Fuzzy’s Taco Shop opens first metro location in Ankeny

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has opened at 2732 S.E. Delaware Ave., Suite 310, in Ankeny. It is the first metro location for the Fort Worth, Texas-based chain, but a second store is set to open in downtown Des Moines in early November. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is a fast-casual restaurant offering Baja-style Mexican food that includes, soups and salads, tacos, burritos, nachos, sandwiches, breakfast and desserts. It also has a full bar. Cousins Jason Elliott and Corey Butcher own the shop and plan to open a second location in the new 300MLK building on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and S.W. Third Street. The Ankeny restaurant seats 125 inside, with room for an additional 17 on the patio. Fuzzy’s is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Call 619-9404, visit www.fuzzystacoshop.com or find it on Facebook.

Iowa’s first protected bike lane opens in Johnston
The city of Johnston has opened what is considered to be Iowa’s first protected bike lane. It is a road-safety feature with a 3-foot-wide curb that holds plastic reflective posts and runs 1,000 feet along N.W. Beaver Drive. The lane was installed as part of a road overlay project, and it acts as a connector for the new recreational path near Saylorville Lake, on the city’s northern boundary. The project cost about $1.5 million, with approximately $150,000 to $200,000 allocated to the protected lane. Leaders said the 40 mph speed limit on the road made conventional bike lanes less safe options. This effort will serve as a trial for future plans to extend the lane down more than a mile of Beaver Drive. Protected bike lanes have reportedly been gaining popularity in larger urban settings across the country.

Methodist Occupational Health and Wellness clinic opens
Ankeny is home to the new Methodist Occupational Health and Wellness clnic at 1810 S.W. White Birch Circle, Suite 111. The clinic is staffed with a physician’s assistant, two nurses, a radiology technician and secretarial staff. It offers work-related services such as pre-employment physicals, drug and alcohol testing and other care. Methodist Occupational has clinics in Des Moines and West Des Moines as well. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Downtown proposal drawing complaints from residents
Roers Investments, a Minnesota-based developer, has proposed a plan for a $48 million, five-story apartment complex at Second Avenue and Market Street in Des Moines. It would fill one of the biggest empty spots near Court Avenue district, bring in hundreds of new residents and grow the city’s tax base. The project is also receiving complaints about parking concerns, traffic congestion, obstructed views and the quality of the proposed building. Downtown residents have been facing many similar concerns as the area continues to grow. Residents have started a petition to consider making the building only four stories tall and to address traffic concerns. Roers’ project would have 246 apartments and 301 underground parking stalls. Owner Kent Roers said the company is committed to listening to downtown neighbors, and officials have planned a meeting with the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

Blackbird Investments buys Clemons building
Relatively new local developer Blackbird Investments has purchased the six-story Clemons building downtown for $1.5 million. Plans for the building, which used to house Raccoon River Brewing, include converting it into 44 market-rate apartments and first-floor space for a 5,300-square-foot restaurant or retailer. Interior demolition is slated to start Sept. 15, and the project is expected to be complete in spring of 2016. CV