Grand View University Purchases Eastgate Property for Expansion

March 25, 2022

Grand View University and Eastgate Plaza LLC announce Grand View’s acquisition of 17 acres of the former Eastgate Plaza property, located on the northeast corner of NE 14th Street and East Euclid Avenue. The property is adjacent to Grand View’s Viking Events Center, the former AMF bowling alley which now houses the University’s men’s wrestling practice facility.

“We are excited to acquire the Eastgate property and to be part of the rebirth of the northeast side of Des Moines,” said Kent Henning, Grand View president. “We do not have specific plans at this time, but our main campus is landlocked. With the continued growth of our athletic programs, we anticipate the need for future expansion of athletic facilities.”

“Grand View’s plan for future development of that property fits my vision for the former Eastgate Plaza,” said Norman Weinstein, owner of Eastgate Plaza LLC.

The property was once home to a vibrant shopping and entertainment district in the 1960s and 70s. Over the years, retailers began to move to the suburbs and the site has been mostly vacant since. Weinstein bought the property in 1998 with plans to revitalize the area. Recently, the City of Des Moines reviewed plans for a proposed medical office building, a Burger King and a proposed strip center on other parts of the former Eastgate Plaza footprint.

“When we acquired the AMF property in 2014, we desperately needed space for our powerhouse wrestling program,” Henning explained. “From then on, we always had plans to upgrade and utilize the remaining space in and around the former bowling alley. Having additional land simply means we will be able to dream bigger.”