New hotel, restaurant add to booming Altoona developments - Heart Of America Group

A new $14 million hotel is coming to Altoona, which is just one of many developments booming in the area.

“It’s nice to keep that momentum going,” Altoona Mayor Dean O’Connor said.

Crews have already started moving dirt for the four-story Hyatt Place Hotel at Altoona’s Shoppes at Prairie Crossing, just west of the Outlets of Des Moines.

Construction of the 112-room hotel will begin in April, and if everything goes according to plan, the new Hyatt Place will take its first guests in April 2020.

“We really sell ourselves as the entertainment capital of Iowa,” O’Connor said. “If you pan your camera around and see what’s going on here, the new hotels and the new restaurants, it’s absolutely a place to come to.”

The City Council approved a plan Monday to build a new restaurant called the Burger Shed, which will sit between the new hotel and Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse. The restaurant is set to open May 27.

“The No. 1 thing people always ask about is restaurants,” O’Connor said. “Hotels spur restaurants and other shops.”

The developments are all owned by the Heart of America Group.

Joe Spalding, with Heart of America Group, said Altoona’s commitment to growth sets the city apart.

“The summer business with Adventureland, the soccer tournaments, the state fair and, of course, the outlets are attracting a lot of people to this area,” Spalding said.

O’Connor said the developments are proof that the Outlets of Des Moines is a success and that Altoona isn’t finished growing.

“Our tag is ‘Altoona Now,’ and this just shows we are correct. Altoona is happening now,” O’Connor said.

Article Posted By: KCCI.com by Max Diekneite

About Heart Of America

Starting with one, 100-seat restaurant in 1978, Heart of America Group has grown to include a portfolio of award-winning owned and operated restaurants, hotels and commercial developments. Noteworthy brands developed and operated by Heart of America Group include the Machine Shed Restaurant, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, The Republic on Grand, Hotel Renovo, Wildwood Lodge, Thunder Bay Grille, and The J Bar. We pride ourselves in building long-lasting properties that bring value to the consumer and to the communities in which we build.

Locations

Operations Support Center - Moline
1501 River Drive
Moline, Illinois 61265
P: 309.797.9300
F: 309.797.8700

Operations Support Center - Des Moines
515 E Locust Street, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309