The Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a conditional use to allow a bar called the Des Moines Athletic Club in a ground-floor space of the Equitable Building at 604 Locust Street.

Planning staff said the Downtown Mixed Use (DX1) district allows a ground-floor bar only with a conditional use, and staff recommended approval because the site is separated sufficiently from sensitive uses and because the applicant completed neighborhood outreach. Frank Dun Young, planning staff, said the tenant bay is roughly 1,600 square feet and that staff received supportive neighborhood comments and no written opposition.

Applicant Nick Tillinghast, who operates several neighborhood hospitality venues, told the board he intends a small, neighborhood-oriented sports bar with food provided through an adjacent window/collaboration with a nearby food tenant; he said he typically would operate afternoons and evenings and does not plan to keep the bar open past 1 a.m. Tillinghast emphasized neighborhood activation and said he lives in the neighborhood.

A resident in the building, Carol Maher, spoke in support, saying many neighbors were excited by activation of an otherwise vacant storefront. The board moved to approve the conditional use subject to the staff conditions, and the motion passed with the affirmative votes of the members present.

The approval allows the applicant to pursue building and liquor permits under the conditions adopted by the board; staff noted that permitting and final inspections remain required.