NEWS
8/15/2009 7:00:00 AM
Best of Living Here
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| Manager Frank Hines is seeing big crowds at the year-old Jethro’s BBQ, located at 3100 Forest Ave. in Des Moines. Photo by Duane Tinkey |
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BY BUSINESS RECORD STAFF
Best New Restaurant
Jethro's BBQ
Every day, the cooks at Jethro's BBQ load the smoker with anywhere between 300 to 800 pounds of beef, chicken and pork, which is slowly cooked, coated in the restaurant's special rubs.
People seem to like it.
"On our wing nights, if we don't have the patio open, there is a line to get in here," said Frank Hines, a manager at Jethro's. Since opening the week of the Drake Relays in 2008, Hines said the down-home cuisine has attracted plenty of patrons every night of the week to the combination barbecue place and sports bar.
"We wanted something in the Drake neighborhood that was special and unique," Hines said. "Before Jethro's, there was nowhere around here for fans to go and enjoy a game."
The niche restaurant was the brainchild of Splash Seafood Bar & Grill owner Bruce Gerleman and Splash executive chef Dominic Iannarelli. Hines said they began developing the restaurant by renting a smoker and testing more than 15 rubs and 20 barbecue sauces as well as a plethora of side dishes.
After a year of operation, Hines said, customers come to Jethro's looking for the restaurant's reasonably priced food, relaxed atmosphere and drink specials, including the 20 beers kept on tap.
Jethro's is looking to expand as well. Hines said the restaurant's catering orders doubled this summer and the owners hope to participate in some festivals. He said they might even attend some barbecue competitions.
"People have said we have some of the best ribs around, but it is completely different cooking at a competition," Hines said. "But it's always good to get our name out there."
Runners-up: Django; Mimi's Cafe
Best Restaurant for Entertaining Out-of-Town Guests
Centro
Centro Executive Chef George Formaro says comfort and class are the main ingredients making Centro a good place to bring guests.
"It's a nice restaurant, but it's a place that you can come in and be comfortable with the food," Formaro said. "You know anybody that you bring into town is going to find something on our menu that they're going to love."
He describes Centro as an upscale restaurant but without the intimidation that prevails in some fancy Italian eateries. Formaro emphasizes that Centro strives to provide good food and excellent service, coupled with a comprehensive wine list that anyone can enjoy.
Formaro said he was flattered by the restaurant's recognition as "Best Restaurant for Entertaining Out-of-Town Guests."
"I'm a resident in Des Moines, and I'm going to show off Des Moines a little bit," Formaro said. "To be considered for that - someone feels that they're going to bring out-of-town guests into Centro to show off Des Moines - that's the best kind of award for me."
Among the wide selection of items on Centro's menu, ranging from handmade tortellini to bacon cheeseburgers, Formaro said there is one obvious choice for out-of-towners.
"You have to try the wood-grilled Niman (Ranch) pork chops, because you're in Iowa, you should have pork and it should be good pork," he said.
Runners-up: Granite City Food & Brewery; Latin King
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Tonic Bar
Johnny Krohn, manager of Tonic Bar in West Glen Town Center, wonders how an establishment that doesn't run any happy hour specials or give away free food is voted No. 1 for "Best Happy Hour." But, he said, it's not uncommon to see a big crowd from 5 to 8 p.m. every day of the week.
"It's kind of like a 'Cheers' atmosphere," Krohn said. "Everyone knows your name. All the customers know each other."
Tonic sells a lot of vodka and wine by the glass, with a list that changes each week with a new feature wine. The crowd is generally older and more affluent.
Owners Mark Mundt and Scott Anderson have opened another Tonic Bar in Ankeny and a sports bar in Lenexa, Kan., but this one is the busiest of the three, Krohn said. The owners are considering opening more in Greater Des Moines.
One selling point with the West Glen location is that it is open every day of the year - even Christmas - from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., except on Saturdays, when it opens at 10:30 a.m.
With rent "over 20 bucks a square foot and with close to 6,000 square feet, we need to be open every day," Krohn said.
