We just got off the phone with All-Star Sports Bar Operations Manager Joe Potts, who announced that they held a “soft opening” on Wednesday night (Mar. 3), and are now officially “open for business.”
How does one successfully launch a “soft opening” you ask? Simple – turn on the “Open” sign. Maybe call or text some friends. And wait. Joe reports that they had a steady stream of 20-30 customers all day, topping out around 80 before they ran out of “training liquor.”
And all that was without any real publicity. A good sign for a new business in our opinion. And seeing how this is the second new restaurant to open in Des Moines, we say things are definitely starting to look up around here.
All-Star’s hours are 11am – 2am seven days a week, and despite not yet having a full menu, they’ll be serving pizzas this weekend.
The “soft opening” continues today, and the bar is definitely open, so this might be a good time to help “train” their staff by dropping in, bellying up and ordering something; just don’t forget to tip your local server.
Expect a big “grand opening” on Thursday, March 18th, when ESPN Radio announcers Brock and Salk will make an appearance for a March Madness basketball promotion. Be sure to check The Waterland Blog often, as we’ll be posting more news as we receive it.
Joe says they’ll start serving their full menu sometime towards the middle of next week – but here’s an exclusive sneak peek at it so you can start planning your order:
To download a PDF of All-Star’s menu, click here.
Story and Photos by Michael Brunk
As of Monday, March 1st, hungry folks in the city of Des Moines now have a new option to satisfy their culinary cravings. Barnacles Restaurant & Bar – located in the old Boston Pizza location at 22636 Marine View Drive South – is now officially open for business. I stopped by during the dinner rush on Monday to see for myself what this new business had to offer.
As you pull into the parking lot, it’s hard to miss the rather dramatic changes that have been made to the old building. The first thing that catches your eye is the new, covered, outdoor seating area. Still a little cold to be enjoyed just yet but bound to be a favorite spot as the weather warms up.
Stepping inside reveals the restaurant proper, completely remodeled from floor to ceiling. The interior is smaller than I expected. The Butlers have made good use of the space however, and very little is wasted. To your left as you enter is the bar with seating and to the right is the open dining room. For the evening crowd the lighting was subdued and intimate. I sat in the bar but I found the music just a bit on the loud side for my taste.
Almost immediately I bumped into Mayor Bob Sheckler and Carmen Scott and Dave Kaplan from the City Council. Nice to see local officials out supporting a new business. Dave raved about the fish and chips so I ordered a batch to try them for myself.
Given the fairly large opening night crowd, I imagined I’d be waiting a while before my dinner arrived but I was pleasantly surprised at the quick service. A very good sign! I’m no food reviewer but I’ve eaten fish and chips at restaurants from coast to coast. While I wouldn’t rate these as the best I’ve had it was certainly tasty and a great value at $10.
The fish and chips are just one item on the streamlined menu that Barnacles refers to as “American comfort food.” Some patrons might chafe at the lack of options but frankly, I think it’s a smart move for a new restaurant to focus on doing a few things really well. I’m definitely going to have to return sometime soon and give their cheeseburger a try.
Overall, a very positive first impression. Good food at a decent price, served fast and with a smile. It could prove to be a winning combination for this new Des Moines business.
Here are some photos from my evening at Barnacles:
The brand spankin’ new restaurant Barnacles At Des Moines will be holding its grand opening on Monday, March 1st, from 4pm – Midnight.
As we reported back in October, Barnacles is located in the building formerly occupied by Boston Pizza, at 22636 Marine View Dr. South.
Owner Steve Butler told The Waterland Blog that they’ve gotten the ‘green light from the city of Des Moines’ and they are set to open at 4PM on Monday March 1.
