The corner that housed Americana for 14 years in downtown Des Moines is getting new life as The Whiskey Lounge, a 200-guest concept from Cedar Ridge Distillery set to open at 1312 Locust Street in April 2027. The venue will combine a full-service bar, a dining room, dedicated whiskey experiences, retail space, private events and a weekend-only speakeasy under one roof.
Cedar Ridge Distillery, which describes itself as Iowa's first and oldest distillery, announced the plans and venue name in a release carried by BevNET.com. The project is designed to bring a taste of eastern Iowa to downtown Des Moines, taking over the 6,300-square-foot corner space that Americana vacated after it closed its doors on Sept. 7 following a 14-year run, according to the Business Record.
What's Planned Inside
According to the announcement, the space will house a 40-seat private dining room enclosed by a glass wall, alongside the main bar and dining areas. The speakeasy portion will run Friday and Saturday evenings from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., while the rest of the venue is planned to operate Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., per the same release.
Food will come from an on-site smoker, with the kitchen focused on premium smoked meats, shareable plates and artisanal sandwiches, the announcement states. Cedar Ridge partnered with Des Moines-based design and architecture firm Slingshot to develop the space, the company said.
From Vague Concept to Named Venue
The plans have sharpened considerably since summer. Back in July, the Business Record described only a general concept that included a restaurant, cocktail lounge, tasting room and event space, without a name attached. Around the same time, the Des Moines Register characterized the project as part tasting room, part cocktail bar, part restaurant and part event venue — a mix now formalized under The Whiskey Lounge name with its specific features and hours.
Public financing has been part of the picture from early on. Des Moines City Council minutes from July 13, 2026 record approval of a loan agreement with Cedar Ridge Vineyard LLC for financial assistance tied to the hospitality, tasting room, cocktail lounge, restaurant/retail, event and customer experience concept at 1312 Locust Street. Reporting on the size of that assistance has varied: the Business Record reported Cedar Ridge would invest at least $1.33 million to renovate and convert the space, while the Register described a $160,000 forgivable loan from the city.
A Changing Corner of the Western Gateway
The 1312 Locust Street address sits in Des Moines' Western Gateway, a district that has seen turnover among its restaurant tenants. The Register's July report noted that Django also closed in March, leaving Allora, at the base of the Krause Gateway Center, as the only restaurant on the perimeter of the sculpture park at that time. Cedar Ridge's arrival would mark a notable addition back to that stretch once the venue opens as planned.