RUNNERS-UP: Johnny's Hall of Fame; Star Bar
Best Place to Buy Wine and Spirits
Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits
Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits takes pride in catering to its customers.
"The biggest things are customer service and the variety we carry in our stores," said Jay Wilson, Hy-Vee Inc.'s assistant vice president of wine and spirits.
The largest of the company's 11 wine and spirits stores in Greater Des Moines stocks more than 500 beer selections, more than 500 types of spirits and upward of 1,000 types of wine. And if that isn't enough variety, store managers are willing to fill special orders.
"We are willing to get anything for our customers in this department," assuming it is registered with the state and can be found, Wilson said.
In addition to well-stocked shelves and coolers, Hy-Vee places an emphasis on education, asking its managers to complete a two- to three-month online internal training program that covers the wine-making process, wine-producing countries and wine tasting.
"That's a big plus for us," Wilson said. "All of our stores stay on top of the trends" in the industry.
In addition to an involvement with several area wine clubs, Hy-Vee has taken a lead role in various festivals around town. It was the presenting sponsor of Winefest Des Moines in June, as well as the upcoming Iowa's Premier Food & Wine Expo, slated for Nov. 13-14, at Hy-Vee Hall.
RUNNERS-UP: Ingersoll Wine and Spirits; Gateway Market
Best Coffee
Starbucks Corp.
Although Starbucks Corp. saw major changes in the last year, such as a 24-hour shutdown to retrain baristas and the closure of more than 600 stores, the company still has a strong presence in Des Moines and comes out as No. 1, according to Business Record readers.
Des Moines saw only minor changes in its access to the Starbucks brand. According to the company Web site, Great Des Moines lost one location only to gain another. A shop in Johnston closed last year, but a new one opened in January in the Drake West Village at 2507 University Ave. and is managed by Sodexo Inc.
Although the new University Avenue location caters mostly to Drake University students and faculty, like most Starbucks coffeehouses, it draws a crowd for idle conversation and business meetings flavored with Starbucks' 40-plus coffee blends, a little background music and the glow of laptop computer screens.
If you really want to immerse yourself in coffee lore, you can browse the company's Web site to find coffee history, coffee etiquette, even the "four fundamentals" of great coffee: Proportion, Grind, Water and Freshness.
Or, you might ask where coffee comes from. Starbucks has the answer, again on its Web site.
Put this in your coffee and drink it:
"According to one story, a goat-herder noticed that his herd became friskier than usual after consuming the red cherries of a wild coffee shrub. Curious, he tasted the fruit himself. He was delighted by its invigorating effects, and was even spotted by a group of nearby monks dancing with his goats. Soon the monks began to boil the bean themselves and use the liquid to stay awake during all-night ceremonies."
Runners-up: Caribou Coffee Co.; Friedrichs Coffee LLC
Best Clothier for Women
Von Maur
The selection of clothing in a range of prices and a few unique brands are key factors in the department store chain's success, said Von Maur advertising manager Amy Davis. Specialty brands such as Nic + Zoe, Izza and Randy Kemper are among the most popular with Greater Des Moines women.
The buyers "listen to our customers and tailor our mix to meet their needs, and I think our buyers do a really nice job of offering a good, better and best assortment," Davis said.
The Valley West Mall store is among the top performers among Von Maur's 24 outlets. The company also runs an e-commerce site out of its Davenport headquarters and plans to add another store in the St. Louis area next year.
In addition to the store offering a great selection of clothes, Davis said, the local sales associates do a great job of building relationships with customers, and Von Maur offers an interest-free charge account, free shipping and gift wrapping and a relaxed atmosphere, with a pianist playing in the store.
"We really feel we've hit a good balance with our strategies, and we're certainly trying to respond to what customers seem to be wanting," she said.
RUNNERS-UP: Younkers; Talbots
Best Clothier for Men
Von Maur
Von Maur keeps an open mind to new vendors and trends in the market.
Recently adding three new lines --Hugo Boss, Michael Kors and Peter Millar -- to its men's clothing department, the retailer works hard to find new products for its customers.