Owner/Operation Manager Sandy Butler calls the menu “American comfort food.” Here’s the menu that was finalized just this week:
(ALL PASTA AND SANDWICH ENTREES COME WITH SOUP, SALAD, OR FRIES)
PASTA ENTREE…9.95 SANDWICH ENTREE..9.95
Smoked Salmon Fettuccine… Reuben..Patty Melt
Chicken Linguine.. French Dip..Monte Crisco Cristo
Mushroom Beef Rosoto… Burger… Grilled Cheese
Calamari & Noodles… Cheese Burger.. Garden Burger
Spinach Mushroom FettuccineFISH AND CHIPS AND SALAD…9.95
COB SALAD AND SOUP…9.95(All Specials Of the day come with Soup, Salad, or Fries )
SPECIALS OF THE DAY…14.99
Scallops, Potato and Veggie…Flank Steak, Potato and Veggie…
Salmon, Potato and VeggieSIDES…4.95 DRINKS…1.95
Fries..Cheese Nachos..Lg Salad… Coke.. Sprite..Root Beer
Insalata Caprese..Lg Soup… Diet Coke…Hot Tea
Shrimp Cocktail… Sweet Tea…Milk…CoffeeDESSERTS…4.95
Hot Fudge Sundae
Carrot Cake
Cheese Cake W/Cherries
Sandy and Steve’s kids, Austin, Jake and Fawn have a lifelong love of the restaurant business. The boys started in the business at 16, and now are turning what they’ve learned into a family business.
“They’ve bussed, dishwasher, waited, bartended…. just everything in the business to get where they are now,” said Sandy.
Austin’s even gone to culinary school to hone his skills, along with mom Sandy. Both graduated from South Seattle’s Culinary School. Daughter Fawn is just finishing Culinary school at Puget Sound Skills Center.
Steve was the contractor on the job who totally gutted the former Boston Pizza, and replaced the tired exterior with updated, modern kitchen, tile floors, dark wood, and a beautiful hand hewn bar made from a tree. It even has the some knots in it.
Steve and Sandy also decided that Barnacles Restaurant and Bar needed some outdoor dining, so they built a very nice covered patio –complete with outdoor heaters. They plan on serving food and drinks there on Monday.
Barnacles will be open from 4-midnight 7 days a week. Kids are welcome until 9 pm and then they’ll have some fun for those over 21:
- Open Mic Mondays (not the first Monday)
- Trivia Tuesday
- Western Wednesday
- Ladies Night Thursday (with ½ price drinks for the ladies)
- Live Music Fridays
- DJ’s Saturdays
Next Friday’s (Mar. 5th) live music is Rock ‘n Roll by Ricardo Valenzuela (who returns Friday, Mar. 19th) and the following Friday (Mar. 12th) customers can enjoy keyboardist/singer Cameron Rafati.
“We’re thrilled that this up and comer is coming to our little restaurant,” Sandy told WLB.
Barnacles’ mission is, in part, “to provide each customer with the finest service, food and drink experience.”
They are located at 22636 Marine View Drive South.
No reservations are required, but just in case, the phone number is 206-878-5000, and here’s a link to their Facebook page:
We hope to be conducting a full review of Barnacles at Des Moines, so stay tuned.
The Waterland Blog stopped by All-Star Sports bar last Friday for an update on their countdown to opening. Operations Manager Joe Potts told us they’re “still targeting the Winter Olympics for the grand opening, but it may not be for the opening ceremonies.”
The dark hardwood floors have been laid. The walls are painted a dark blue and deep red. The tables, chairs and barstools have arrived and are stacked all over the place. This week the large screen TV’s will arrive and will be installed.
“Once the bar is finished, we can move the furniture around and take delivery of the pool tables and golf games,” Potts said.
And for those readers asking about employment know that the first team of 14 employees have been hired. Potts is still accepting applications for future employment – you can email your resume to potts2000@hotmail.com or call him at 206-212-6740.
On Thursday, Jan. 21st, several local restaurants will be hosting “Dine For Highline,” where a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Highline Medical Center’s “Campaign for a New ER.”
Originally built to serve 12,000 patients each year, Highline’s current ER now serves nearly 45,000, making it one of the busiest in the state; obviously, a new, state-of-the-art ER is required.
Here’s info from their press release:
Mark your calendar for January 21st!
On Thursday, January 21, several local restaurants are hosting Dine for Highline, whereby they will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the hospital’s Campaign for a New ER.
These generous businesses know that having a great community means having a great hospital, too, and that’s why they are supporting the campaign.
