The planned restaurant called Biker’s Haven North did not materialize as anticipated in the summer of 2016, but the 2.3-acre property at 1607 Sugar Grove Ave. in Dallas Center has everything but a restaurant, and the owner is now looking to sell the property.
Jim Woodsmall of Johnston, president of Sugar Grove Custom Cars LLC, which owns Biker’s Haven North, said he has developed the property to the point where an energetic entrepreneur could easily step in and build a successful business.
“I’ve given them everything they need,” Woodsmall said Wednesday morning. “I’ve given them a canvas, I think, as best I could. I would like see somebody write a check and buy the property. ”
Woodsmall bought to property for $40,000 in 2013 from Kenneth J. Renfrow, and he has much improved it since then, adding a half-acre pond at the north end with a six-foot walking path around the pond, a $100,000, 74,000-square-foot, paved, off-street parking lot and most recently a Morton building.
He said he still means to see ADA-compliant sidewalks built around the Morton building and overall landscaping of the grounds completed prior to the sale.
The 2016 plans called for “bicycles, brew and BBQ,” but Woodsmall said he is getting too old to run a restaurant himself.
“In my mind, I’ve fulfilled 98 percent of my vision there if not 100 percent,” he said, “so it’s time for me to enjoy full retirement and if somebody else wants to do something over there, that will be fine as long as they can get it through the city.”
At its August meeting, the Dallas Center City Council approved Woodsmall’s revised site plan and revised architectural plan for the property, paving the way for construction of a trailside concession stand and plaza. Dick Hoover, the “mayor” of Biker’s Haven, represented Woodsmall before the city council.
Only Dallas Center City Council member Ryan Kluss voted against approving the revised plans. Kluss declined to comment on the reason for his vote but noted “a lot of history” connected with the property and its relation to city hall.
Woodsmall also owns the Lunch Box restaurant in Minburn, which is run by “Mississippi” Matt Wilson and his brother, Mark “Smokin’ Willy” Wilson, well known in Dallas Center for their smoked meats.
The Wilsons already park their food truck alongside the trail in Dallas Center one or two days a week on the Biker’s Haven property and sell smoked meats to passersby.
Woodsmall contrasted the ease of building a patio addition and a full-service bar at the Lunch Box with the difficulty of placing a simple 6×12-foot shed at the Biker’s Haven. Getting permission from the city of Minburn for such changes was easier than getting permission from Dallas Center, he said.
“It’s not been smooth sailing” in Dallas Center, he said. “It’s not been the warm and fuzzy environment that you would expect from someone that’s done as much in Dallas Center as I have done. I’m disappointed. I’m frustrated. I get more done in Minburn in a short amount of time than I’ve ever been able to get done in Dallas Center in a long period of time, and I’ve been there since 2007. It’s silly. It’s just silly.”
Woodsmall said he still has high hopes for the ultimate success of the Biker’s Haven. Considering that the highest traffic counts on the Raccoon River Vallet Trail are seen on the stretch between Waukee and Dallas Center, the location alone of Biker’s Haven almost assures profitability.
“There’s been a lot of input,” Woodsmall said, “on what should be there and what shouldn’t be there and this and that and whatever. If you take the cream to the top, what I’ll simply say is that maybe the marketplace needs to decide what needs to go on at Biker’s Haven.”
At his age, Woodsmall said, he is willing to let the Biker’s Haven go. He was less willing to state his asking price.
“It’s like a basketball team,” he said. “It’s time for an ownership change. I’ll hopefully have it listed this week with the real estate company.”
