Clemens Automobile Company Building

Clemens Automobile Company

Industry	Automobile sales and services
Founded	1916
Headquarters	Des Moines , United States
Products	Willys-Overland Motors vehicles

Clemens Automobile Company Building

The Clemens Automobile Company Building stands as a notable historic structure situated in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Constructed in 1916, it originally functioned as an "automotive department store" managed by the Clemens Automobile Company. From 1916 until 1923, the company sold vehicles manufactured by Willys-Overland Motors within this facility. It was reputed to be the largest building in Des Moines dedicated exclusively to automobile-related purposes. The layout included a primary sales floor and offices on the first level; used car sales and service operations occupied the second floor; the fourth floor contained a paint department; while storage was allocated across the basement and three other upper floors. Beyond automobile sales, the Clemens family engaged in multiple business ventures, notably housing their Standard Glass and Paint Company here from 1924 through 1979.

In 1985, this building became physically connected to the Hotel Fort Des Moines via a link spanning an alleyway, effectively integrating the two properties until 2016. Between May 1997 and March 2015, the first two floors accommodated Raccoon River Brewing Co. A significant renovation occurred in 2015, transforming the building into 44 residential apartments, at which point the passageway to Hotel Fort Des Moines was closed off. Since July 2016, the ground floor has been occupied by Bubba, a southern cuisine restaurant.

Architecturally, the building is a six-story brick edifice supported by a reinforced concrete frame, ascending approximately 95 feet (29 m) above street level. Although definitive attribution is lacking, it is believed that the Neoclassical design was created by Des Moines architects Sawyer & Watrous. The construction was overseen by local builder J.E. Lovejoy. This property earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.