Now let’s show our support for them, while enjoying a fabulous meal!
Currently participating restaurants include:
- Archery Bistro
- Emerald City Smoothie
- Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
- Sal’s Deli
- 909 Coffee and Wine
- Mark Restaurant and Bar
- Yo’s Bistro
- Sidestreet Kitchen and Bar
- Angelo’s of Burien
- Australian Pie Co.
- Tin Room Bar
- La Costa Restaurant
- Bison Creek Pizza
- Vino Bello Wine Bar
Here’s info on the campaign from Highline’s website:
A State-of-the-Art Facility
With support from the community, Highline Medical Center is building a 27,000 square feet, state-of-the-art ER housed in a new three-story building on its Main Campus. It will be equipped with the very latest advances in medical technology and staffed by an expert team of board-certified physicians. It is designed to make ER visits faster, to reduce stress and to enhance comfort for patients and their families at every stage of care:
- Three private triage rooms
- Bedside registration
- Sophisticated electronic patient tracking system
- Family consult room
- 32 private treatment rooms, with room for family members
- Dedicated decontamination room for disasters
- Diagnostic imaging within the ER
- Electronic medical records
- Separate family waiting area
- Private and confidential admitting areas
- Convenient free parking and easy drop-off
A Life Giving Opportunity: How You Can Help
Highline Medical Center Foundation has launched a $10 million community campaign to help fund construction of the new ER. Highline is not tax-supported. We are an independent, nonprofit organization created by the community and supported by the generosity of individuals like you. We need your help. Your gift is an investment in the future health and wellbeing of everyone in our community. It will assure that fast, convenient, state-of-the-art emergency care will be right here –– whenever life depends on it.
To support The Campaign for a New ER at Highline, be sure to “Dine For Highline” on Thursday, Jan. 21st, or click here or call (206) 901-8500.
by There is no question Seattle is an amazing city for food, drink and great places to go out, get out, hang out and hang loose. But here’s the drawback:
What happens if you don’t live in the city?
Fortunately, Dan Thiessan of Bellevue’s 08 Seafood Grill and Twisted Cork Wine bar was wondering much the same thing, so he brought a bit of neighborhood warmth, uptown style and devotion to dining out fundamentals — such as making people happy — to those of us here in the south end.
Archery Bistro Owner/Chef Dan Thiessan
I had the privilege of spending last Thursday night at Archery Bistro (formerly Cafe Mia). I didn’t know what to expect really. “Ooh. Ahh. A new place in Normandy Park,” I thought. I am now amending my original thought by adding a few more “h’s” after that initial ooh and ahh.
I don’t care if you’re a smalltown to downtown meat & potatoes lover, a seafood fan only interested in the market list or the “go out of your way to try the one thing you haven’t seen on a menu elsewhere” type. The diverse but unpretentious menu here gives a nod to them all. While Archery doesn’t skimp when it comes to a solid array of beer, traditional as well as upscale soft drinks and liquor, it is the wine that will win you over. There’s a wine list designed to pair well with whatever might be on your plate. But if you don’t know what to choose, that’s not a problem. Feel free to leave the Sommelier lingo at the door if it’s not your mother tongue. Dan and his staff have you covered there. Just tell them what you like. The wine list is extensive yet unintimidating with price point being under twelve dollars by the glass and bottles in the $24 to $50 range.
The kitchen shared generously with us that night. High points go to the “crab no cake” crab cakes with the ribbon-thin drizzle of apple aioli giving the sweet densely packed meat perfect tang. This isn’t the Panko proffered version you might be used to. It’s just densely-packed loveliness encased in a golden brown sear from the pan. Oh and for those of you who don’t like greenery, you’re missing a bet if you don’t eat the Fuji apple and watercress slaw that comes with it. This is one time no one is going to have to make you eat your vegetables.
Seared beef tenderloin with Asian cocktail sauce and dikon-carrot salad.
The Cowboy Beef Tenderloin — emphasis on the word tender — had a dry rub that could very well make our counterparts south of the Mason-Dixon Line want to sit up and take note! The tenderloin was carefully prepared, juicy and darkly flavorful. The coffee ground rub put a confident spin on what is sure to be a crowd favorite.