Family-owned since 1872, Davenport-based Von Maur is also known for open and attractive store designs and for providing a comfortable shopping experience.
With more than 20 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio, in addition to its e-commerce business, Von Maur's secret to success is a loyal customer base that responds well to new merchandise and trends, a knowledgeable staff and a diverse mix of merchandise.
The Valley West Mall location is one of five Von Maur department stores in Iowa.
"We tailor our merchandise mix to the needs of the Valley West customer," said Amy Davis, Von Maur's advertising manager. "We strive to offer a good, better, best merchandise assortment, which provides a nice balance and range of price points. Our customers also find unique pieces and specialty brands layered into each department that you traditionally don't find in other department stores."
RUNNERS-UP: Mr. B; Badower's Reichardt's
Best Jewelry Store
Josephs Jewelers
Toby Joseph refuses to let a national decline in retail sales, which has forced jewelers nationwide to cut back on advertising and staff levels, to get him down.
"I don't let negativity get ahold of me," the fourth-generation jeweler said. "We are doing just fine."
He attributes the 138-year-old company's success, which includes July 2009 sales that exceeded last July's numbers, to a forward-thinking attitude and a continual drive to improve its product line and customer service.
"We never take anything for granted," he said.
Last June, Josephs Jewelers relocated its flagship store, which had been housed in the Equitable Building since 1924, to the Davis Brown Tower, citing a desire to be in a more visible area as downtown Des Moines' landscape evolves.
Constantly trying to create new avenues to serve its customers, the jeweler has also added three new lines of watche - Breitling, Tag Heuer and Omega - in the last 12 months, as well as Steuben, a line of fine crystal manufactured in the United States. For years, Joseph said, the brand was only available in Steuben's Fifth Avenue showroom in New York.
Josephs also has been proactive in continuing to advertise and maintain inventory levels of jewelry and giftware, he said, "so when people come in they have plenty to look at."
Today, the company's three stores, including a Valley West Mall location that it hopes to remodel soon and one in West Glen Town Center that opened in 2005, are "just as full and complete as (they) would be anytime," Joseph said.
"Business is getting done," he said. "We are concentrated on Central Iowa."
Runners-up: Anglo International; Iowa Diamond
Best Place for Auto Repairs
Willis Auto Campus
At Willis Auto Campus, the customers always come first.
The managers strive to keep the dealership building spotlessly clean. There are three customer waiting areas to ensure that clients are comfortable. The shop's 45 service bays all but guarantee that any repairs are made promptly, so a customer never has to be without his or her car for long.
Rich Willis, whose family bought Betts Auto Campus in 2000 and renamed the dealership last year, said that as the result of the tough economy, the company works even harder on customer service.
"We are leaner now, but that has had no effect on the level of service we provide our customers," he said. "We have to dig harder and work harder and make sure we are taking care of our guests' needs better than we ever have."
As part of Willis Auto Campus' dedication to customer service, the company always makes sure its customer are able to get where they need to be. So if they need a loaner vehicle, there are 165 to choose from. Or if they need a ride to work after dropping off their vehicle to be repaired, the dealership provides complimentary pickup and delivery, both within Greater Des Moines and outside the metro area.
Every Willis Auto Campus service technician and service manager is required to undergo rigorous annual training to maintain his or her manufacturer certifications to work on the sophisticated luxury vehicles the dealership sells.
Runners-up: Budget Brake & Chassis Ltd.; Westside Auto Pros Inc.
Best Recycling/Waste
Artistic Waste Services Inc.
When Tony Colosimo bought Artistic Waste Services Inc. in 1993, the business was a "mom-and-pop hauler with three trucks, seven employees and about 500 residential customers," he said.
Now the business, operated by Colosimo and his brother, Bobby, employs 150 people, picks up trash at about 10,000 homes every day and carts it away in 50 trucks. Counting businesses, Artistic Waste serves between 60,000 and 70,000 customers in Altoona, Clive and West Des Moines.
