Daniel Brothers Super Service Station (Des Moines)

Exterior corner view with food truck on patio in foreground and red-brown brick two story building in background

Daniel Brothers Super Service Station

2019 Preservation at its Best: Small/Medium Commercial

The Daniels Brothers Super Service Station opened in 1929 as the third outlet for the Des Moines-based auto supply and service chain founded in 1919. This brick-and-stone-accented service station with Tudor Revival touches is an auto-row property described as “a department store for vehicles.” Owner/developer RE3, architect Goche Inclusions and architectural historian Jennifer James worked together to restore the site’s commercial spaces and develop residential units in the 90-year-old building. Preservation of this unique building type adds to the local heritage represented in the newly listed East Des Moines Commercial Historic District and saved the building from destruction.

Preservation Iowa’s two most visible programs are Iowa’s Most Endangered and Preservation at Its Best. These two programs work well together because being listed as Most Endangered often times leads to awareness, a preservation effort, and a high-quality, award winning project.

The full list of Preservation Iowa’s 2019 Preservation at its Best award winners includes: