Allie Delaney and Jake Kashuk at Pho 888

4/1/2026

Allie Delaney is the owner of Renovation Jungle, a plant store that inspires unusual loyalty, love and appreciation among customers. Jake Kashuk is her husband, a skateboard lifer and contractor. We think they epitomize the ideal young professionals that Des Moines is desperately hoping to attract to town. 

We asked them to lunch, and they chose Pho 888, a Vietnamese restaurant on Second Avenue’s strip mall of Vietnamese businesses. Over fried tofu, spring rolls, banh mi and lots of hot chili oil, we talked about renovation, life styles and Des Moines’ attraction. 

What do they like about Pho 888? 

“It’s affordable. Sometimes we need to feed whole crews of people. That comes with renovation projects. This place is awesome with that. Banh mi sandwiches (“French subs” on the menu) cost about $4, and they’re fabulous. Plus, we’re rather romantically attracted to Vietnam. We took a long honeymoon there and traveled all over.”

What other local places do they enjoy?

“La Familia is great. I painted the outdoor mural on their building. They have great tacos at affordable prices,” Jake said.

“We like the restaurant in C Fresh Market – Pho 515. We like Bellhop and Secret Admirer,” Allie added.

How did Renovation Jungle come to be?

“During COVID, I started taking cuttings from my house plants, potting them and selling them on my doorstep with a tip jar. Then my brother offered us a deal; Jake painted his house in exchange for six months free rent to start our shop in a former dance studio. Jake’s business dried up during COVID, so he also had time to build my walls of shelves and the business,” Allie explained.

“That’s why we called it Renovation Jungle. Allie had a design in mind, and I built her dream space,” added Jake. 

Is Jake’s business renovation?

“Ninety five percent of it is interior painting, but it’s basically all connected to renovation. I build cabinetry, create geometric murals, stain furniture, et cetera.”

Allie grew up in Des Moines. Jake grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. How did they meet and decide to live in Des Moines?

“I am a skateboard lifer. I was a street boarder. I think it’s a lifestyle. Skateboarders have a family where ever they go. I skateboarded all over the world, meeting people that way.

“My mother’s family came from Portugal, like lots of people in Rhode Island. So, I wanted to skateboard Portugal. When that got complicated, I decided to go to the next closest place and ended up in Bilbao, Spain. That’s an interesting city. The Guggenheim Museum there completely changed the city and how outsiders perceived it.”

That’s an understatement. The museum is frequently cited as the greatest architectural achievement of modern history. It was built on the site of the old port which had been the source of Bilbao’s wealth and industry but had become decrepit. 

“The museum brought that commerce back — in tourism. After Bilbao, I began paying attention to art museums. Looking for others that redefine their cities. I skateboarded in Canada, France, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Portugal. We saved money in Milwaukee so we could live in south Mexico for three months.

“When I first came to Des Moines and saw the Des Moines Art Center and its three different architectural styles, I decided I wanted to live here. I also remember when I was new here, I was walking by the downtown library and people made eye contact with me, in a nice way. That never happens in Providence. I was thinking, ‘What’s your angle?’ 

“Central Academy was another selling point. The whole idea of valuing smart people was new to me. Where I grew up, you had to hide it if you were smart. It was not cool. I hated high school. The University of Rhode Island wasn’t much better,” Jake said.

“We think the permanent collection at the Art Center is as good as anywhere,” added Allie. 

The couple moved to Milwaukee where Allie studied at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. That’s near the Milwaukee Museum of Art. It was designed by a Spaniard and resembles the American-Canadian designed Guggenheim in Spain. 

“Yes, but it’s annoying. The entire entryway is wall-less. You have to move off into enclosures to see any art,” added Allie. 

Chris Vance’s most recent art exhibition, at Moberg Gallery, included his first ever pots. They were potted by Allie. What are the most popular plants at Renovation Jungle?

“Philodendrons because they are so successful indoors. Snake plant, which is also called Mother-in-law tongue. It does well indoors, but it can be toxic to pets. Alocasia (Elephant Ear) is popular because it’s pet safe and has huge leaves.”

What about edible plants?

“The trouble with edible plants is they taste good, and that attracts pests. Oxalis is popular, and it has an interesting taste like green apple peels or tart rhubarb.”

In the 1970s and 1980s, fern bars were the rage. They made restaurants and bars look great but were so difficult to maintain that restaurants had to hire full-time employees just to water them. Are there any left that the couple knows of?

“The Peppermill in Las Vegas is one. I would love to design a fern bar from scratch. I love the vibe of a rain forest café. There’s something about being under a living canopy that makes me feel safe,” Allie answered. 

What is the couple’s own home like?

“After renovating the house we were living in for six years, we sold it and bought a former school building in Dallas County. We built an indoor skate park in the basement. It has lockers, and every room is different. We invite friends to stay there, and they spread the word. We had a classic cellist from Berklee College of Music move in for a while. We host movie nights and concerts. It’s a perpetual work in progress. Someday we might make it a B&B.” ♦

Jim Duncan is a food and art writer who has been covering the central Iowa scene for more than five decades.