The company's focus is shifting to recycling and the concept of "zero waste."
"We believe that half of the material going to the landfill today can be recycled into biomass or energy products," Colosimo said.
Artistic Waste helps its customers determine what items can be kept out of landfills and recycled into other materials, with a special focus on bio-renewable fuels.
"Our companies do recycle more than any other companies in Central Iowa," Colosimo said. "We're just happy to help."
He pointed out that Iowa is a net importer of waste.
"Here we have the most fertile soil in the world - people say we feed 20 percent of the world with our grain - and yet we want to use this valuable land for trash," Colosimo said.
Runners-up: Metro Waste Authority; Waste Management Inc.
Best Florist
Boesen The Florist
Four generations of Boesens have worked at Boesen The Florist since its birth in 1923, and that dedication to the business has helped the company build a relationship with the community.
Tom Boesen, president of Boesen The Florist, runs the operation with his brother and co-owner, Frank. His son, Tim, manages the distribution of flowers to all of the company's Dahl's Foods locations. He said a strong relationship with the Des Moines community is a major reason for Boesen's success.
"In Des Moines, Boesen The Florist means 'trust,'" Boesen said.
Every day, Boesen The Florist delivers an average of 150 orders in Greater Des Moines, Boesen said. In the week of Valentine's Day, the company fills 5,000 orders. He said the flowers are "priced right and have a seven-day guarantee."
"When you are dealing with a perishable item, you need to have that follow-through so your customers remain satisfied," Boesen said.
This year Boesen moved the designers into the main showrooms at the florist's various locations so that customers can see what they're doing.
"People love to watch the designers create these pieces of art," Boesen said. "It makes for a very fun experience."
Runners-up: Flowers by Anthony; Plaza Florist & Gifts
Best Exercise Facility
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
It's a big year for the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, with the June opening of the Healthy Living Center at 12493 University Ave. in Clive and the anticipated opening this fall of a major facility in Waukee.
Also drawing near are decisions about the fate of the Riverfront Y in downtown Des Moines. "We're still in the planning process," said YMCA of Greater Des Moines President and CEO Vernon Delpesce. "It's a complex project." He said fund raising to provide new housing for Riverfront residents is nearly wrapped up.
The local Y organization has about 39,000 members and serves about 66,000 people annually, Delpesce said. It raised $2.2 million in contributions last year, including the usual allocation from United Way of Central Iowa and grants from foundation and government sources.
"People who can afford to pay our fees, we ask them to do that," Delpesce said. However, "about one of every five people we serve is on some kind of financial assistance. This year, that has gone up a little."
In its latest fiscal year, the YMCA provided $1,550,770 in financial assistance to program participants.
"We're never going to run out of people who need us," Delpesce said.
Runners-up: Aspen Athletic Clubs; Prairie Life Fitness Center
Best Private Golf Course
Glen Oaks Country Club
Even as financial problems swirl around Glen Oaks Country Club, Business Record readers selected it as the best private golf course in Greater Des Moines.
General Manager Jeff Principato said an amazing staff is what makes the 18-hole championship golf course in West Des Moines a great place to play.
Glen Oaks is the host of the Principal Charity Classic, drawing big names this summer, including two-time Senior PGA champion Jay Haas, Fred Funk, Mark McNulty and Nick Price. In past years, golf legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have played the course, which was designed by world-renowned architect Tom Fazio.
One advantage of hosting the Principal Charity Classic, a PGA Champions Tour event, Principato said, is that a PGA Tour agronomist evaluates the golf course in early spring, helping his team to get the course in top shape early in the season.
"We have such a first-rate golf course," he said, adding that Superintendent Chris Coe, who "puts his heart and soul into the golf course," and three assistant superintendents, Justin Stephenson, Dusty Rohrbeck and Andrew Berry, are dedicated to providing the best possible course conditions for members.
"Our mission is to provide a world-class golf experience," he said.
Despite Glen Oaks' financial woes - the club is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - Principato said its members remain committed to the course, and its employees have stepped up efficiencies in labor and supplies.