My guest and I also got to try the artfully brined cedar-planked Salmon that flaked perfectly, along with the Apple wood Smoked Pork with the Mushroom Forest Hash (the Pork Chops and applesauce Bobby Brady would only hope to try) and a Squash Soup whose flavor embodies winter time cozy and a texture that could only be described as velveteen.
If you can pull yourself away from focusing on your meal, you’ll note the tribute the décor pays to Glen St. Charles of Northwest Archery fame. Warmly hued wood, subtle touches from the St. Charles’ museum and a beautifully executed wine rack display instantly lend itself the overall dining experience.
The restaurant hasn’t even been open a month, but I noticed staff and patrons are already exchanging first names in greeting, good byes and all that’s in between. Keep an eye out for this place. The commitment to community, its customers and high quality cuisine is quite a gift to us here in the south end this holiday season.
See what happens when you make it onto Santa’s “nice” list?
Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the Archery Bistro by Michael Brunk:
Archery Bistro is located in the Normandy Park Town Centre at 19803 1st Ave. South, Suite 104 in Normandy Park.
Their hours are:
- Lunch: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Dinner: Nightly, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Happy Hour: Daily, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.; 9 p.m. – Close
- Bar: Daily, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Their phone number is 206.429.3145.
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.
Sadly, Des Moines’ “The Reuben” sandwich and espresso cafe has finally closed, despite many last-ditch attempts to recover by owner Mike and Debbie Rovech.
Photographer Michael Brunk stopped by Wednesday (Dec. 16th) to show his respects, and he also took these photos:
Read our previous coverage of The Reuben here.
by Mark Neuman
Guitarist Jerry Miller regaled a healthy crowd Saturday (Nov. 21st), at The Reuben in Des Moines.
Deli owners, husband and wife team Mike and Debbie Rovech, were hoppin’.
“Yes! We are open!” they said. “We love our customers!”
Jerry Miller was lead guitarist for a group in the 60’s called Moby Grape. They had a great first album, and performed at the Monterey Pop Festival. Friends with Northwest native Jimi Hendrix, Jerry was selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 68th greatest guitarist of all time.
His buddy Jimi is #1.
Looking at friend Mike across the busy room Saturday, Jerry bantered: “Well, hello entrepreneur!”
“Don’t forget the entrepreneurette!” Debbie good-naturedly ricocheted.
Des Moines City Councilmember-elect Matt Pina, a guitarist himself, was in attendance, along with his wife, Michelle.
Never had a Reuben? Prepare to salivate, sports fans.
Here, verbatim, from Mike and Debbie’s menu is what goes into a Reuben:
“Lean corned beef, fresh sauerkraut and Swiss cheese with Thousand Island Dressing, grilled on classic light caraway rye bread.”
Come get one! And prepare to say: “Now THIS is a Reuben!”
The Reuben
21904 Marine View Drive South
Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 824-6672
Hours:
- Monday 9:30am to 3pm
- Tuesday through Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm
- Saturday 11am to 5:30pm
- Sunday – Closed
The Waterland Blog has learned from a top secret, well-placed inside source that the Seafair Pirates will be “raiding” Des Moines’ own Butler Bar and Grill on Saturday night (July 18th) after the big 50th Birthday/Waterland Parade, ’round 8pm.
Expect a riotous and raucous evening as they’ll be up to their usual pirate schtick.
You see there’s all sorts of new happenings at Butler Bar and Grill in Des Moines. Can we talk happy hour, new menu, karaoke, trivia nights and more?
Butler’s has a really fun Happy Hour that stretches from Monday to Saturday with great prices on beer, wine and wells. Plus you’ll enjoy some really great bar food with all the grease and cheese needed to make good bar food.
Happy Hour specials are available from 3:30-6. You and your party can enjoy
- $2 Off Well Drinks
- $2.50 Coors Light Pints & $3.00 House Wines
…and some great appetizers including:
- Sliders ‘n’ Fries
- Chipotle Chicken Wings
- Dusted Calamari
- Nachos
- Garlic Styx
- Tacos
Plus Butlers has some really cool mixed drinks such as “The Butler Did It“, and “Butler Tickler” just to name a few intriguing concoctions.
