More than 50 firefighters and their families from a local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters recently renovated The Shop DSM, the downtown events space at 901 Cherry St.

The venue takes over the former Kum & Go Theater at the Des Moines Social Club, which closed in April 2021. The members of Local 4 signed a rent-to-own agreement with Millang Properties.

The firefighters started renovations with the help of their spouses in July 2022, according to events director Mary Brannen, who is married to Des Moines Fire Department firefighter David Brannen.

“They have put sweat equity into this place from the jump. The firefighters really are the ones that need all of the credit for just transforming it into what it is,” Brannen said.

The venue's name pays homage to the building's history as the original site of the Des Moines Fire Department maintenance and repair shop. The Shop is available for rent, by hour, to the public and accessible for corporate use.

A duo of firefighters — fire engineer Brian Peppmeier and fire medic Russell Baker — joined Brannen to discuss the new venue heating up downtown Des Moines with The Des Moines Register.

More: Des Moines Social Club leaders decide to sell building, cancel plans for year-round indoor market

'That's why we created it as a blank slate'

The Shop, a nonprofit led by Des Moines Fire Department captain and board president Mike Morgan, began restoring the building last July before completion on St. Patrick's Day.

The building idea was originally born so Local 4 had its own space to hold union meetings. Baker said the restoration and renovation process used services provided by firefighters, including new epoxy floors by local flooring business Mike's Epoxy Floors, which is owned by third-generation firefighter Mike Flaherty.

“We had firefighters and their families all over this place,” Baker said. “We had former firefighters do all the windows for us, a couple firefighters did the floor, everyone else kind of chipped in helping demo.”

The trio said The Shop can host any type of event while providing an additional place for firefighters and their families to enjoy away from the high-stress environment of their day jobs.

“We want it to be a space where the community utilizes it to their best interests,” Brannen said. “It can be so many things, but that's why we created it as a blank slate. I think we didn't want it to be catered toward a certain type of event.”

The Local 4 union has taken up office space in the facility while the rest of the building will be used for events.

"Just to have a space where you can allow those events or support them and, you know, some of those things we'd have to find a place to hold an event and now we don't have to do that,” Baker said pointing to past union events and previous charitable initiatives.

The Shop DSM features sprawling rooftop views and wedding suite

The building sits across from West End Architectural Salvage and The Shop's rooftop, which can accommodate more than 100 guests, features extensive views of the Des Moines skyline and overlooks the former site of the Des Moines Social Club's main building.

A basement lounge includes a pool table, private bar, dart board, and a wedding suite with original paintings by local fine artist Julie Mason, a series of mirrors, plush furniture, and an exposed brick wall.

The first-floor event space features epoxy floors, windows with natural light pouring through, and extensive space for large and small events from corporate functions to weddings.

At the end of the day, Brannen said it is about bringing attention to the work of local firefighters.

“The main foundation of it is that it's firefighters. People love firefighters," Brannen said.

The Shop DSM

Location: 901 Cherry St., Des Moines

Contact: 515-954-4154 or theshopdsm.com

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Shop DSM is new event venue created by local Des Moines firefighters