"It is a partnership and we are going to get through it," he said. "It is business as usual. The golf course is in great shape, the food is excellent and we are ready to finish the summer strong."
Runners-up: Des Moines Golf and Country Club; Wakonda Club
Best Hospital
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
For the fourth consecutive year, Business Record readers have named Iowa Methodist Medical Center their choice for best hospital.
"We are very pleased that the readers of the Business Record have voted Iowa Methodist Medical Center best hospital for the fourth straight year," said Eric Crowell, president and CEO Iowa Health - Des Moines, which operates Iowa Methodist. "The recognition for this accomplishment goes to the staff, physicians and volunteers for their care and compassion they show the patients day in and day out."
Iowa Methodist, which employs more than 3,800 people, is the only Central Iowa hospital designated as a level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma, the highest level of care for injured patients. As a teaching hospital, Iowa Methodist offers residency programs to train doctors in surgery, internal medicine and other specialties.
Iowa Methodist's areas of specialization include cancer treatment, cardiac care, maternity and women's services, emergency and trauma treatment, physical rehabilitation, wellness programs, behavioral medicine, surgery, orthopedics, critical care, primary care, older adult services and home health care.
Recently, Iowa Health - Des Moines completed a three-year expansion of the hospital's surgery center and waiting area, along with a new pediatric area. The John Stoddard Cancer Center at Iowa Methodist was also recently renovated and expanded.
The National Research Corp. recognized Iowa Methodist with a Consumer Choice Award as a Most Preferred Hospital in 2008, and it was also named a Top 100 Hospital for Community Value.
Runners-up: Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines; Iowa Lutheran Hospital
Best Public Golf Course
The Legacy Golf Club
Matt Manning didn't wander long from the fairways following his 1998 sale of Beaver Run Golf Course in Grimes. Instead, he purchased The Legacy Golf Club, a championship 18-hole public golf course in Norwalk, in 2002.
"I think the biggest thing for us is being family owned and operated," said Matt's son and Legacy's general manager, Travis Manning. His wife, Angie, and mother, Sharon, also work at the course, catering food and handling the books, respectively.
It is that family-oriented atmosphere of familiar faces that clients appreciate, as well as an experienced staff with a low rate of turnover, Travis said.
"Once you've done something, you know how you can make it better," he said, describing Legacy's various amenities: bentgrass fairways, a driving range with target greens, global positioning on all of its golf carts and a full pro shop.
In a typical season, Travis said, about 35,000 rounds of golf are played at Legacy, which was named by Golf Digest as one of "America's Best Places to Play" in 2008/2009. It was also ranked in 2008 as No. 2 in Golfweek's "Best Courses You Can Play in Iowa."
Legacy's largest professional event of the year, The Gateway Tour Championship, which attracts nearly 100 golfers aspiring to the PGA Tour, will be held Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
Runners-up: Waveland Golf Course; Copper Creek Golf Club
Best Residential Neighborhood
Beaverdale
Beaverdale keeps right on winning accolades every year as the "best residential neighborhood," and yet it's not the same neighborhood it used to be. These days, a larger selection of stores, service providers and restaurants make it even easier to find the necessities of life close to home.
In the compact "downtown" area of Beaverdale, the newest business location is a building called Joe's Square, perched at the corner of Beaver Avenue and Fagen Drive. Completed last fall, the brick structure is home to GoodSons Martini and Panini restaurant, as well as Flarah's restaurant and bakery, Anytime Fitness and more.
Joe's complements the collection of strip mall buildings farther south on Beaver, where Beaverdale residents find everything from Ace Hardware to a Grounds for Celebration coffeehouse, from Beaverdale Books to Beaverdale Pizza.
The neighborhood seems destined to keep changing. For example, the "concept unveiling meeting" about initial plans from the Beaver Avenue Streetscape Project is scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Change hasn't always meant consensus, however. The neighborhood has struggled mightily over the question of what to do with the green space where Rice Elementary School once stood, and its active citizens don't stop with that issue. The Public Affairs Committee meets monthly at Chef's Kitchen, charged with monitoring the actions of government and communicating Beaverdale's wishes to city leaders.
