Hy-Vee blocks aisles as it plans a downtown redesign

• The grocery chain placed an indefinite hold on plans to convert the location into a HealthMarket after community leaders voiced concerns in 2021.

Catch up fast: Developers received millions of dollars in incentives allocated by the city of Des Moines, including a 10-year tax abatement for the project.

• The store was initially supposed to be open 24 hours a day, but that plan changed prior to its grand opening in 2017.

Of note: The store's primary checkout option is now self-checkout kiosks, technology that has frustrated some customers.

What they're saying: The partitions that store employees recently put up to block customer traffic between multiple aisles are temporary as the store works to update its layout, Potthoff says.

• The proposed new design would create partitions in several areas, including grocery, dining, coffee, and wine and spirits.

What's next: Discussions are still taking place and there is no timeline for permanent changes, Potthoff says.

• Substantial changes to the building would likely require a city review or permits.
• Hy-Vee recently reached out to city staff for discussions but hasn't yet submitted plans, Cody Christensen, DSM's development services director, told Axios yesterday.