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Des Moines said goodbye to some beloved restaurants and cafés in 2021. Here are 5 of the saddest closings.

Elle Wignall, Des Moines Register
·4 min read

In 2021 as pandemic hardships continued to affect the hospitality industry, some Des Moines restaurants and café owners made the difficult decision to close their storefronts permanently.

Some were just establishing roots in the community, while others had been decades-long staples, but all leave behind loyal customers. Here are some of the saddest restaurant closings of 2021 in Des Moines.

DreiBerge Coffee

DreiBerge Coffee closed its doors in July 2021.
DreiBerge Coffee closed its doors in July 2021.

Local coffee roasters Andrea and Ryan Cummings closed their shop at 111 E. Grand Ave. #109 suddenly at the end of July. The coffee purveyor originally opened in July 2019 as an effort in sustainability as much as its single origin coffees. The Cummings sourced coffee from farm to cup and made a commitment to reusable drinkware. The minimalistic, Scandinavian-inspired coffee shop served as a community gathering place, often playing host to other small business owners selling their products.

During 2020, DreiBerge pivoted to delivery and carry-out models, but the business struggled without its steady stream of in-house patrons. Despite the closure of the storefront, the Cummings are still roasting and selling out beans of their home, and the DreiBerge brews are available for purchase online.

More: From smash burgers to gin flights, here were 11 of the biggest Des Moines restaurant and bar openings in 2021

Fat Tuesday

September saw the closing of a southside staple, Fat Tuesday, which served New Orleans-style Cajun cuisine. The restaurant opened in 2008 at 6112 S.W. Ninth St. by Steven and Maria James. Steven James is originally from New Orleans and originally operated Fat Tuesday as a catering business in the early 2000s before opening the brick and mortar. For 12 years, the Fat Tuesday crew dished heaping plates of Southern comfort foods such as red beans and rice, fried catfish and seafood gumbo.

The couple made the hard decision to close the restaurant due to staffing shortages and Steven James' ongoing battle with colon cancer.

Fong's on Forest Avenue

The Drake neighborhood was home to one of four Fong's Pizza locations until November. After two-and-a-half years in business, the pizza shop at 3018 Forest Ave. announced its permanent closure with a note on the door.

The Forest Avenue location was best known for creating a nationally recognized breakfast pizza combining Froot Loops cereal and mozzarella cheese. Full Court Press, the hospitality group that manages the other three Fong's locations, declined to comment on the closure. Fans of the Asian-Italian fusion pies can still get their fix at 223 Fourth St. in Des Moines; 1006 Third Street SE in Cedar Rapids; and 1450 S.W. Vintage Parkway, Suite 120 in Ankeny.

Former Des Moines Register reporter Robin Opsahl tries Fong's Pizza's Loopy Fruits pizza, made with sour cream, cream cheese sauce, mozzarella cheese, Fruit Loops, Greek yogurt, and condensed milk. The pizza was created at the now closed Fong's on Forest Avenue.
Former Des Moines Register reporter Robin Opsahl tries Fong's Pizza's Loopy Fruits pizza, made with sour cream, cream cheese sauce, mozzarella cheese, Fruit Loops, Greek yogurt, and condensed milk. The pizza was created at the now closed Fong's on Forest Avenue.

More: Iowans are fierce about our favorite foods. How many of these Iowa dishes have you tried?

Godfather's Pizza on University Avenue

After 44 years serving pies, Omaha-based Godfather's Pizza at 4119 University Ave.closed its doors. The pizza chain officially closed Dec. 5 in the Uptown Shopping Center.

Area supervisor Deb Crookshank said the closure was due to the restaurant's inability to hire and retain staff. Two other Godfather's Pizza locations remain open in the Des Moines metro at 200 S.E. Gateway Drive #111 in Grimes and 5919 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines.

Java Joe's CoffeeHouse

In November, Java Joe’s CoffeeHouse owner Tim Brehm announced via Facebook that the longtime Fourth Street roasting operation and café was permanently closed. Brehm cited a lack of downtown foot traffic due to the pandemic as the reason for closing the 214 Fourth St. location.

Al Gore checks out the menu at Java Joe's in downtown Des Moines during a campaign stop on July 14, 1999.
Al Gore checks out the menu at Java Joe's in downtown Des Moines during a campaign stop on July 14, 1999.

Java Joe’s opened in 1992 and almost immediately became an alternative hangout for Des Moines metro young adults. Live music performances often took place on the coffeehouse’s small theater stage, and for a time it also doubled as a rave venue. In its later years, Java Joe’s was known for hosting political candidates and media pundits during campaign cycles. While the downtown coffeehouse has closed its doors for good, lovers of the Java Joe’s roasts can find a warm mug in the Ankeny location, 129 N. Ankeny Blvd.

More: Inclusion, sense of community are why Java Joe's leaves a lasting legacy in Des Moines

Elle Wignall covers dining for the Register. Reach her at ewignall@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ElleWignallDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines restaurants that closed in 2021 include Java Joe's, Fong's