Construction begins on downtown Hy-Vee

Knapp Properties has begun construction on the downtown Hy-Vee store, installing construction barriers around the 2.3-acre parking lot located at 420 Court Ave. The $30 million project includes a 35,000-square-foot store with 82 apartments above it and a two-story parking ramp. The store is expected to open in November 2016, and the project also includes space for a possible second phase of housing.

Freedom for Youth Ministries to open coffee shop
Freedom for Youth Ministries, a center for distressed and impoverished youth in the metro, is opening the Freedom Blend Coffee Cabin at 2329 Hickman Road next spring. The coffee shop will be located in a former car wash, which is being remodeled to house the coffee shop as well as a drive-up window and worship center. Freedom Blend will be used as an employment training center for high school students and young adults enrolled in Freedom for Youth programs. The group’s offices are located next door to the coffee shop location, at 2301 Hickman. Freedom Blend will sell coffee by the cup and by the pound.

Starbucks opens locations in Clive, Ames
A new Starbucks location has opened at 10175 University Ave. in Clive, and another one opened in Campustown on Lincoln Way in Ames. The Clive store is 1,800 square feet and located in the parking lot of Westridge Shopping Center. It replaced a West Des Moines Starbucks down the road at 2800 University Ave. that closed earlier. The new store has a drive-thru window and seating for about 42 inside. Hours for the Clive Starbucks are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday.

Des Moines insurance company has new owner
Washington-based Symetra Financial, which came to Iowa last year, announced a new owner. It was acquired by Sumitomo Life Insurance Co., which has headquarters in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. This acquisition also includes West Des Moines subsidiary Symetra Life Insurance Co. The Des Moines company will maintain its headquarters, employees and management team, and the deal makes Symetra the core of U.S. operation for Sumitomo. The combined business will have $250 billion in assets. The deal is expected to close in early 2016.

Men’s boutique to open in Des Moines
Lord Midas owner Max Stanco plans to bring a touch of Italy to downtown Des Moines’ shopping district. Stanco is a New York businessman who has rented a street-level space in the Des Moines Building at 513 Locust St. with plans to open an upscale Italian boutique in the next few months. Lord Midas will sell clothing, shoes and accessories mostly for men, including clothing and shoe lines from Italian manufacturers. Stanco also has his own company, Massimiliano Stanco, and will sell designs from it at the store as well. Prices are higher — such as a men’s briefcase ranging from $800 to $2,000 or suits priced at $1,151 — but Stanco said the products are well made. Stanco also operates a Lord Midas showroom in New York.

Cache Bake Shoppe relocating to West Des Moines
Cache Bake Shoppe will relocate from its current location in Clive to a larger space in West Des Moines sometime in October. The new spot at 8950 University Ave. will double the size of the shop, according to owner Naomi Babel. Cache will sit between Gusto Pizza and Dunkin’ Doughnuts. Cache will bring back cake decorating and cupcake classes, along with more seating, with the opening of the new store. Cache is currently located at 2233 N.W. 111th St. in Clive and has been open since 2011. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. Call 278-4900, visit www.cachebakeshoppe.com or find it on Facebook. CV