DES MOINES, Iowa — Players Sports Bar & Grill has closed temporarily after learning the city plans to begin a construction project at the corner of 41st Street and Beaver Avenue, putting a road right through where the business stands.
The 13-year-old business has turned into a tightknit community for owner Chelsie Lyons. Now, she is looking to continue her work elsewhere, despite the difficulty.
“It would be different if I was choosing to start a new business, but I’m not," Lyons said.
The city of Des Moines is using eminent domain to acquire the space, meaning the restaurant could get a 30-day notice from the city to leave at any point.
“They’re within their legal right for sure, but it doesn’t make it any better," Lyons said.
Lyons says it would be difficult, both logistically and financially, to find a new place with just a 30-day notice, so she made the decision to close on New Years Day.
"This is my home and my family and I’m not just gonna close it, but I have to be looking because I can’t wait until they say 'you gotta get out,'" Lyons said.
While Players is closed for now, Lyons ahs a new restaurant, Chelsie's Courtyard Diner, scheduled to open at 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Parkway in February.
Still, the loss of Players is a tough pill to swallow.
“I’m here every day, I’ve built relationships with people, I work my butt off, I care about this," Lyons said. "I mean, I care about everything I do."