Having lived downtown for almost a year now, I can tell you one item that’s hard to do without is a grocery cart. I purchased a grocery cart right before closing on my downtown condo as I new I would need an efficient way to bring lots of bags of groceries or heavier items up to my unit.

Even though, I’m only short distance in the skywalk from my parking garage, this cart comes in so handy. I keep it in the trunk of my car since it folds up flat and then it’s available anytime I need it.

I researched a number of carts, and found the Polder Grocery Cart to be one of the more recommended carts. I could order online or I was lucky enough to find a local store, The Easy Living Store in Urbandale, carries the Polder Cart in stock. 

So if you either recently moved downtown or are looking to move downtown, I think purchasing some sort of grocery cart would be a wise choice.

Posted under Living Downtown
Tags: Grocery

I know it may be wishful thinking, but here’s my list of businesses that I would like to see come to downtown in 2009. With the renewed interest in building affordable apartment housing downtown, there will be more people living downtown to support these businesses.

Dining Options

My first choice is a place that I loved to eat in South Florida on a weekly basis, Chicken Kitchen. I think this business would do wonderfully as an addition to downtown core. To me, one of the strangest things about moving to Des Moines from Florida is the lack of grilled or rotisserie chicken places. In South Florida, between Chicken Kitchen, Boston Market and Polio Tropical, we would have choices every few blocks. I can just imagine all of the downtown workers would love a new healthy, but fast food choice for lunch. What about a 2-level location, for dining on both skywalk level and street level like in other large cities?

My second choice is Wendy’s. Is Wendy’s just scared of downtown? Do you know how far you have to drive to get to one? The major fast-food franchises are just poorly represented, in my opinion, downtown. Of course you have Burger King, great location, but would it kill them to stay open past 5pm in the evenings and open up on the weekends? If Quizno’s can stay open past 5pm and be open on the weekends, then I think Burger King, who draws a lot larger crowd would be able to make the money to make it work. Now, we have a McDonalds, but only if you want to drive up behind the Capitol. How about a new McDonalds and their sister company, Chipolte, opening up in the Davis Brown Building, or in the retail floors of the new Allied Building, or even in the retail floor of the Gateway Apartments Building? I of course prefer, skywalk access, but a closer downtown location within walking would be great!

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Posted under Living Downtown
Tags: Dining | Grocery | Skywalk

Since moving downtown in March, I find myself walking 300% more than I ever walked living in the burbs. I walk for my health, pleasure, shopping, eating out, grabbing a drink and running miscellaneous errands. With rising gas prices, walking all helps on the budget.

I noticed that cities are starting to be ranked and graded on their “walkability”. A site called Walk Score, gives downtown 50309 a score of 89 out of 100 possible points. Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle—not how pretty the area is for walking.
Here are general guidelines for interpreting a score:

• 90–100 = Walkers’ Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
• 70–89 = Very Walkable: It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
• 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
• 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
• 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

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Posted under Living Downtown
Tags: Dining | Fitness | Grocery | Maps | Walking

So one of the biggest things that people warned me about when I told them that I was moving downtown, was you’ll have to drive to get groceries. After living here for a few months, I don’t exactly agree with that thought and here’s why: Wal-Greens and Hawkeye Pantry.

If I’m in need of just basic staple items like, milk and bread, I just walk down to Wal-Greens on Walnut Street and I can easily pick up these and other basic staples items. If I need alcohol or other basic items you find in a convenience store, we have a great convenient store right here in the skywalk called the Hawkeye Pantry. So between these two stores I’m usually covered for basic items.

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Posted under Living Downtown
Tags: Grocery