Story by Janet Grella
Photos by Michael Brunk

We’ve all watched the China Seas Restaurant morph into the All Star Sports Bar, but the big question on the minds of Des Moines residents and sports fans throughout the area is:

“When is All Star going to open?”

According to operations manager Joe Potts: “I usually tell people 30 days from the day someone asks me (that question).”

Would that put the opening date as January 17th then?

Not exactly.

Joe hopes that their opening will be no later than the Vancouver Winter Olympics. That would be February 12, 2010. They hope to be open before that, but in the past they had hoped to be open for football season, then the Superbowl, but the Olympics is a safe bet.

Potts also adds “Powell Brothers (A Waterland Blog Advertiser) and Todd Powell have been great to work with. The city has been great to work with. But in my experience I have learned that ‘remodeling’ a house is sometimes more challenging than building a house.”

Transforming the old China Seas from the ‘blight on the corner’ to All Star started when owner Jim Fullerton, general manager Justin Edwards and Potts met with Dr. Scott Andrews regarding his vision and mission for the rebuilding of Des Moines. They found they were all on the same page, and promptly signed a lease on the property. It is All Star’s mission to be a “Pillar in the community of Des Moines and display a sense of community through deeds and sponsorships,” according to Joe.

Des Moines' Powell Brothers has been helping with the renovations.

Long time friends Fullerton, Potts and Edwards all live in Des Moines. Edwards is a Des Moines native, and attended Pacific Middle School and is a Mt. Rainier grad. A few years back, they would convene at China Seas to enjoy indoor sports (pool and ping pong) as well as televised sports. They agreed one day they would own a sports bar. That day draws near.

“We plan to use the newest of high tech gaming entertainment, plus some old stand-bys” said Edwards, including:

• 20 Large Screen TVs
• Two Golden Tee Golf Games
• Darts
• Two Pool Tables (Spring tournament session starts in February)
• High tech Juke Box which will take both debit and credit cards
• Entertainment on weekends: DJ Friday and Live Bands on Saturday
• Fireball
  
• Real Time Fantasy Stats for the Fantasy players
• Ping Pong table from the old China Seas (the only fixture they saved)
• Free WiFi

All Star Sports Bar will be open from 11am to 2am everyday.

Edwards also tells WLB that “we’ll do for individual-sized gourmet pizza what the Dog House has done for hot dogs.” Other food will include sandwiches, salad and appetizers. They’ll be open for lunch and dinner and events like the Olympics, March Madness, and if we’re lucky the Superbowl!

Know your All Stars: Of the three main guys we learned that Fullerton is a computer programmer and will keep his day job. Potts has had a career in Food and Beverage Services on the corporate side with Holland America and Edwards has spent 12 years as a bartender where he’s developed some pretty incredible drinks that he’ll be sharing with All Star bartenders.

All Star plans to be open from 11 am-2 am everyday, including holidays. There will be ‘no cover-no time.’ They plan to stay a step ahead of other sports bars by offering service, atmosphere and hospitality.

Keep up with All Star’s countdown to opening with The Waterland Blog – in the coming weeks we’ll be sharing their specialized drink menu and food menu – and finally will announce the much awaited opening.

Curious Waterland Blog readers want to know what’s going on at the old China Sea Restaurant on 22303 Marine View Drive in our fair city.

According to Dana MacKenzie, property manager for Scott Andrews, a new tenant “All Star Sports Bar” will occupy 4,000 square feet of the main floor.

The second tenant has yet to be named.

The contractor is Des Moines’ Powell Homes, and is expected to be finished in Fall 2009.

Stay tuned to The Waterland Blog for future updates.