Mike Colello of Butler Bar & Grill
Owner Mike Colello sat down with The Waterland Blog recently to explain how Butler’s is his dream come true. Mike formed the idea for Butler’s in 1998. His idea was to create and “upscale American Pub” to fill a niche in the Des Moines community. Mike added that “the city has embraced us. We are very excited and proud to be the focus of things to come in Des Moines.” Mike went on to explain that the “staff and attitude” of Butlers is his vision and the décor is his partners, Scott Andrews, vision (the neon art, which you won’t find anywhere else in South King County).
Going into the food business was not suprising to those who know Mike. He grew up helping his father Bo Colello sell produce at the Pike Place Market.
Butler opened its doors in Des Moines in October of 2007. Butler can be enjoyed by folks from all age groups, but as the night wears on, Butlers turns its focus to the mid-30 crowd, with Karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 10 pm-close (around 2 am).
And then there’s Thursday Night Trivia starting at 7:30 pm. It’s $2 a team to enter and special Butler Gift Cards are awarded to weekly winners.
Back by popular demand is Monday Night Spaghetti that includes Delicious Homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs, served with green salad and garlic bread for $12.95.
A month or so ago, Mike told WLB that he was going to develop a menu that “works for this town.” And he’s got it – check this out Des Moines: BBQ’d ribs, fettuccini, steak salad, an array of sandwiches and burgers cooked to a turn, salads both small and large (read the entire menu here).
Butler Bar & Grill is located at 22341 Marine View Drive South.
When The Waterland Blog launched our new Des Moines community website in February we knew we needed to have a fundraiser for the Des Moines Food Bank, and we knew it had to be at Butler Bar and Grill. Why? Because it’s a cool spot in the middle of the Marina District. Over $600 was raised on April Fool’s Day in our “No Foolin Fundraiser,” and we became great friends with Mike, his team and the city and businesses of Des Moines.
We proudly welcome Butler Bar and Grill to our growing Advertising roster, and encourage our readers, who aren’t in the parade to watch the parade from Butler Bar and Grill on the Waterland Parade route this Saturday July 18.
Butler Bar and Grill is located at 22341 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines, in the spot once occupied by the historic Butler Garage.
You can call ahead for reservations 206-429-3709, or learn more at their website.
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Thursday afternoon (4/30), after being shuttered for 17 days, the doors were unlocked, beer taps flowed, locals drank, ate and laughed and it was business as usual again at Des Moines’ trendy Butler Bar and Grill, located at 22341 Marine View Drive South.
As we first reported April 16th, Butler was closed by King County Sheriff’s Officers, who papered over the windows and posted an eviction notice. After an official hearing the following week, bar owner Mike Colello came to terms with building owner Scott Andrews and re-opened today.
On a personal note, we here at The Waterland Blog are very happy to see this hip, neon-drenched watering hole re-open, as we truly enjoy the atmosphere, historic signs and staff, and had a very successful “No Foolin’ Fundraiser” (where we raised nearly $600) for the Des Moines Food Bank on April 1st.
Here are some photos of this afternoon’s re-opening by talented Photographer Michael Brunk:
UPDATE: Cafe Mia, which closed without warning last Thursday (we first reported on it Saturday 4/25), is planning on remodeling and re-opening as a “family bar and grill” sometime in early to mid-summer, according to co-owner Todd McKittrick.
We spoke with Mr. McKittrick on Monday (4/27), and he told us that the cafe, as it was, simply wasn’t making enough money. Despite a strong lunchtime crowd, business wasn’t consistent enough, so they decided to close it down.
McKittrick says that a new restaurant will soon open in the same location after a remodel that changes the current cafe to include:
- More comfortable atmosphere with table service
- Lower ceilings to make it quieter
- Replacing the round tables with more traditional square ones
- Enlarge the outdoor seating area
- Re-design it as a “family bar and grill”
A few Commenters on our sister site The B-Town Blog mentioned that they thought the location in the new Normandy Park Towne Center was a problem, one calling it a “dead zone” and another a “black hole,” with one even suggesting that the only business that would thrive would be “a strip bar.”
