Downtown Des Moines coffee shop Northern Vessel hit by a car for the second time in a year

Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register

A popular coffee shop in downtown Des Moines was hit by a car early Wednesday morning.

Northern Vessel, 1201 Keosauqua Way, isn't just known for its coffee anymore, but for being struck on two separate occasions, one in August 2023, and one around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

"We're going to get through this," Northern Vessel founder T.J. Rude said in an Instagram video on Wednesday morning after the accident. "We've been here before, and we're going to come back with a vengeance."

Both times have been a hit-and-run, Rude said in the post. The Des Moines Police Department did not respond to multiple requests for information this week.

Rude said on Instagram that he hoped to have the shop back open on Monday.

The entrance to Norhtern Vessel on 12th Street is under construction on Thursday, May 23, 2024, after being hit by a vehicle early on Wednesday, May 22. It's the second time the business has been hit by car.
The entrance to Norhtern Vessel on 12th Street is under construction on Thursday, May 23, 2024, after being hit by a vehicle early on Wednesday, May 22. It's the second time the business has been hit by car.

"A lot of you have been asking how you can support us, how you can help us out during this time," Rude said in a separate Instagram video later Wednesday afternoon. "Honestly, the best thing for us is to just get back on the horse, just get right back to it."

Northern Vessel gave customers the opportunity to let them get back to it with a temporary pop-up at the north end of the building where the coffee shop is located. From 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24, Rude and the Northern Vessel team served cold brew lattes "farmer's market style." The shop will also have its usual station at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday.

A post shared by Northern Vessel (@northernvessel)

"We’ve been through some adversity together. And we could not ask for a better community to go through hard times with," the caption of the Instagram Reel said. "We want to be a company that is resilient, tough, and stays the course. No flinch. When adversity hits we don’t want to look inward, but outward. And focus on getting back on our feet to hit the ground running. Today, we faced a massive challenge. And together, we got through it."

Construction results are being regularly posted on stories section of Northern Vessel's Instagram page, @northernvessel.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Northern Vessel coffee shop hit by car for second time in a year

Advertisement