KINGLSEY, Iowa -- Kingsley, which experienced a 13.3 percent increase in population to 1,441 in the 2010 census, also noted growth in the business sector with new businesses opening and new construction of businesses in 2011.
In a two-stage opening, Doosky's East opened in the former Shennon's on the Green in the clubhouse of the Kingsley Golf Course. On Sept. 1, the bar opened and on Oct. 3, the restaurant opened its doors, said operators Taylor and Monica Doeschot, who also operate Doosky's of Hinton; Taylor focusing on Hinton and Monica on Kingsley.
"We figured it was an opportunity in our hometown," says Taylor, "something we should explore and look into as it was close to home." Some remodeling was done in the restaurant. Employees are 27 in number, two full-time and 25 part-time.
The restaurant offerings are described by Monica as "a wide variety of American food, the classic bar and grill minus the grill." The menu includes pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers.
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"Occasionally we feature a prime rib dinner; grilled chicken Alfredo has proven to be very popular."
The eatery serves lunch Tuesday through Saturday and dinner each evening, and the couple says hours will change once golf season is underway. Lunch on Thursday-pizza and a chicken buffet plus other items that are varied-has proven very popular along with a variety of pizzas and specialty pizzas.
Taylor says that "so far business has been good with lots of support from the community. Some from towns nearby have been in to support us. We are very happy with business so far."
On Second Street East in downtown Kingsley, a dual business -- a floral shop and bistro -- opened in the former Pizza Hut. At the end of November, L.J. (LeRoy) Moten opened Unique Flowers and More, in the middle of January, and later added the bistro. The flower shop, is open 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The bistro is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.Â
Fresh flowers and plants for any occasion are available as well as balloons and knick knacks, florist Rachel Bakker said. She has designed flowers at Orange City, Ida Grove, and Sioux City, where she added wedding consultant to her other duties. Moten has worked in restaurants and as head cook/dietary aide at a nursing home.
While attending culinary arts school at Des Moines Community College and taking business management classes, he interned as sous chef at a four-star restaurant, Bravo Italliano.
The bistro features different lunch specials each day, including panini sandwiches, soups, salads, and chicken and beef Phillies for Philly Friday. Early morning, a breakfast sandwich, muffins, and cinnamon and pecan rolls are the menu. "People have been driving in from a 40-mile radius for cinnamon rolls, Reubens, and Philly steak sandwiches," Moten said.
The couple moved to Kingsley from Sioux City because Bakker has family here, and "it needed a floral shop and bistro," says Bakker. The floral shop, Flower Buds, closed its doors in 2009 in Kingsley and Pizza Hut in October 2010.
The third eatery-Bon Appetit-opened on Main Street at the end of December by Shaunda and Kie Ahrens. The business was opened because the couple saw a need for a sandwich/pizza shop after Pizza Hut closed. "And people were going to other towns, such as Moville, for subs," says Shaunda.
The couple spent many months remodeling the former bowling alley, which had been closed for more than a year. "We had to figure out how to get the lanes out," says Kie, "and three weeks were spent getting the approaches out and expanding the seating area." Some bowling balls, metal bowling lockers, and several lanes were sold to bowling enthusiasts. Needing attention was the plumbing, wiring, and sewer. "The building was in tough shape; it's the biggest risk I have ever taken."
The size of the building is a plus with ample room for tables and booths, and a casual sitting area in front of a fireplace makes for a relaxing atmosphere, a goal the couple had, along with being a family restaurant. "We want this to be a place to socialize," Kie says, "to be relaxing."
The large area ties in with the couple's aspiration for a miniature golf area in the remaining area at the back of the building. "That came as an afterthought," says Kie. "It would be something for the community to do."
Bon Appetit hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served, with sliders, pizzas, subs, soups, and additional items featured. Shaunda says the pizzas are very popular, and soup, in particular broccoli cheese.
Another building, which for many years was the site of several groceries, will have a new tenant. Dave and Alisha Riemenschneider, who currently operate Kingsley Home Furnishings, will expand their online sporting goods business, smalltownsportsman.com to include a storefront on the northwest corner of Second and Main.
"We carry general sporting goods and hunting and fishing supplies," says Dave. Some remodeling will be done before the storefront business opens in early summer.
Two Kingsley businesses had new buildings constructed in 2011. Michael Pratt Jr. Construction moved into their new building on Main Street, the 30-foot-by-80-foot metal building all-electric with a heated floor in the large work area.
There is 125 feet of open space behind the building, optimal for getting products in and out, says Pratt, and an office for meeting with prospective clients. The construction company specializes in new construction, remodeling, concrete work, and roofing. The construction company's new building filled an open space on north Main Street.
Plendl Feed Service Inc. has a new warehouse of 19,200 square feet on Highway 140 south of the Kingsley-Pierson School; the company's current location is on Main Street.
A tremendous growth in the company's DeKalb/Asgrow seed and chemical business necessitated the new building, which has 11,200 square feet of cold storage; the remaining area has floor heat. Large storage tanks on the north side of the building are for seed beans, thus allowing Plendl Feed to customize seed treatments desired by individual customers for their seed beans. Move-in target date is April 15th and an open house is also planned.
In addition to the many business advances, Kingsley has a strong rural economy. Chris Pedersen, general manager of the Kingsley Farmers Co-Operative Elevator, reports that the farm economy remains good to very good, but acknowledges that "input prices and land rent are keeping a lot of pressure on producers." For the elevator, 2011 was the third best year in the history of the company.
On the grounds, an old Quonset was dismantled as well as a 1920 concrete elevator and an old fertilizer plant. To be built are a wet corn storage bin, a dryer, a new leg for additional dry-corn storage, and another new grain storage bin. All legs at the elevator combined can handle 40,000 bushels per hour.
Store manager Doug Vondrak at Titan Machinery echoes Pedersen's assessment.
The strong farm economy has resulted in another good year for the Case/IH dealer. "Titan Machinery is riding the ag wagon. Exports are driving the farm economy. Look at the world-China wants beef and clothes and cars. The poor are trying to better themselves and they need food. This area is the heart of American production," says Vondrak.
Technology continues to advance in farm machinery, Vondrak says. A new program is being introduced, and anyone with a GPS for their tractors can access, from their home, where the tractors have been for the last three hours, problems can be diagnosed, etc.
Inventory levels at the dealership are up as they have "a nice amount of used equipment," says the manager. Also, by 2014 the final minimal pollution that can come from an engine will be in effect, and Vondrak says, "We are there today. We have met those standards for 2014 with our products."
Another agriculture mainstay is Bottjen Implement, owned and operated by Delvin and Paula Bottjen. In its 37th year of operation, the business located on Highway 140 in Kingsley began on the family farm and was called Bottjen Repair. In 1989 the business moved to Kingsley. Because of growth and the couple's two sons, Elliott and Wesley, joining the family business, the shop was added to in 2009. The amount of equipment has also expanded, with the X Mark lawnmower line added and growth in the other lines as well.
"We are busy year round," says Delvin, "because of the different lines. We are very fortunate as we have no slow time. The community has been good to us."
Kingsley enters 2012 with energy going forward with the many new and improved businesses.
