'It feels surreal': Antiques business owners survey fire damage, pick through inventory

Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Des Moines Register
·4 min read

Russell McGlothen, co-owner of 35th Street Antiques, was in the shop unloading new items when he noticed dark smoke. When he got outside, he saw a portion of the northwest corner of the building was ablaze and ran around the back to put it out.

Instead, the building at 824 35th St. that housed two businesses and an apartment erupted in flames. When fire crews arrived around 4:45 p.m. Monday, the fire already was venting through the roof, which soon became unstable. Crews eventually were forced to evacuate the building and only fight the fire from the outside.

"I couldn't believe it," said Marlene Todd, co-owner of the business, who got a call from McGlothen about the fire and drove right over. "I just watched it for a few minutes. I was pretty much shocked by what I saw."

The aftermath of a fire at 35th Street Antiques, 824 35th St.
The aftermath of a fire at 35th Street Antiques, 824 35th St.

Des Moines Fire Department Capt. Chris Clement said the fire is still under investigation and no cause had been determined as of Tuesday afternoon. Officials have yet to determine whether the building is a total loss.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McGlothen and Todd said they have owned the antique store for three years and have always loved collecting and selling antiques. Todd said their items range from bizarre to high-end and from junk to beautiful.

McGlothen and Todd said they hoped to still find a few things that are safe to keep and don't smell of smoke. Todd said she did find a few things perfectly intact.

"There are some rare things that we have that are irreplaceable," she said. "But it's just things and I'm just so glad that no one was harmed or injured in this fire."

The pair estimates they lost about $50,000 worth of antiques.

Fire crews respond to a building fire at 35th Street Antiques on the intersection of 35th Street and Rollins Avenue in Des Moines, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.
Fire crews respond to a building fire at 35th Street Antiques on the intersection of 35th Street and Rollins Avenue in Des Moines, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.

"It feels very surreal to me, and every time I actually go inside since it's happened, I'm kind of shocked by what I see," Todd said.

Barb Niccum, owner of T+B Design Lab, a custom cabinetry business that's located in the back of the building, got a call from a friend who said they drove by and thought they saw her building on fire. Niccum lives nearby and was able to arrive in a matter of moments and walk firefighters to her door.

"I was able to open my back door, and it was smoky at that time," she said. "This is a little after 5 (p.m.) and I was able to get my cat out."

As of Tuesday afternoon, Niccum said she was told her side of the building has smoke and water damage but does not know if she will be able to continue working there.

Damage from a fire at 35th Street Antiques, 824 35th St.
Damage from a fire at 35th Street Antiques, 824 35th St.

824 35th St., more than 100 years old, was first a Piggly Wiggly

Built in 1917, according to the Polk County Assessor's Office, the brick building was originally a Piggly Wiggly grocery store. It enjoyed some years of prosperity before becoming Richards Drug store, one of the most popular on the west side, according to Register archives.

Now largely residential, the area around 35th Street and Interstate 235 once held several mainstay businesses in the 1930s. According to Register archives, a Standard Oil was at the corner of 35th and Center streets, there was an ice cream stand called Reed's in the alley and Sid's barbershop was popular for youth.

As times changed, the stores and shops disappeared and changed more frequently to things like TV repair and a lighting shop.

Around 1978, the building that burned Monday housed antique shops, a picture framer, graphics and printer, silk screener and gift shop. The building's name was changed to St. George Square after artist Willis St. George, an artist and brother of Kathleen O'Connell, who operated one of the antique shops. St. George died in October 1985.

A 1986 Des Moines Register article said Patrick Haege, an electrician, began purchasing buildings in the area in the late 1970s. The Polk County Assessor's Office still lists Haege as the owner. He did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The assessor lists the building as in below normal condition that was not built with fireproof construction.

Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines fire destroys 35th Street Antiques, 100-year-old building