New Valley Junction building will be home to sports bar Bix & Co., retail store

Development has commenced on a developing in Valley Junction that will be house to a sports activities- bar restaurant and retail shop.

Developer Tim Rypma, who also is concerned in other developments in the historic West Des Moines neighborhood, strategies a 4,900-square-foot, just one-tale setting up at 111 Fifth St. on the southern edge of the mixed-use business enterprise district.

Cafe Bix & Co. has signed a lease for the southern parcel, which features a big patio experiencing Railroad Park. The remaining house, concerning Bix & Co. and the adjacent making housing Huge Acai Bowl, is out there for lease, ideally to a retail tenant, Rypma reported.

To make way for the new developing, the group demolished a 1960s concrete masonry construction that housed a CPR Mobile Telephone Fix store, which moved a block north to 216 Fifth St.

The proposal obtained approval from the Valley Junction Historic Master System Steering Committee, which has designed a set of style and design rules to preserve the nature and character of the district, the historic downtown of West Des Moines. The suggestions include things like a pause on demolition right until September so the committee can determine historic buildings qualified for preservation.

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Rypma stated the making will mimic its environment, with full brick building, substantial home windows and wrought iron detailing.

“Almost everything we know about historic preservation, we are placing toward trying to make the constructing glance like it’s been there for 100 many years,” he claimed.

Bambi Helm, who will open up Bix & Co. with her son Darren Helm, aspect-proprietor of 300 Craft & Rooftop in downtown Des Moines, and business lover Matt McCormick, claimed the cafe will be a household-friendly athletics bar that serves pizza, burgers and appetizers.

They approach wall of TVs, a billiards desk and, probably, breakfast on the weekends.

The group wishes “to pay back homage to Valley Junction heritage” with tables made out of elm, locust, walnut and maple — the names of the four cross streets in the company district — a foot rail created of railroad rail around the bar, and railroad spikes for purse hooks, Bambi Helm reported.

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The restaurant is named after her 91-year-previous father, Bob Bixenman, who is identified by his pals as “Bix.” He started out Bix Basement Systems in Fort Madison in 1960. It now serves 3 states.

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“He is the best entrepreneur we know and he has just instilled that in me, and Darren as nicely,” Bambi Helm stated. “And so we just genuinely required to do one thing for him — we’re just so very pleased of him and he’s so very pleased of us.”

Bix & Co. is expected to open up in November.

Rypma options to make investments $2.3 million, with a return of $300,000 as a result of a new residence tax rebate application in location in the business enterprise district.

Kim Norvell covers growth and enhancement for the Sign up. Attain her at knorvell@dmreg.com or 515-284-8259. Follow her on Twitter @KimNorvellDMR.

This write-up at first appeared on Des Moines Register: Valley Junction building demolished for new cafe, retail retail outlet