I'm all for supporting small businesses, but you can't expect to never update your store!

[conquistador2]

I wasn't a frequent customer by any means, but I don't think it's completely fair to call the place "dated". It was a small space in a fairly generic strip mall... What do you think they could/should have done to the space?

[Young DSM Social Club]

It was early 90s pink and the bathrooms were old and needed to be updated. I ate there plenty of times and never had a problem with the food, but I'm not surprised if other people didn't enjoy going to the place. I'm not the only person I know who commented on this. It just seemed run down.

[wmjindsm]

Looks like the Quizno's on Grand (around 30th Street) is closed again.

[DMRyan]

A new wine bar called Louie's Wine Dive is proposed for the old Iowa Bakery Cafe location on University Avenue. Looks like an outdoor patio is proposed facing the street.

[DMRyan]

Hold the excitement...

New construction of a Dollar General Store at MLK Parkway and Urbandale Avenue is proposed. This will clean out one obsolete corner of commercial buildings on this strip.

[wmjindsm]

Hold the excitement... New construction of a Dollar General Store at MLK Parkway and Urbandale Avenue is proposed. This will clean out one obsolete corner of commercial buildings on this strip.

Do you know if it's the corner with the Iowa Changers building on it? That land has been for sale for so long. I always wondered what Iowa Changers was. And excited? Yes I am!!! I will be just a block away from the store! Embaressed to say last time I was at a Dollar General I got carried away and spent a lot of money there.

[DMRyan]

Yes, that's the right corner. There's a vacant lot and the Iowa Changers Building that will make way for this. I don't think the dodgy auto repair place to the south is part of the deal though.

[Ingersoll1978]

Embaressed to say last time I was at a Dollar General I got carried away and spent a lot of money there.

Ha ha...you're in trouble now.

[dogbo]

Hold the excitement...

New construction of a Dollar General Store at MLK Parkway and Urbandale Avenue is proposed. This will clean out one obsolete corner of commercial buildings on this strip.

Rendering?

[lunksmoo]

Here is a Dollar General Store in historic Sevierville, TN in the Smoky Mountains. Looks to be part of a shopping plaza; most of the Dollar General stores I have seen are in single retail buildings.

Unfortunately, the only Dollar General stores I have seen in Iowa look like this:

[wmjindsm]

Vom Fass is now open in the Shops at Roosevelt. They specialize in cask-aged vinegars, oils, liqueurs, and spirits (the alcohol portion is not yet available, probably next week they told me). They have a nice variety of flavors. I really want to try the liqueurs when they sell them. They will also sell absinthe, brandy, and cognac.

http://vomfassdsm.com/

[wmjindsm]

The Kum & Go at 50th and Douglas is closed.

[casbern]

The Kum & Go at 50th and Douglas is closed.

I'm surprised that wasn't included in the exchange of locations with Casey's within this past year. However, Casey's did buy out the ShortStop locations in central Iowa and would have duplicated their efforts only a couple blocks away. It'll be interesting to see what moves into this location... I just hope it's not a Shop&Save.

[4th&Court]

The Kum & Go at 50th and Douglas is closed.

That location was a favorite of the armed robbers who normally only frequent Git N Gos.

[wmjindsm]

New construction of a Dollar General Store at MLK Parkway and Urbandale Avenue is proposed. This will clean out one obsolete corner of commercial buildings on this strip.

They have started on this project. The bad thing for me is that this is my backyard and they are clearing out all the trees in the back of there lot (which I figured they would). I had a nice enclosed wooded lot that will soon be gone. Sucky thing for me is that this happened to me on High Street when they built that apartment building there a few years back, that lot was wooded and I had a nice view, then the apartment went up and took that all away. I am a real jinx to trees!!!

[Mastermind]

New construction of a Dollar General Store at MLK Parkway and Urbandale Avenue is proposed. This will clean out one obsolete corner of commercial buildings on this strip.

They have started on this project. The bad thing for me is that this is my backyard and they are clearing out all the trees in the back of there lot (which I figured they would). I had a nice enclosed wooded lot that will soon be gone. Sucky thing for me is that this happened to me on High Street when they built that apartment building there a few years back, that lot was wooded and I had a nice view, then the apartment went up and took that all away. I am a real jinx to trees!!!

I noticed that today too. Are they leaving you any trees>

[wmjindsm]

I noticed that today too. Are they leaving you any trees>

I don't know, I wasn't informed of anything. Does anybody know if they have to tell adjoining properties? Would not like it. There is one big oak tree that looks like it is on another property that will be safe, but there is another big tree I'm hoping they save. I haven't seen what they have done since 8AM, so for anybody in the MLK/Urbandale Ave area, if you hear loud shrieks and crying... it's me.

[DMRyan]

Adjoining property owners do not have to be notified of development requests in the City of Des Moines unless there is a zoning action, subdivision, or public hearing on the project. Many types of development projects do not require a public hearing.

Not all of the trees will be going away, but there were definitely some large oaks that came out and have to be mitigated with new tree plantings elsewhere in the immediate area.

[wmjindsm]

The one oak I'm rooting for to stay is still there this morning, doesn't mean it will be there when I get home tonight. But if they're done clearing then I'm happy. I wasn't sure if they were clearing up to the property line, which looks like they're not since they have snow fence along the back now. They would have also dug into the hill which then they would have to build a wall which may be too expensive.

I am glad something new is going in there (although I would want a Dollar Tree instead of a Dollar General).

[DMRyan]

You nailed it. There's already one heck of a retaining wall proposed for this site, so going any further up the wooded incline than what is needed would only cost the developer more money.

Thanks for keeping the discussion on the Dollar General store construction going for so long.

[wmjindsm]

between this and the Kum & Go at 50th & Douglas, I'm good to go!

[tyrgyzistan]

I saw a banner for a Grand Opening of a Chinese Buffet in a Southridge Mall outbuilding, I think it was the old Crimmins Cattle building.

The old Eastside Grill on Hubbel Ave has signage indicating Kerns Four Seasons Cafe is now open as a new tenant.

I saw a "now hiring" billboard for Twin Peaks restaurant on University.

[tyrgyzistan]

The old bagel place at 42nd and University shopping center now has a graphic with a crown and a glass of wine, and the phrase "wine should be fun". I think the name was Louie's Wine.