Celebrations bar opens Friday at former Vaudeville Mews in downtown Des Moines
Des Moines' Court Avenue entertainment district is getting a new neighbor. Celebrations is slated to open at 7 p.m. Friday in the space that once held the Vaudeville Mews, a beloved music venue that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Complete with mixed shots, "giant beer pong" and a dance floor, bar owner and operator Larry Smithson said the venue's name embodies the mood he's trying to capture.
It's a spot that treats the evening "like it's a special event" for customers, Smithson said. "Celebrations sounds glorious, fun, exciting. That's what I think it will be every single night."
Celebrations, 212 Fourth St., will have a main floor with a full bar and dance floor, an upper loft area, which will feature games like a pool table, and a patio with room for tables and chairs. The bar's centerpiece will be "giant beer pong," which Smithson said he's "famous for." The game doesn't involve beer — it's played with 65-gallon garbage cans and volleyballs.
"It's just a game where you can interact and have fun," he said.
Smithson said the venue will have a DJ set-up to play a mix of music for all ages, from the '80s to the latest hits. Its decor will play off of the "building's character" with exposed brick walls and a mirrored wall next to the dance floor, he said.
He is hopeful Celebrations will draw in birthday parties, bachelorette and bachelor parties, anniversaries, group outings, and individuals. Hours for the venue will depend on customer traffic. Following opening night, the venue will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, though it could switch to a daily operation.
Smithson said his drive to open the bar came from seeing the building empty after Vaudeville fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, shuttering its doors in fall 2020.
"I don't think it's a plus for Court Avenue to have an empty spot like that and I really kind of like the Fourth Street traffic ... I think it's just going to be a big asset to the area of Fourth Street," he said.
When the proposal came up for consideration at the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting Jan. 25, Downtown Des Moines Neighborhood Association President Brandon Brown told the Des Moines Register neighbors' initial reactions appeared to be frustration over another bar coming to the Court Avenue district.
But Smithson said the overall response to the bar has been positive. He acknowledged that some would rather have seen a live music venue there, and added he might try to do live music once a week.
Smithson, a longtime Court Avenue bar owner, is the owner of the former Big Lars party bar at 217 E. Second St. in the East Village. Smithson also owns The District Bar and Grill, which is in the Court Center at 216 Court Ave., where Zoning Board of Adjustment members decided bars in the building could no longer sell alcohol after midnight.
Smithson recently sued Court Center LLC, the ownership group of the building at 216 Court Ave., claiming his business is being unfairly punished for the actions of his landlord, resulting in the loss of more than $50,000 a month, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What is taking the place of Vaudeville Mews in downtown Des Moines?
