"It is time for my wife and I to enjoy our family and the next stage of our life." That's how Star Bar owner Mike Hutchinson explained closing his Ingersoll Avenue restaurant to WeAreIowa this summer. Star Bar served its last brunch on Aug. 1, 2026, after 21 years at 2811 Ingersoll Ave.
In the same email, Hutchinson named the next tenant. Wellman's Pub, already on Ingersoll between 29th and 31st streets, would move down the street into his space.
That detail explains Ingersoll this fall. When a long-running spot closes, the usual worry is that an out-of-town chain or a long vacancy will take its place. On this stretch of Ingersoll, the space went to a pub that was already a short walk away. Two blocks east, a sports bar has taken the old Gusto space. In between, a new building is filling with locally owned counter-service shops. Most of the turnover is the corridor rearranging itself, and the new arrangement is built around everyday stops.
The biggest move covered less than a block
Star Bar was the kind of place that changed with the hour. The Des Moines Register's Susan Stapleton called it "one of Ingersoll Avenue's most reliable chameleons," part neighborhood hangout, part polished restaurant, part cocktail bar with a loyal following.
Its replacement is a neighborhood sports bar that regulars of the old location already know. Wellman's Pub Ingersoll now lists its address as 2811 Ingersoll Avenue, and its website has a photo captioned "Wellman's has moved to 2811." The old address was 2920 Ingersoll Ave., according to the business directory kept by The Avenues, the local business association. The Register dated the move to August.
For anyone who walks this stretch, the change is small. The pub's phone number on its website is still (515) 245-9737, and it is about a block closer to downtown. Neither the business nor any of the coverage gives a reason for the move. No published source yet says what will go into 2920 Ingersoll.
2301 Ingersoll has a sports bar where Gusto used to be
The second change is two blocks east. Gusto Pizza Bar closed its last location on Ingersoll on May 2, 2024. Co-owner Tony Lemmo told the Register he wanted more time for family and gardening, and to focus on Aposto.
That space now belongs to CCBG, short for CC's Bar & Grill. It calls itself a "hometown sports bar," and the Register points out that its logo closely resembles the one for New York's CBGB club. The CCBG website says it is now open at 2301 Ingersoll Avenue, Suite 105. It points diners to burgers, wings, cold drinks and the big game, and tells them to follow its Facebook page for specials and live-music nights.
The menu items the Register lists sound like bar food with a local twist:
- Beer cheese rarebit
- Chicken popper drumsticks inspired by jalapeño poppers
- An Iowa chop salad topped with breaded chicken strips
- Prime sirloin, smothered chicken, and a steak-and-chicken plate
Taken together, the two moves put sports bars at 2301 and 2811, the addresses where a pizza bar and a polished cocktail room used to be. In its Sept. 29 roundup of fall openings, the Register described Ingersoll as "a corridor leaning into approachable hangouts."
Star Lofts is filling with locally owned counter-service shops
Between those two addresses sits Star Lofts at 2701 Ingersoll Ave., a newer piece of the corridor. It is a three-story building with 20 apartments over ground-floor shops. It had its ribbon cutting on Nov. 6, 2024, and the old Star gas station sign was kept as an interior feature. The structure uses cross-laminated timber and glulam beams, left exposed in places. The project team reported a 70% cut in embodied carbon. Its builder describes it as Iowa's first certified Zero Carbon building, and Sterling Structural's project page credits that certification to ILFI.
The storefronts have opened one at a time, and each shop is a quick stop:
- Zenko Tea opened in July 2025 in Suite 103. The Avenues names Huy Nguyen as co-owner. The menu includes handcrafted milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies and Vietnamese coffee.
- The Refill Market opened in November 2025. Owner Amanda Seals sells refillable vegan groceries, bulk cooking ingredients, snacks, premade meals and reusable kitchenware, and offers pay-what-you-can composting.
- Home Sweet Cone is coming next. It is founder Colleen Strohmaier's third shop, after Waukee and West Des Moines, and it serves small-batch ice cream made with high butterfat.
"We have all local operators and each one brings something unique to their space." Molly Cutler, Cutler Development, to the Business Record, July 2026
Strohmaier explained why she picked this block. "I love the Ingersoll location," she told the Business Record. "It is so encouraging to see how many places there have been around for a decade or more." In July, three of the building's four street-level bays were leased, and the owners had a letter of intent for the last one. The fourth tenant has not been named publicly.
Where things stand in early October
Status changes quickly in a turnover season, so here is what the latest sources say about each address.
| Address | Business | Status in the most recent source |
|---|---|---|
| 2301 Ingersoll, Ste. 105 | CCBG | Its website says "now open" but gives no date |
| 2701 Ingersoll, Ste. 103 | Zenko Tea | Open since July 2025 |
| 2701 Ingersoll | The Refill Market | Open since November 2025 |
| 2701 Ingersoll | Home Sweet Cone | "Fall 2026" on its website. The Register said "Soon" on Sept. 29 |
| 2701 Ingersoll | Fourth Star Lofts bay | Letter of intent as of July. Tenant not named |
| 2811 Ingersoll | Wellman's Pub | Moved here from 2920 Ingersoll in August |
| 2920 Ingersoll | Former Wellman's space | No new tenant reported |
Home Sweet Cone needs the most caution. In July, the Business Record said it would open in September. As of Sept. 29, the Register still listed its opening as "Soon." The company's own homepage still says the Des Moines shop is "opening in Fall 2026." Check Home Sweet Cone's website before you walk over for a scoop.
A walking order for the new Ingersoll
The addresses climb as you head west, so one evening can cover all of it in order. Start at CCBG at 2301 if there's a game on. Walk to Star Lofts at 2701 for a Zenko Tea, or to pick up bulk pantry staples at The Refill Market. Finish at Wellman's in its new home at 2811. One pub, one sports bar, a tea counter, a refill grocery and, soon, an ice cream counter all fit inside about five blocks.
The next date on the corridor's calendar works the same way. The Avenues is bringing back Ingersoll Beggars' Night on Oct. 30, 2026, inviting families to trick-or-treat at Ingersoll businesses. It will be the first Beggars' Night with Wellman's at 2811 and CCBG at 2301. The full list of participating businesses is on The Avenues events page.
Turnover on a corridor like Ingersoll also shows up in what nearby homes are worth and how they sell. If you own near the avenue and want to know how this fall's changes fit into your home's value, Mauro Team can go through it with you. Schedule your free consultation.
