French Way Cleaners building in Highland Park finally gets a tenant. What’s on the horizon?

A one-stop shop for newly engaged couples is coming to Des Moines’ Highland Park neighborhood.

The French Way Cleaners & Dyers building, which closed in 2018 after 109 years in business, will soon see wedding venue Chandelier occupy its central storefront, with its two horn-blowing French heralds on the facade. It’s a neighbor to Kalon Bridal Studio, which officially opened in April.

In 2022, French Way underwent a $4.3 million renovation to prepare it for a restaurant and brewery on the lower level and four apartments upstairs. The apartments came, but not the brewery. Future operator Rob Jackson confirmed to the Des Moines Register last year that he was pulling out of the project to focus on his wife’s new venture, Moxie Kitchen + Events in the Drake neighborhood.

Wedding DJ Josh Law has decided it’s time for the next step in his career.

“I don’t want to be moving speakers when I’m 70,” said the owner of Des Moine Movers and Shakers. “So I thought, ‘What’s the next step?'”

His vision for the 7,500-square-foot French Way includes a built-in bar, stage and grand chandelier — hence the venue’s name. In addition to the grand room, Law’s venue will feature a separate lobby, patio, catering kitchen and brides’ and grooms’ suites in the former French Way cold room. Chandelier’s grand room will seat up to 250 guests.

The renovation work is expected to be completed in November.

Law finds his home in Highland Park

Law has been in the entertainment industry for 20 years. Before moving to Des Moines, he worked about 60 events a year in Chicago.

He had hoped to open a wedding venue much earlier in his career. Law enjoyed working in repurposed warehouses in Chicago — the juxtaposition of iron and brick and wedding decor created “drama,” he said. Unfortunately, renting that kind of space in the Windy City proved too expensive.

Law first fell in love with the Ingersoll Dinner Theater when he was looking in Des Moines. However, owner and developer Connor Delaney has said he opposes converting the Depression-era movie theater at 3711 Ingersoll Ave. into a wedding venue. Delaney instead directed Law to the French Way Cleaners in Highland Park, another historic building on his list that needed a tenant.

“I walked in and thought, ‘Oh my God, this is beautiful,'” Law said. “To be associated with weddings and longevity, I thought, ‘This is perfect.'”

More than just a wedding venue

While Law is primarily interested in hosting weddings, he said he’s never turned down corporate events. And if Law sounds a little familiar, it’s because he’s DJed the Ankeny Centennial High School prom for the past few years.

As Chandelier fills up, he said, he’ll be more than willing to host other types of weekday events. Some Law is interested in: comedy, variety and burlesque shows, drag brunches and dinner theater performances. Because the lobby space is separate from the main auditorium, he added, it could be reserved for smaller events like gallery showings or classes.

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Rates would be flexible for the less desirable nights. Law suggested that smaller groups would only have to cover the cost of the building’s staff.

“I think this building belongs to the community, and the community should use it,” he said. “As an artist, I think it’s really important to give people a place to do cool stuff.”

Chandelier wants to win support from the neighborhood

The Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment recently approved Chandelier to operate as a small entertainment venue selling liquor, wine and beer. It also gave Law the ability to host events between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., with cleanup to end at midnight.

Some neighbors of the potential site told the board they were unhappy with the change. One, Glenn Davis, who lives a few doors down from French Way on Fifth Avenue, wrote to the city saying the road in front of his house is currently “child-friendly.” Alcohol sales would bring more traffic and possibly drunk drivers, he wrote.

More: Spend a morning in the rebuilt Highland Park neighborhood

Another local resident and landlord, Gary Fox, attended the meeting and indicated that Chandelier would be too noisy and busy for the area.

“It seems to me that you’re describing a Court Avenue situation as a residential area,” Fox said, referring to the dining and entertainment district in downtown Des Moines.

Law countered that his experience as a DJ means he is well-equipped to ensure his wedding venue does not cause any nuisance. A privacy fence, which is being built on the northern edge of the site between French Way and the nearest residential areas, is part of Chandelier’s approved site plan.

“My background is in music,” he said. “I’ll have people on site who have access to a (sound) meter.”

Some neighbors are happy about the new business. William Wheeler, owner of the former Highland Park Hardware and several commercial properties near French Way, wrote to the city expressing support for Law’s business plan. Slow Down Coffee owner Drew Kelso also emailed his approval.

Highland Park is in the midst of a renaissance, with local entrepreneurs and community groups working to revitalize the historic business district at the intersection of Sixth and Euclid Avenues. Construction is set to begin soon on a four-story mixed-use apartment building, the Commons, on the former site of the Highland Apartments, three blocks from the French Way building. The new building will have 100 units, up from the previous building’s 12.

The district is also set to welcome at least two new cocktail bars. It was previously home to sports bar Highland Park Country Club, which closed in 2021.

Addison Lathers covers growth and development for the Des Moines metro. Reach her at 608-931-1761 or [email protected] and follow her on X at @addisonlathers.

This article originally appeared in the Des Moines Register: What are the former Chicago DJ’s plans for the historic Highland Park building?