I’m sitting in Smokey Row Coffee Shop just west of downtown in beautuful Des Moines, Iowa waiting for a post lunch meeting of the minds with a new contact in town. This is my second time to Smokey Row, and I want to share it with you if you’re not familiar.
Talk to any free-lancer and they’ll have their go-to places for business meetings. Paneras and Caribou Coffees are generally at the top of the list, for good reasons. Smokey Row is rapidly rising to the top as well. Looking around, it’s a quaint mix of people from a very funky younger crowd to a significant mix of middle agers to the 30 something crowd with hip thick black frame glasses. Pretty much anyone can fit in here.
Their food is top of the line – 4 1/2 out of 5 stars (just sampled their popular cheeseburger chowder), the place is immaculately clean, the washrooms are in great shape, but most of all in spite of their newly remodeled hard wood floors, the place is reasonably QUIET so you can carry on a conversation.
If that’s not enough, it’s a freelancer’s paradise in that they have a back room that they can enclose and you can reserve it at no charge!?! Their customer service is top notch, far as I can tell.
If you’re in the Des Moines area and are not yet familiar with Smokey Row, get there. Come to find out, if you’re in the Pella, Oskaloosa, or Pleasantville area, Old Smokey is there too!
Rarely do we come across a story that just gets better and better. Put Smokey Row on the top of your list for coffee-shop-meeting-or-hanging-out-places. You will not be disappointed. (Their wifi is better than Panera’s.)
Rock on Smokey Row!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am very glad you found some value in the free time I forced into your day John!
I completely agree with your assessment of Smokey Row – it’s my go to place when I need to go heads down into my laptop. As a matter of fact – I’m typing this comment in one of Smokey Row’s booths!
Looking forward to meeting up – Take Care
Ben Stone
I whole-heartedly concur. For someone who has reserved their backroom over the last 3 months, I can genuinely say that it’s one of my favorite spots for a meeting of as many as 30 people at a time. Haven’t tried the food yet, but the coffee is fabulous!