Tom Archer’s Poor Man’s Country Club, the supper club beneath the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines, plans to close this summer temporarily.
The nostalgic supper club honoring 1930s and 1940s ballroom visionary Tom Archer features retro decor, vintage memorabilia and a menu of elevated comfort foods like fried walleye, wedge salads and classic relish trays. The restaurant announced on social media that it was “taking a little summer vacation, we hope you’ll take one too.”
General Manager Isaac Alaniz told the Des Moines Register that the restaurant will be closed July 11 through Sept. 11. The restaurant started canceling reservations after the announcement on July 1.
“We’ll be back in September with familiar favorites alongside a few new flavors, and we’d be honored to save you a seat,” the Facebook post added.
Val Air owner Sam Summers opened the restaurant in January 2025 as a tribute to Tom Archer, the original owner of the Val Air. Many of the artifacts on the wood-paneled walls — from contracts to celebrities who performed here to family photos — salute Archer and his legacy.
Where to find Tom Archer’s Poor Man’s Country Club
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: West Des Moines supper club taking a break until September
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