Runners-up: Glen Oaks; Urbandale
Best Thing to Happen to Central Iowa Last Year
Shawn Johnson
Look at everything Shawn Johnson has accomplished in the past 12 months, and it's easy to see why readers selected a teenager from West Des Moines as the highlight of our collective year. Only a few of us actually know her, but we've all taken pride in her success.
Johnson, now 17, had established herself earlier as a world-class gymnast. Then she went to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and returned with an impressive load of hardware.
Performing before millions of television viewers around the world, Johnson won a gold medal in the balance beam, along with silver medals in the all-around, floor exercise and as part of the silver-winning U.S. women's team.
That's a dream come true, right there, but she wasn't finished. Next, she switched from gymnastics to ballroom dancing and pulled Central Iowa back to its TV sets once again for her competitive turn on "Dancing With the Stars." And, wouldn't you know it, after weeks of tension-filled episodes, Johnson and her dancing partner won the top prize.
She brought a show to Wells Fargo Arena, she played in a celebrity baseball game before the major league All-Star Game - performing a flip down the first-base line after drawing a walk - and she continues to show up on TV and in a variety of other venues.
It has been Johnson's magical experience, not ours - but we certainly have enjoyed watching a hometown girl make good.
Runners-up: Hy-Vee Triathlon; 80/35 Music Festival
Best Thing that Will Happen to Central Iowa Next Year
Economic Recovery
Some say the national recession is over, and some say we still have a way to go. But everyone in Central Iowa is eagerly looking forward to a time when business booms again.
"For the Central Iowa economy, two things in particular are critical," said Steve Lacy, CEO of Meredith Corp. and chairman of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. "First, the insurance and financial services industries are extremely important to our region. A national economic recovery would translate into increased stability and then growth in these sectors.
"Second, I hope it would help improve the commercial vacancy rates both in the downtown core and in the suburbs."
Central Iowa has felt the recession's impact in the form of construction delays, layoffs and a general decline in business. A dramatic rise in the stock market gives cause to hope that the worst is past, but higher stock prices don't tell the whole story.
Federal Reserve policy-makers still expect unemployment to top 10 percent this year, and defaults are rising in the commercial real estate market.
Meanwhile, company leaders keep waiting for consumers to regain their confidence in the future and step up their purchasing.
"From a purely selfish standpoint," Lacy said, "economic recovery would translate into more advertising for Meredith's magazines, television stations and Web sites. And, of course, contracts for large marketing programs and sales of lots of Better Homes and Gardens branded products at Wal-Mart."
Runners-up: John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Garden; Mercy Medical Center - West Lakes
Best Cultural Attraction
Des Moines Arts Festival
Executive Director Stephen King wants to see the Des Moines Arts Festival ranked No. 1 in the nation. It sounds like an audacious goal, but momentum is on his side; in 2008, AmericanStyle magazine named the local event No. 10 on its "Top 10 Art Fairs and Festivals" list, and this year bumped it up to No. 5.
The annual summertime get-together on the streets of downtown has come a long way from its modest beginnings as "Art in the Park" at the Des Moines Art Center in 1958. It moved to the downtown river bridges in 1998, then to the Western Gateway Park area in 2006, where it has remained.
It takes a combination of art and science to estimate how many people attend a free event held on city streets, but organizers are confident that the total continues to rise. They settled on 255,000 as the number of attendees in 2009.
Construction fencing kept festival-goers off the formerly wide-open grass area now being transformed into a sculpture park. He said he would like to make use of that space in 2010, but "right now our plans are not to do that."
King, who has been in charge of the Arts Festival since March 2006, saw three highlights this year: the interactive mural by local artist Rob Reeves; the Friday night concert performed by solo artist Gavin DeGraw and the band Collective Soul; and finally, "the Jazz and Wine Pavilion went over very well," he said.
Runners-up: Iowa State Fair; Des Moines Art Center
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