The Des Moines City Council has amended its agreement with Hy-Vee for the operation of its Court Avenue store to expand its hours of operation.

Under the amendment to the city’s Urban Renewal Development Agreement with the grocer that was approved Monday, the store’s hours will expand to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Hy-Vee entered into the agreement with the city in 2015 to build and operate a store at 420 Court Ave. At the time and under that original agreement, the store’s hours were set at 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily when it opened in 2017.

Two years ago, that agreement was amended to incorporate a reduction in the hours for two years. That amendment was approved after the store reduced its hours without informing the city. At the time, Hy-Vee said the reduction in hours was the result of increased loitering and theft.

At that time, the store’s hours were reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday during daylight saving time, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during standard time. On Saturdays, the hours were 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

That amendment expired this month, and city staff said Hy-Vee reached out to the city for another extension.

“The store proactively reached out to request an additional extension and agreed to extend the hours from what was approved in the first amendment to how they are currently operating,” staff said in a statement provided to the Business Record.

According to council documents, the second amendment is only good for two more years and will expire in May 2028. At that time, the store’s hours will revert back to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. except on state and national holidays or unless reduced hours have been approved by the city.

A Hy-Vee spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.