Openings/Closings outside Downtown

[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.

I mentioned this in February, seems like it will be a cool place. I like how it's not the in normal locations you would expect this kind of place to go into. We need to keep vibrant neighborhood districts going outside of downtown and the Ingersoll area.

[tyrgyzistan]

That's the name, the graphics were being put on the awning as I drove past this morning.

[Mastermind]

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:

YIKES! So far its looking more and more like picture number 2. Does Des Moines have any design standards outside of downtown?

[DMRyan]

YIKES! So far its looking more and more like picture number 2. Does Des Moines have any design standards outside of downtown?

Unfortunately not for this part of Des Moines, unless they're receiving city financial assistance or tax abatement.

[wmjindsm]

The other big opening news of the day is that Dollar General on MLK is now open!!! I nice thing about the building is I don't need a light on for by back yard, there outside security lights are nice and bright.

[Mastermind]

The other big opening news of the day is that Dollar General on MLK is now open!!! I nice thing about the building is I don't need a light on for by back yard, there outside security lights are nice and bright.

Thats so kind of them

[wmjindsm]

The McDonald's at 30th and Forest is getting remodeled (again). I can't find the date, but this store was remodeled recently. They got new owners last fall and are changing the decor, remodeling the front counter and adding a double drive thru. This I'm curious about because it is a tight fit around the building already, we'll see!

from the Register:
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... -makeover/

[wildbill]

Mars Cafe announced it's closing on Aug. 18. The owner cited additional responsibilities in his law practice and family. It's too bad. I always felt like it was the anchor of the Dogtown development east of campus.

[DMRyan]

I had heard the rumors of this and agree that it's a major blow to Dogtown. This was the coolest hangout spot for students near the campus, and provided college town type entertainment that I don't know really exists anywhere else near Drake University.

[Ingersoll1978]

That's surprising. They will be missed by the Drake community and surrounding neighborhoods.

[conquistador2]

Ugh... my two favorite hangouts in Dogtown were Mars Cafe & Best Place Ever. Soon, both will be gone.

[casbern]

Mars Cafe announced it's closing on Aug. 18. The owner cited additional responsibilities in his law practice and family. It's too bad. I always felt like it was the anchor of the Dogtown development east of campus.

I completely agree. I really loved the atmosphere and the vision. They also had the best coffee, hands down, IMO. It'll be greatly missed.

[Emil]

Mars Cafe announced it's closing on Aug. 18. The owner cited additional responsibilities in his law practice and family. It's too bad. I always felt like it was the anchor of the Dogtown development east of campus.

It's coming back.

The shop has been purchased by a group including Amedeo Rossi, Justin Schoen, Mark Movic and Angela Johnson. I spoke with Schoen and Rossi today and will be meeting up with the new owners tomorrow morning and will post more information then. Rossi confirmed that Sept. 15 is the shop’s targeted opening date, with a larger grand re-opening celebration to follow.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... to-reopen/

[Ex-Chicago]

I don't have a link, but Gino's on 6th is closing after 40+ years. The one in West Glen will stay open.

[Young DSM Social Club]

That's really depressing news.

[Mototail]

Here's the link:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... nav%7Chead

[DMRyan]

The end of an era for yet another of the supper club Italian steakhouse places. Outside of the nostalgia of eating in this relic of a restaurant that hasn't appeared to have been updated since the 1960's, I wasn't very impressed on my past two visits there. Not that anything had changed from the way that they had ever done anything, but other restaurants have just gotten better and this place has stayed the same. Let's be honest, this restaurant was located in an industrial park, and not far from a neighborhood that on a major decline. No doubt a blow to a very notable business in Highland Park.

I wish we had a little more variety with our non-chain Italian restaurants. They all seem to be serving food from the same region of Italy.

[tyrgyzistan]

Gino's West Glen?

[casbern]

Gino's West Glen?

FWIU, they are keeping that location open and closing original.

[tyrgyzistan]

Gino's West Des Moines at West Glen will close Wednesday.

The closure comes just weeks after the original location on 6th Avenue in Des Moines also closed.

Read more: http://www.kcci.com/news/project-econom ... z2JUKRHeTn

[casbern]

I stand corrected.

[tyrgyzistan]

jim duncan ‏@foodude

Falbo Bros is closed on eastside but soon to open in W Des Moines. All gift certs, coupons, etc will be honored at new store.

https://twitter.com/foodude/status/297090239669866497

[wmjindsm]

by tyrgyzistan on Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:20 pm

jim duncan ‏@foodude

Falbo Bros is closed on eastside but soon to open in W Des Moines. All gift certs, coupons, etc will be honored at new store.



https://twitter.com/foodude/status/297090239669866497

more from the Register:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... es/article

[Keepgrowingdsm]

The owner is very tight lipped about the location. I'm beginning to wonder if the new place is fully secured yet?

[Emil]

Wellspring Christian Bookstore is closing after 70 years.

[wmjindsm]

Gino's on Sixth is open back up (under new owners). A longtime chef has reopened the restaurant today according to the Register.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/ ... ck_check=1

[dogbo]

Caribou Coffee is closing a bunch of stores (80 total). Haven't said where yet:

http://www.kcci.com/news/project-econom ... 8.facebook

[casbern]

Caribou Coffee is closing a bunch of stores (80 total). Haven't said where yet:

http://www.kcci.com/news/project-econom ... 8.facebook

I doubt the Ingersoll location will be shut down. That place always seems to be packed.

The West Glen location, I'm unsure of.

[wmjindsm]

Reading a Chicago Tribune article even though they didn't have the list of store affected they seemed to know a little what was happening. Didn't sound like our stores would be converted to Peet's Coffee.

At the end of 2012, Caribou had 610 locations, mostly in the Midwest and Great Plains. That number will be trimmed to 486 by 2015. Following the closings and conversions, Caribou will have stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, western Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, Denver and 10 international markets, the company said.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013 ... al-markets

[wmjindsm]

Sonic has closed at 63rd St. south of Grand. So is the only Sonic left at Merle Hay in Johnston?