With Winefest over and the Des Moines Art Festival quickly approaching – two major downtown Des Moines events – retail tenants in the East Village Soho Development are anxious to open their businesses. They’re told that it will only be a little bit longer now.

When construction began on the Soho Lofts last May, the goal was to have the project finished this past March, according to Tony DeAngelo, the CEO of Soho Development and East Village Partners. But as can be the case in construction, one delay leads to another and weeks become months.

“Early on, we anticipated spring, but things happen that lead to design and construction changes. We’re OK now and anticipating a July completion,” DeAngelo said.

The Soho Lofts aren’t the only downtown housing project behind schedule right now, although a few are ahead of schedule, according to Matt Anderson, an economic development coordinator for the city of Des Moines. Construction was slated to begin on the Harger-Blish condominium project at 112 11th St. by the end of 2004, and Anderson said the Seattle-based development company working on the project is still in the process of securing building permits. The WhiteLine Lofts condominiums at 120 S.W. Fifth St. were anticipated for an October 2005 completion, but interior architecture and engineering work has delayed the project.

Anderson isn’t surprised by the delays.

“Schedules are merely estimates, and once you get behind during the financing or bidding process, it’s hard to get back on schedule,” he said. “But I wouldn’t say that schedules have been a problem with the downtown housing projects any more so than with other projects in Des Moines. I think that people are just maybe keeping better tabs on these projects than housing developments in other parts of the city.”

What’s unique about Soho Development in the East Village is that it’s one of only a couple of downtown housing projects in the works with a commercial component. On the building’s ground floor will be eight retail outlets and three live/work studios. DeAngelo said these commercial spaces have been popular, and negotiations are under way to fill the final remaining retail spot.

“We have a nice mix of shops and some that are very creative,” DeAngelo said. “The live/work spaces are a newer concept in Des Moines. It’s great for young businesses owners who want to get established, but who can’t afford two rents for a place to live and work.”

Two of the retail tenants at Soho, Arte gallery and Accenti fashion accents, will be operated by Mark Pritchard and Paolo Bartesaghi, who also own A Touch of Italy in Valley Junction. Pritchard said they were hoping to move in to their new stores this spring, a perfect time for Accenti to debut new spring and summer fashions. Instead, they will likely wait until September to open their new stores.

“We’re in hold mode right now,” Pritchard said, “waiting for when we can get in there and do our work.”

In preparation for the intended spring opening, Pritchard and Bartesaghi had purchased spring and summer merchandise for Accenti, which caused problems when they found out the opening would be delayed.

“Especially with Accenti, with the accents, that is very seasonal merchandise, and we cannot sell spring and summer merchandise in September,” Pritchard said. “We’ve had to either absorb that or cancel, which either way, makes us look bad to our suppliers.”

Other store owners have reported similar disappointments about Soho’s delay and are eager to open their businesses and start making a profit from their investments. Tanya Keith, a local mural painter and interior designer, will open Simply for Giggles, a business specializing in children’s home furnishings, painting and decorating. Keith was planning on a June 1 opening date when she signed her lease in April, and has boxes of inventory waiting at her home right now.

“I would love to have a guarantee on what date to be open, but I’ve worked with new building construction as an interior designer and I know that things happen,” Keith said. “Now, my wish date is to be open by the Arts Festival,” which will be held June 24-26.

Keith started moving into her store last week, and said she is working on the buildout as fast as fast as she can. But other retail tenants will not be able to work in their stores for some time yet. Mike Draper, whose business is Smash clothing, said he is not close to moving into his area.

One snag that Draper encountered in his store’s space was with plumbing. His building plans were made on the premise that the bathrooms could go where he chose, but he later found out that the connections for the plumbing were several feet away from there. He said there has been a “laundry list” of other examples where the project has gotten off track.

“It’s frustrating that they are so ungodly behind schedule,” Draper said. “They told us in April that we could get in May 1 and be open June 1. But the sidewalk on Locust Street is going to take three to four weeks to finish, and they can’t finish that until the outside of the building is done.

“Ideally in a clothing store, you want to open in the spring. But there’s nothing that I can do about it but wait.”

Draper expects to open Smash in early July. In the meantime, the 22-year-old Van Meter native said he will continue to sell his company’s clothing, which includes a mixture of vintage, vintage-inspired and original designs, via the Internet.

Despite construction delays, these store owners have not strayed from their positive attitudes about the East Village and downtown development.

“We’ve been very, very welcomed with A Touch of Italy, and we want to bring more of that to Des Moines because we believe in Des Moines and believe that it has a lot to offer,” Pritchard said. “We’re excited about the development that’s going on with the new downtown housing, the (Principal) Riverwalk and the updating that they’re doing in the East Village; we’re looking forward to being a part of it.”

