(This story was updated to correct erroneous information.)
A southside Mexican grocery store is eyeing the former downtown Des Moines home of Spaghetti Works, a space in the heart of the historic Court District that has been vacant for three years.
El Valle Tienda Mexicana is in the early stages of considering purchasing the 8,000-square-foot storefront at 310 Court Ave. for a restaurant and grocery store, according to a city preliminary permit application.
With a location at 101 Army Post Road, El Valle Tienda Mexicana offers grocery items, a butcher shop, ready-to-eat food, produce and a bakery, according to the business’ Facebook page. Should the grocer pursue the Spaghetti Works building for a new store, it would be only about a block east of the downtown Hy-Vee supermarket.
Spaghetti Works had a 45-year run in the converted, 126-year-old former hat factory before it shut down in March 2023. The street-level space in the four-story mixed-use building is among 31% of ground-level storefronts in the central business district that the Des Moines Economic Development Department reports are vacant ― three-quarters of them for more than a year.
The city has launched a $7 million incentive program called Restore the Core to support new investments in long-vacant commercial space as downtown anticipates the addition of 1,000 residential units in the next two years.
El Valle Tienda Mexicana would join other recently opened small businesses in the Court District, including The Empire diner, which occupies the former Fong’s Pizza storefront on Fourth Street, and Last Call Kitchen, which opened in the former space of Bernardo’s Burritos after that restaurant moved to the old Java Joe’s space on the other side of Fourth Street.
El Valle Tienda Mexicana must schedule a pre-application meeting with the city before applying for a building permit. Owners of the grocery store and restaurant could not be reached for comment.
Other businesses have sought Spaghetti Works space
This isn’t the first time the space, listed for $1.35 million, has garnered interest since Spaghetti Works closed. In late 2024, Teehee’s Comedy Club, which had vacated its Walnut Street home, looked at the spot as a potential new home. The $4 million plan never came to fruition and Teehee’s gave up plans for a new location after the club’s co-owner, Dave Boelman, died of cancer last November, according to Axios.
Spaghetti Works owners also received an offer from longtime bar owner Larry Smithson, who runs District at 212 Fourth St. At the time, Smithson proposed opening a game bar. Facing opposition from the Downtown Neighborhood Association, the city denied Smithson’s proposal on the grounds that the area was already saturated with bars.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly described the businesses owned by Larry Smithson. Broadway Beach House is owned by Ryan Smithson.
In addition, a previous version of this story mischaracterized the basis for the denial of a conditional use application by a prior potential purchaser to use of the property as a bar. In an order dated Oct. 23, 2024, the Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment denied the prior application for a conditional use based on the application failing to meet the criteria for a conditional use. Among other reasons, the order noted an increase the concentration of bars in the area could diminish or impair nearby established property values due to behaviors attributed to alcohol use that pose a challenge for residents and police. The order did not state as a basis for the denial any activities occurring at any of the applicant’s other establishments.
Kate Kealey is the growth and development reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on X at @Kkealey17.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Another potential buyer eyeing long-closed Spaghetti Works downtown
Reporting by Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
