513-519-521 Maple Street

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Evaluation:

This is a contributing Maple Street building within the historic district. This five-storefront complex (1949) attests to the post-war commercial expansion of businesses on Maple Street.

District Characteristic	Yes	No	Findings/Recommendations
Two-story brick with narrow mass		X
Larger, broader massing	X
Other key façade features		X
Architectural style		X
Prominent location		X
Original façade materials		X
Upper fenestration pattern		X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill		X
Brick corbelled parapet		X
Cornice/coping (not metal)		X

Physical Description:

This is a one/two-story concrete block cluster of buildings, the central section being taller with lower bookend wings. The building has the same five narrow storefronts and two upper level apartments it started out with. The two-story core measures 34 feet by 49 feet, the west section 13 feet by 35 feet and the east one 22 feet by 28 feet. The front is devoid of ornamentation. Windows on the upper levels and other non-facade fronts are industrial metal sash.

Documented Alterations:

T. L. Thompson was building this two-story concrete block building, 30 feet by 48 feet, addressed as 517 Maple with store spaces below and apartments up as of the fall of 1946 (Register, September 22, 1946). The flanking side wing storefronts were either original or added immediately after the initial construction. The most impactful change was the addition of full-length wooden canopies across the storefront level and the upper front of the taller portion. In addition vertical boards cover the storefronts. Permits note electrical work in 515 (1966 and unspecified work (1967).

Commercial History:

Offered for sale in August 1981 as having seven units, “always rented.”

513 Maple Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Ivy Lane		2013	current	Established in 1990
The Parlor Company			current	As 505 Maple
Trends Hair Design			current	As 505 Maple
A House Full	Ron Choate	2005	2005	Estate and tag sales, s\Shares with Station Antiques, had closed A Small World, to 206 Fifth
Station Antiques	Karen Bruce	2005	2005	Shares with A House Full
Drew’s Chocolates	Patricia Adams	2003	2004	Plant at Dexter, formed 1927, in Urbandale for three years
		1989		For lease, $275/mo.
Federal Building & Contractors		1980	1983	May
Spanish Speaking Center		1978		October
Carriage Florist & Gifts		1971		September
MERLE		1969		January moves to 513 Fifth, furniture, glass and china
[telephone canvassers sought]		1966		November
B&M Cafe	William and Mary Hukill	1955	1965
Griffin Flowers	Gertrude Griffin	1953		Buys in February
Dorothy’s Flower Shop		1951
Construction	Truman L. Thompson	1947		Truman L. Thompson owned the lot when this was divided in mid-1947. A building permit for a $4,000 concrete block business building was issued in late 1946 (Express, January 30, 1947).

515 Maple Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Edgtech Sharpening		2012	current
Fortune Gifts		2010		Third break-in in five months, $5,700 lost in pipes, water pipes, swords.
VJ Coins	Martin Nolton	2005		New in July
Fashion Accents	Jackie Crusan, Julie Aiken	2005		April-October, shoes, purses
Shear Perfection: A Hair Salon for Dogs		2002		October
Karen’s		2002		August
Golden Thimble		1975	1979	Hand painted gifts, needlework
The Clothes Rack		1971		December
The Voice of Music		1965	1967
[taxi service]	Darrell Harryman	1954		October

Hazard Roofing		1959	1968
Phil's barbershop		1968
Hukill barbershop		1955	1965
Chapman barbershop	Harry Chapman	1950	1951	To 415 Maple June 1951

517 Maple Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Shear Perfection	Julie Riley Glenn	2005	current	Opened in 2001, moves here in March 2005 “next to where the barber shop was.” See 515 Maple.
Kurt’s Barber Shop	Kurt Koehn	1999		June-in business 12 years
		1989		For lease, $369/month.
Rex’s Barbershop		1985
[apartment, 517 ½ Maple]		1956	1985	One bedroom
Cindy’s Dress Shop	Cindy Bowers	1982		February
		1978		Vacant January
Alverda’s Country Store		1975		November, home of the American primitive
The Lite House		1973		December-antiques
The Ming Tree		1971	1972	Imports, giftware
The W. K. Hazard Company		1949	1970	Established 1945, siding, insulation, dealer for Automastic siding (asbestos, mica, perlite, and waterproofing agent all applied under high-pressure-May 1952). Bought Dalbey-Hazard Insulation Co. 6300 Grand in September 1949
Johnson's West Des Moines Cleaners	Ray Johnson	1947		In new quarters Register, July 20, 1947

519 Maple Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Union Station West/Tattoos & Piercing Depot	Frankie Plumley, Heart Compton	2001	2005
Sisters Enterprise		1999		Gifts and collectibles
Foster’s Interior Concepts		1995
Future Heirlooms		1991		February
		1989	1990	Vacant, 735-750 sq. feet, $350/$425/month.
Imagery by DE		1988	1989	Female photographer
[apartment, 519 ½ Maple]		1960	1987	One bedroom, $265/month 1987
Personally Yours		1987	1987	October, custom-fitted bras
		1986	1987	Vacant, $345/month, available July 10, 1987
The Armorie Ladies Consignment Shop	Patty Witte	1975	1983	Used armory imagery, “It used to be that people wouldn’t buy used clothing. Or if they did, they wouldn’t tell anybody.”
		1974		Vacant, September
Whales Tales		1974	1974	April-August, country furniture
Jan’s Gallery	Janice Shotwell	1970	1973	WWII marine corps vet and G.I. Bill beneficiary, paintings, ceramics, “good original art,” consignment: “If I’d wanted to make money I would have opened a gift shop…I’m not a business woman, I am an artist.” Space (15 by 50 feet was hospital green painted concrete block). See 203 Fifth.
Goldman Real Estate			1960	To 329 Fifth Street
McElderry law office	Leslie McElderry	1949	1968	12 by 24 foot space offered by him for lease November 1947
Switchmen's Union Local #174		1950	1955

521 Maple Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Studio 521	Amy Denton		2001	October, jewelry
Eddie Davis Community Center		1999		Holiday toy drive uses larger space at VJ Community Center
		1999		For lease, 370 square feet, $395/month
		1995		For lease, 360 square feet, $325/month
Des Moines Speaker Repair		1993		November
		1990		For lease, $275/month
[furniture sales, Sundays]		1990		September
[flea market]		1988		October
				For lease, $245-250/month
Bibliophile		1984	1985	November, science fiction/horror books
		1982	1984	For lease, small shop, $210-220/month
Varsity Formal Wear, Brides by Barbara		1980		March
The Poor Sport		1976	1978	Tennis wear
Lind’s Antiques		1976	1976	January-May
Dusseldorf’s Emporium	Phoebe Hunter	1974	1975	Art books, hosts United Nations information center
A World of Yarn		1973	1974	Robbery at knifepoint, 1973
Cantaberry Tales	Tissy Maher	1971		VJ’s youngest business owner-high school student, opens July
The Ming Tree	Eleanor Nelson, Betty Sheldon	1969	1969	August-October
		1968		For lease, 12 by 30 feet, $65/month
Crown Cleaners	Katherine Haluska	1952		Opens August
Hoy’s Hardware and Paints	Harry Hoy	1947	1950	Other stores at 621 Maple (1948) and 111-113 7^th Street (1946)