McKittrick disagrees, saying that it wasn’t the location.
“All three owners are Normandy Park residents,” McKittrick said. “We’re all local, and we all believe that a local restaurant can work at this location. We’re just listening to our customers and making changes based on their feedback. We’ll re-open soon with the same great food, but with a different menu.”
McKittrick said that the remodeled restaurant will have a new name, but that they hadn’t yet decided on what that will be.
Despite the changes, the Cafe Mia website remains unchanged, with no mention of any closure or changes, as does their Facebook page.
Normandy Park resident Helga Herrera reads the notice taped to the front window of Cafe Mia, explaining its sudden closure.
Photos and Story by Scott Schaefer
Cafe Mia, located in the Normandy Park Towne Center on First Avenue South, closed suddenly last Thursday (4/21) with no warning.
Saturday afternoon (4/25) the doors were locked, paper covered all windows, no employees were present, and the only information available was a letter taped to a window near the front door, which read:
April 24, 2009
Dear Loyal Cafe Mia Customers,
We opened as a Cafe and unfortunately realized that this is not what the residents of the City of Normandy park need and want. In an effort to respond better to these needs we are closing effective immediately and are working to rebrand our concept. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that you will soon see that our new, more comfortable, family friendly concept will be even better. We will continue to provide great food an hope to add a bar into the new concept.
As residents of this community, our community is very important to us. We are excited to be part of it look forward to bringing you the restaurant that Normandy Park residents need and want. If you have any questions please email us at cafemianp@yahoo.com.
Thanks for your continued support and patience. Please check back for updates.
The Owners of Cafe Mia
We sent an email to the address listed in the notice, but as of 6pm Saturday had not yet heard back; the Cafe Mia website doesn’t mention the closing. We also called the restaurant’s phone number, but after about a dozen rings it went to voicemail.
“I was a regular customer,” said Helga Herrera, a Normandy Park resident and owner of Normandy Nutrition who we found reading the explanatory letter (see photo above). “I loved coming here because they were open late and I could eat here after I closed my store. Plus, they had great coffee.”
While it was opened, Cafe Mia offered fresh baked breads, pizzas, pasta, pastries, paninis and sandwiches, gelato, salads, and even beer and wine.
The recently-opened Normandy Park Towne Center appears to have many empty storefronts and condos, and there were plenty of empty parking spots and little foot traffic when we dropped in on Saturday. The development, which opened in December, is managed by the McKittrick Real Estate Group.
According to the Towne Center website:
“This 3.58 acre mixed use project consisting of retail, office and residential components on 1st Avenue in Normandy Park promises to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood!
With Emerald City Smoothie, Café Mia, Herfy’s and Tight Cuts as our first tenants, we are also proud to offer 26 luxury townhomes for sale and 18 condo flats for rent.”
We’ll keep you updated as soon as we learn what the future holds for this business.
We’re having our first-ever “No Foolin’ Fundraiser” Blog Party on Wednesday, April 1st (appropriately it’s April Fool’s Day) at Butler Bar & Grill, and it’s going to serve as a fundraiser for the Des Moines Food Bank.
You’re invited to come – just bring two cans or boxes of non-perishable food (or $5 cash) as your donation to help feed some hungry neighbors.
Here are the details:
WHAT: The Waterland Blog’s “No Foolin’ Fundraiser” for the Des Moines Food Bank
WHEN: Wednesday, April 1st, from 6pm on
WHERE: Butler Bar & Grill, located at 22341 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines (map below); phone: (206) 429-3709
COST: 2 (or more) cans or boxes of non-perishable food items, or $5 cash donation
Some of the evening’s fun will include:
- We’ll be demonstrating this here blog by doing “Live Blogging”
- Meet the staff of The Waterland Blog!
- Fun, friends and most importantly…Fundraising for the Des Moines Food Bank!
Please spread the word by forwarding this page, and/or downloading a PDF of our poster, printing and posting it around town.
We hope to see you there!
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