Donut King to relocate
Lou King, owner of Donut King, will have to move his business from its long-time location at 220 Grand Ave., according to reports. A worker told KCCI that the business, opened by King in 1973, has to be moved out by March 31 as part of a neighborhood revitalization underway at the intersection of 63rd Street and Grand Avenue. The plans for the property have yet to be revealed.
West End Architectural Salvage announces second location
West End Architectural Salvage recently announced the opening of a second location at the West Glen Town Center in West Des Moines. West End Architectural Salvage, currently based in downtown Des Moines, has become renowned for its custom designed furniture, residential and commercial interior designs. “We’re excited to bring our fun atmosphere to an area that is more convenient for our customers than the downtown location,” said Don Short, owner. “We understand that West End Architectural Salvage is a destination and you can spend hours shopping with us. People are busy; we are bringing a scaled down version of the store to West Glen with high hopes of attracting new and seasoned customers. This is a perfect place for a second location with the West Glen Town Center being a busy retail and residential environment.” A soft opening is planned for mid-March, with grand opening events scheduled to be held in mid-April.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opens
A classic American restaurant known for its wood-fired entrees and bold flavors, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opened in West Des Moines. The restaurant specializes in aged steaks, fresh seafood, chicken and ribs. This is Firebirds’ 38th national location and its first in Iowa. Firebirds is located in Paradise Pointe at 440 S. 68th St. and has a happy hour from 4-6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, featuring half-priced appetizers and drink specials. Visit http://west-des-moines.firebirdsrestaurants.com or find it on Facebook.
Charming Charlie now open
Charming Charlie, a jewelry and accessories retailer, has opened its new West Des Moines store in the Village area of Jordan Creek Town Center. Located in the 6,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Party City, Charming Charlie held its grand opening on Nov. 21. The company is known for its color-coordinated merchandise groupings and expansive collection of jewelry. The metro location offers jewelry, shoes, apparel, accessories and a special occasion section. Charming Charlie also has two other Iowa locations in Council Bluffs and Davenport. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. Call 226-2176, visit www.charmingcharlie.com or find it on Facebook.
I-80 interchange opens in Waukee
A $50 million “diverging diamond” interchanged opened to traffic on Dec. 1 on the new Grand Prairie Parkway. Located about three miles west of Jordan Creek Parkway, the interchange is the first of its kind in Iowa. Drivers are directed to the opposite side of the road to provide easier access to the interstate by allowing traffic to merge freely, rather than waiting at a stoplight. Grand Prairie Parkway currently runs north to University Avenue in Waukee and by next year will reach to Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. It will eventually connect to Veterans Parkway.
West Des Moines tech company sold
Social Money, a financial tech company based in West Des Moines, was sold to Texas-based Q2 Holdings for $10.6 million cash. Social Money launched in 2008 as a startup with Smarty Pig, which is a platform that lets customers set up their own savings goals. In 2013, the company expanded to India. The company announced in January that it had partnered with the Gates Foundation to help low-income users in India. Social Money focused on developing products and technology to help users — both financial institutions and individuals — save money at a lower cost. It announced several new clients in the last year and a half, including Sallie Mae and H&R Block. Q2 announced plans to offer a rebranded version of Social Money’s technology in the next year. Social Money, led by CEO Scott McCormack, has 12 employees that will now be part of Q2 but remain in Des Moines.
Coffee and bagels available on Mills Civic
Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels have opened in a new joint building located at 5901 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines, in front of REI and The Fresh Market. Caribou moved from its former location in West Glen, which closed Nov. 29. The new store opened Dec. 4 and is managed by Dean Wenell. Einstein Bros. Bagels also has a location at Grand View University. Hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday; and 5: 30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday.
Pita Pit adds another metro location
Another Pita Pit restaurant opened at 440 S. 68th St. in West Des Moines. Mike Rink, the franchise owner, also owns locations in Ankeny, Urbandale, Cedar Falls and Waterloo. He has another store planned to open in January at 2708 Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines. The Pita Pit at 15700 Hickman Road in Clive is owned by Lexi and Bobby King. Pita Pit hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily. Call 221-2360, visit www.pitapitusa.com or find it on Facebook.
Fridley to build 12-screen theater in Waukee
Fridley Theatres, a Des Moines-based company, announced plans to build a 12-screen theater in Waukee. The theater will be called The Palms in Waukee, and it is expected to open on the northwest corner of Northeast Westgate Drive and Hickman Road in the spring of 2017. Construction is expected to begin late this summer, but the company is still in the early stages of design. Fridley purchased a 15-acre parcel for $2.4 million. Some of the land may be sold for additional development, depending on the size and scope of the project. The new theater will feature amenities competitive with other chains, including comfortable seating and more food and drink options. Fridley Theatres owns 22 movie theaters with approximately 100 screens in Iowa and Nebraska.
Changes coming to Jordan Creek Town Center
New-to-Iowa retailer Oakley will open a store in Jordan Creek this summer. Oakley is best known for its sunglasses, but it will also sell clothing, hats and other accessories. Oakley sunglasses are already sold at other mall retailers, but this will be the first full-line retail store in Iowa for the company. The location is still being decided.
Tommy Hilfiger closed its Jordan Creek store at the end of 2015, as the company is focusing more on outlet stores than on shopping malls.
Forever 21 will expand its store across from the food court, taking over the adjacent storefront that houses True Style. Forever 21 is a value-priced retailer that sells trendy clothing and accessories. Plans for the expanded store aren’t finalized yet, but it could include men’s and plus-sized sections not currently offered. While construction happens between the two stores, Forever 21 will move into the former Tommy Hilfiger space on the first floor.
True Style, which took over the store next to Forever 21 after the closing of Wet Seal last year, is looking for another spot in the mall to accommodate the expansion. True Style is a clothing boutique that started out about three years ago in Jordan Creek and moved to the Village area to make room for Vera Bradley. It moved back into the mall about a year ago after Wet Seal closed.
Kettlestone development in Waukee
Waukee’s new 1,500-acre development, Kettlestone, will see its first buildings in 2016. The project surrounds Grand Prairie Parkway on a patch of farmland and is expected to attract real estate developers after the opening of the new I-80 interchange back in December. One of the first projects will be the Coves at Kettlestone, which is a $65 million project that will cover 42 acres near University Avenue and include 216 apartments and 137 row houses. Kum & Go will also build a gas station near the interstate ramps.
Sandwiches in the city
Manhatten Deli, a longtime Ingersoll delectable treat, has opened another location. The new shop is in West Des Moines where the old Limey’s Pub spot used to be – 1970 Grand Ave., Suite 29, behind the Hy-Vee shopping center.