“My business has been growing from my home, and when I decided to open a store, my one thing was that I wanted to be in the East Village,” Keith said of Simply for Giggles. “I’m excited to be a part of the East Village because I love the atmostphere there.”

“The overall eclectic mix of the different retail makes the East Village a very exciting area right now,” said Jennifer Trow, who will operate the Village Bean Co. coffee shop with husband Kirk. “There is a lot of support from the East Village Association, and that was another big factor for us. There are a lot of people who want to see the area succeed.”

Trow said the Soho Development’s pushed-back schedule has allowed her time to get organized for her new business.

“I made all of our tables,” she said. “I painted on the top and there’s this epoxy that you put on to finish them. I’m able to take a little more time to finish up with them.”

Galleries, clothing and more bring boost to East Village

Several new businesses will put down roots in the East Village in the next few months as the commercial tenants of the Soho Development open their doors for business. Here’s what you can expect to find there.

1. Urban Belly

Description: Maternity boutique

Owner: Kellie Ulrich

Background: Ulrich, a Cedar Falls native, moved back to Des Moines from Denver, Colo., a year ago, after working for a public relations agency. She wanted to bring to Des Moines the fashions found in cute, funky maternity boutiques she’d seen in larger cities. Products: She will carry clothing ranging from casual to formal, with an emphasis on business professional and special occasion clothes, which she said seem to be the hardest for pregnant women to find.

When it will open: Mid-August

2. From Our Hands

Description: Art gallery focusing on 3D work, with some paintings

Owner: Ann Harmon

Background: Harmon has worked in art stores for 20 years, including 12 years with The Art Store as its framing department and retail floor manager.

Products: Harmon said the store will carry a range of price points “accessible to a broader economic group.” Her artists will be a combination of local and national.

When it will open: Mid-July

3. Simply for Giggles

Description: Children’s home furnishings, painting and decorating

Owner: Tanya Keith

Background: Keith is building on the success of her mural painting and design business, which she has operated from her home for about two years. Previously, she worked in commercial design.

Products: Children’s room designs that are “a little more high style,” with the understanding that parents live in the house, too. The store will feature Keith’s mural painting, interior design, custom bedding, hand-painted furniture, gifts and accessories for kids.

When it will open: Late June

4. Smash

Description: Alternative clothing and art

Owner: Mike Draper

Background: Draper, 22, is a Van Meter native who studied apparel at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Draper and four business partners have their own clothing company, No Shelter Inc., which sells online and to other retail stores.

Products: Original clothing designs, including cordizontals (horizontal corduroys) and throwback t-shirts, along with some vintage clothing, such as Levi’s 517 and 501 jeans and Member’s Only jackets. Draper wants to give up-and-coming designers and artists a chance to display their products.

When it will open: Early July

5. Arte

Description: Gallery

Owners: Paolo Bartesaghi and Mark Pritchard

Background: Bartesaghi and Pritchard have operated A Touch of Italy in Valley Junction for nearly nine years, and wanted to broaden their range of art pieces.

Products: Higher-end art from all over the world, including pieces from Iowa’s Sister State regions.

When it will open: September

6. Accento

Description: Women’s fashion accessories

Owners: Paolo Bartesaghi and Mark Pritchard

Background: The pair wanted to feature worldwide suppliers of fashion accessories, and had been limited to Italian with their Valley Junction store.

Products: Purses, scarves, hats, jewelry, bags from all over the world.

When it will open: September

7. The Village Bean Co.

Description: Coffee shop

Owners: Jennifer and Kirk Trow

Background: Jennifer Trow has worked in coffee houses in the past. The couple lives in Urbandale.

Products and services: Coffees, lattes, soy protein smoothies made with real fruit and fruit juice, pastries and soup. There will also be a private meeting room for six to eight people and seating in the outdoor courtyard.

When it will open: Mid-July

8. Salon W

Description: Hair salon specializing in color and cuts

Owner: China Wong

Background: Des Moines native Wong worked in finance in Chicago after graduating from Iowa State University, and later decided to become a hair stylist. She has worked for salons in Atlanta and Chicago, including the Van Michael Salon in Atlanta. She wants to bring a total experience feel to her salon, with a coffee bar, snacks and quarterly fashion shows and events.

Products and services: Wong trained at the Aveda Institute in Chicago and will carry mostly Aveda products and products from its sister companies.

When it will open: Sept. 1

9. Oxford Group

Description: Business consulting

Owner: Robert Ligouri

Background: Launched in 2001, the company specializes in working with early-stage companies.

Services: Company provides services in two targeted areas: business development services and marketing and sales services.

When it will open: July

10. Soho Development LLC

Description: Office and showroom space for development

Owner: Tony DeAngelo

When it will open: Aug. 1

11. Live/work studio

Owner: Local artist Michael Lane