Hello, Des Moines! Can We Make You a Latte?

Sometimes it’s a little awkward being the new kid in town. But everyone in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) has made it easy for us to feel right at home.

We’re not really the formal type, but for the sake of clarity, here’s the formal introduction:

Hello! We’re Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen. We arrived here in August, and we’re obsessed with the energy of Downtown DSM, especially our new neighborhood in the Historic East Village. There’s history, there’s culture, there’s, well, vibrance. We’re into it.

Who We Are

Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen started in Moline, Illinois in 2022. (But don’t worry, Iowans – you’re tied for first on our favorites list.)

Our cozy spot in the Historic East Village is our second location, and we’ve loved bringing our home into yours with a big menu and bold vibes. We’ve got a full slate of hand-crafted espresso drinks, plus enough non-coffee energy drinks to keep you buzzing for days. (Might we recommend the Epic Strawberry? You can thank us later.)

We have pastries, avocado toast, soups, salads, and last but certainly not least, ice cream. Because ice cream makes everything better. Pick a flavor, pair it with your cup ‘o joe, grab a table for two or one for the whole gang and enjoy a few of life’s finest joys. We’re a little biased, but we can’t imagine a better first date. Or study session. Or shopping spree power up. Or a baby shower. Or ... well, you get the idea.

Oh, and we brought some of our exclusive apparel and gifts along to Downtown DSM, too. Plus, we’ve found some other uber-talented Iowa artisans and vendors who now have a home away from home in our store. Be sure to check out all the goodies from Wander Collective, Raygun, Neat and Navy Blue, Handcrafted FCD and Perennity because supporting local is another one of our favorite things.

Where We Came From

No, you’re not imagining things — we are owned by a Credit Union of the same name. But we think building a neighborhood coffeehouse has been the perfect blend of adventure and innovation. (And those are two more of our favorite things.)

See, turns out we just like people. And we think connection and community are pretty universal “people” values (but we’re biased — we think Midwesterners do these things the best). So, we’re always looking for new ways to reach people wherever they are, increase our opportunities to help people connect and amplify our efforts to serve the people who love our hometowns most.

So Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen began as a local spot for people to meet, work, connect and share. And also — to drink great coffee. Because turns out, we also like coffee. A lot. (We even built a roasting room in our Moline location so we can make sure our coffee is fresh and full of flavor.)

We like to live by the saying, “Amplify the good” and we’re so excited to be able to elevate all the goodness going on in East Village by showing up, joining in and becoming part of such a vibrant community.

What's Coming Up

So, that’s us. We’re Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen. And if we haven’t met you yet, we can’t wait to see your smiling face at 520 E. Grand Ave. In fact, our Grand Opening is Saturday, Oct. 14. Consider this your official invitation to join us. We love hosting community events, so be on the lookout for our next one, too. Find out more at vibrantcoffeehouseandkitchen.com.

Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is a growing, vibrant community that offers the energy, sophistication, housing and attractions of a burgeoning city with a brilliant future. It’s also easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options. Find event information and follow @downtownDSMUSA on Facebook and Instagram for other news, tips and events happening downtown.