Phase II of Hawthorne Plaza, the 30-acre development on University Avenue between 92nd Street and 98th Street, is scheduled to be complete in mid-August.
(Phase I was completed in 2008 and its current tenants include Jethro’s BBQ ‘n Jambalaya, American Trust & Savings Bank, State Farm Insurance, Elite Eyecare, Full Circle Child Development Center and RE/MAX.)
About half of the space in the new 30,000-square-foot Phase II addition has been leased, and several more businesses are in negotiations, according to Andy Hodges of Signature Real Estate Services. Occupants of Phase II will include Power Life Yoga, Mixed, Rita’s Italian Ice and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches.
Power Life Yoga offers classes designed to sculpt a strong and healthy body and mind for participants of all experience levels. Its studios are larger than traditional yoga studios, its instructors are trained and certified by the most prestigious yoga studios in the world, and its facilities feature lockers, showers and changing rooms.
Power Life Yoga is owned by Adam and Stephanie Geneser, both of whom are Des Moines natives and Valley High School alumni. “This isn’t your mother’s yoga,” said Adam Geneser. “We make it fun, with good music and a fun environment.”
This will be the fourth Power Life Yoga location – all of which are located in the Des Moines area. One is scheduled to open in July on 86th Street in Johnston, and others are located downtown on Ingersoll Avenue and in the West Glen Town Center on Mills Civic Parkway. Full access to all four studios is included with all memberships and class package purchases, and anyone signing up for the first time with Power Life Yoga receives a free week of classes.
Geneser said that he anticipates an October opening date for the Waukee studio.
Mixed is a fast-casual restaurant chain that specializes in fresh, made-to-order salads, wraps and paninis. Customers can choose from more than 45 toppings and 27 dressings and watch while staff members chop, mix and build their order. Mixed also follows strict practices to keep its operations as green as possible, including the use of compostable, recyclable and/or reusable cups, containers, plasticware and napkins. This will be Iowa’s first Mixed restaurant.
The restaurant will be owned by Mike Hopson, a lifelong Iowa resident who grew up in Chariton. After a 30-year career in finance, he decided to try something new.
“As soon as I heard about the Mixed concept, I knew it would be a great new healthy eating option for the Des Moines area,” said Hopson. “Mixed doesn’t use grease or fryers. Everything is fresh, and the options are healthier than those you would find at a typical fast-casual restaurant. Also, the chicken is free-range and antibiotic-free.”
Hopson’s son, Brad, who has previous restaurant experience, will be running the store’s daily operations.
Hopson is planning to open the store on September 1st. Shortly after the opening, it will be running a Grand Opening special of $5 for any salad, wrap or panini.
Rita’s Italian Ice is the world’s largest Italian Ice concept with more than 600 franchised stores. Founded over 30 years ago, it offers a variety of treats, including its famous Italian Ice – which is made fresh daily with real fruit and available in over 65 flavors – as well as old-fashioned frozen custard, sundaes, light custard, frozen custard cakes, custard cookie sandwiches and more. This will be Iowa’s first Rita’s Italian Ice store.
Its owners, Darrell Cook and his wife, Anne E. Winslow-Cook, both US Navy retirees, stumbled upon a Rita’s Italian Ice store while on a family sightseeing trip in Philadelphia a few years ago. “With one bite, I couldn’t believe we had never tasted anything like Rita’s before,” said Cook. “We had been looking for something to own, and I just knew we could bring this amazing cool treat to Iowa,” he said. He and his wife, now area developers, plan to open several stores in the Des Moines area.
The Waukee store is scheduled to open in mid- to late July, and will be giving away free Italian Ice as a Grand Opening special shortly after the Iowa State Fair ends in August.
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has more than 1,000 locations throughout the U.S. Its sandwiches are made with fresh-baked bread that’s made in-house every day and meats and vegetables that are sliced fresh in-house every day. This will be the 17th Jimmy John’s store in the Des Moines area, and the second in the Waukee area.