Former Kum & Go theater now an events center
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A rooftop with views of downtown and an area that was the former maintenance shop for the DSM fire department are now available for events. Photos courtesy of the Local 4 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters
The former Kum & Go theater has been remodeled and is now open as The Shop DSM Event Center.
Why it matters: The center has transformed part of the historic downtown fire station campus into a rentable, multi-level venue for public and corporate use.
Catch up fast: The site, part of the former Des Moines Fire Department headquarters, was purchased from the city by the now-defunct DSM Social Club in 2013.
- Local business leaders Todd Millang, Tyler Dingel and Paul Rottenberg then partnered in late 2021 to purchase the buildings to redesign them for commercial tenants.
Driving the news: Members of the Local 4 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters has formed a nonprofit group that is buying the section of the campus that includes the former theater at Southwest Ninth and Cherry streets.
- The group, "DMFD – The Shop," has renovated the space and is now leasing a section to the local union for offices.
- Most of the rest of the space is being rented for events.
Zoom in: The new nonprofit hopes to use revenues generated from rentals to help further philanthropic causes associated with firefighters, Mike Morgan, president of The Shop, tells Axios.
Of note: Developers believe much of the rest of the fire station campus will be leased in coming weeks for office space, possibly for startups, Millang tells Axios.
- Malo restaurant will continue to operate at the site.
👀 If you go : The Shop hosts an open house with a St. Patrick's Day family-friendly breakfast, March 17 from 7am-noon, event coordinator Mary Brannen tells Axios.
- Local food trucks and a beer garden event follow from noon-11pm.
