Whiskey River closes on Ingersoll, Aposto's Tony Lemmo to bring new restaurant in June

After two men were shot and injured at Whiskey River in March, owner Joe Romare said he is permanently closing the Ingersoll Avenue bar and grill.

"It's not worth it to me," Romare said. "All my staff quit. It's not easy to hire people so it's like a forced closure. I don't want to put my staff in that position. They're pretty traumatized that this even happened."

Romare said that while he likes the Ingersoll neighborhood, gun violence after a dispute at Whiskey River's bar is, "a huge liability and a huge risk for me.

"It's not worth us coming to Des Moines or being anywhere near Des Moines since they can't control the violence," Romare said. "I'm out of there and I'll go to back to my peaceful areas."

On April 6, Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said no arrests have been made related to the Saturday, March 19 shooting.

More: Des Moines Police: Two people shot at Ingersoll Avenue bar in Des Moines

Whiskey River originally took over the Teddy Maroons space

Whiskey River first moved onto the Ingersoll business district in October 2020, replacing Orchestrate Hospitality group's Teddy Maroons.

The move was Romare and his wife Nicki's first foray into Des Moines after the pair launched Whiskey River in Ames in 2010 and a second location in Ankeny in 2016. The Romares also own Founders Irish Pub in Bondurant and Nashville-inspired Sweet Caroline's that opened in downtown Ames in October.

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What's coming next in the Whiskey River space?

Sitting on the corner of Ingersoll and 23rd Street, Whiskey River at 2301 Ingersoll Ave. is a coveted location offering rooftop seating and views of the downtown Des Moines skyline.

It's no surprise the space is already spoken for.

Coming in June, Tony Lemmo, the owner of Aposto — who's also a partner in Des Moines' Gusto Pizza Co., Juniper Moon cocktail bar and The Breakfast Club and West Des Moines' El Guapo's Tequila & Tacos Mexican restaurant and Anna Dolce Ristorante Italian restaurant — promises a new restaurant that will be food-driven and ideal for families or date nights.

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Lemmo said he's been eyeing the location for a while and that although "two successful groups couldn't make it work, sometimes you have to find the fit.

"The idea was born 15 years ago in Des Moines and it's had a few different evolutions and this will be the absolute dream, final destination for this concept," Lemmo said. "It's a fun, neighborhood place that a lot of people will be familiar with."

Lemmo declined to share additional details as partnerships are finalized. His new restaurant comes in the midst of the city's $17 million beautification and restoration project along a one-mile stretch of Ingersoll from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to 31st Street.

"It is absolutely the crown gem of Des Moines in my opinion," Lemmo said. "The places that are attracting the violence are bar-heavy. What we're doing is so family-centric. It will be a concept that likely closes at midnight on the weekend so I have zero worry."

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Hannah Rodriguez covers retail for the Register. Reach her at herodriguez@registermedia.com or on Twitter @byherodriguez.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: New restaurant coming to former Whiskey River Ingersoll location