Brew with a view

Location, location, location. When buying a home or property, location is the most important factor, according to some. Apparently that applies to bars, too.

300 Craft & Rooftop offers guests a full bar and a view of downtown.

300 Craft and Rooftop chose the third floor of the 300 MLK complex due to the availability of a patio, but also the great view it offers. The complex also houses Guru BBQ, Fuzzy’s Tacos and Jimmy John’s and gives guests a perfect distant view of downtown Des Moines and the big screen at Principal Park.

Months of preparation and construction were done to the building before its opening on Jan. 28. As an old storage unit for a legal office, owners Ryan Flattery and Darren Helm had their work cut out for them from the start and are still working on the finishing touches.

The building was constructed in 1903 — the same year that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series — and was the home of Old Tavern Brewery until the 1920s during Prohibition. Most recently, it was a home to boxes of legal papers.

Empty picture frames are being filled with unique art, and the rooftop patio is still under construction. The owners hope to have the patio done in time for spring, but definitely before the first pitch of opening day at Principal Park.

“We’ve always talked about possibly doing something together,” said Helm about working with his new business partner and long-time friend Flattery.

The idea began three years ago.

“When we first looked at this space, there were no windows, and from floor-to-ceiling it was filled with boxes filled with law files,” said Helm.

From there, the dream took off and is still in the works. Inside, the bar has an industrial feel with remnants of grain mills and concrete ceilings and floors decorating the space. Comfortable couches and booths fill the room along with high tables and multiple televisions.

The owners hired Iowan artists Van Holmgren and Trey Bush to decorate the walls with graffiti-like art.

As for the rooftop, when the weather begins to warm up once again, the outdoor patio will offer an island bar with surrounding seating, 3,000 square feet of room and a great view of the city.

“This is the up-and-coming area,” said Flattery about the MLK district.

With multiple dinner options in the building, owners Flattery and Helm hope to offer guests a place to relax after a day at work or a long week downtown.

“We are really trying to offer something for young professionals to people our parents’ age,” said Helm.

Craft beers and local and craft cocktails are just a few of the reasons guests are attracted to the new bar. With a late afternoon happy hour, Fridays have seemed to be the most popular at 300 Craft and Rooftop. CV

300 Craft and Rooftop

300 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Monday – Sunday 2 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Happy hour special: Mon. – Fri. 2-6 p.m.