Raccoon River Brewing Company (Clemens Automobile Company)

200-10th Street

1916, designer unknown

Ross and Ashton Clemens, Owner

JE Lovejoy, Contractor

Style: Classical Revival

NRHP 2009

It was an automotive department store with a new car sales floor on the street level, office on the mezzanine, used cars on the second level and paint, body and repair shops on the upper floors.

Clemens Auto operated until 1923 and sold Willys-Overland vehicles – the second largest producer of vehicle behind the Ford Motor Company.  FYI: Willys & Overland developed JEEP in the 1940’s.

In 1923 another family business, Standard Glass and Paint moved into the building and operated there until 1979.

1980 the operating partners of the Hotel Fort Des Moines bought the building to create their pool and spa area on the upper floor.

1997 Raccoon River Brewing Company took over empty first floor space.

2016 – Raccoon River Brewing is no longer in business and as of March, 2016 it is under renovation in preparation for a new restaurant and bar called Bubba to open in this location.