You could say it has risen out of the rubble — a long-awaited, much-needed presence in the neighborhood. Locals Bar & Stage is helping bring Walnut Street in Des Moines back to life.
The area has suffered some losses: the shutdowns of the Gas Lamp, Vaudeville Mews and other downtown establishments have left the area devoid of the lively entertainment scene it previously possessed.
But for its founders — Anthony Basquez, Sid Juwarker, Eli Berry and Ben Norris, a group of four longtime Des Moines locals — Locals Bar & Stage is the solution to the community’s need for live entertainment and gathering space…