By Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register
Des Moines announced the recipients of its first-ever small business loan program for local entrepreneurs looking to kickstart or grow their ventures.
The city of Des Moines granted $100,000 from its Small Business Impact Loan program in 2025 to six small business owners.
The program is part of the city’s new small business support center. Headed by city staff members Breann Buy and Nick Tarpey in the Development Services department, the resource is meant to help first-time business owners navigate city requirements such as zoning, licenses and permits, as well as connect local business owners with resources across the state.
The loans range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $20,000. Repayment time could be between three to five years, depending on the loan size and scope of the project, according to the city.
The loan recipients were announced during National Small Business Week 2025, the first week of May.
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Also in May, city officials announced recipients of its Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Program, which offers matching grants to promote reinvestment in buildings located in commercial areas. The program has provided $1.5 million in matching funds to more than two dozen building renovations since 2021. The 2025 recipients included locations in the Waveland Park, Drake, Indianola Hills, Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Southwestern Hills neighborhoods.
More: Q&A: Des Moines’ new small business support staff helps owners ‘cut through noise’
Who are the small business loan recipients?
24K JUICE
24K Juice, owned and founded by Karmon Long, is a health-focused business that offers juices, smoothies and healthy snacks. With help from the loan, Long will be able to move the shop into its first retail space in the East Village. The juice shop also aims to expand its menu, upgrade its cafe and kitchen with new energy-efficient equipment and have a self-serve kiosk.
Address: 300 E. Grand Ave.
Black Bagel
Started by Devin Lam and Lloyd Yates, Black Bagel is a new shop located at Center at Sixth in the historic Sixth Avenue corridor that will feature fresh, handmade bagels and homemade cream cheese. The loan will help Lam and Yates open their retail space, purchase new equipment, and expand their presence through daily production, catering and pop-ups.
Address: 1760 Sixth Ave.
More: Open house for Des Moines’ Center at Sixth business incubator emotional for founder
Chandelier
Chandelier, founded by Josh Law, is a new event space located in the former Frenchway Cleaners building, a space that sat vacant for more than a decade in Des Moines’ Highland Park neighborhood. Law wants to create an inclusive, flexible space for weddings, celebrations, and community events, as well as support other local entrepreneurs through an open vendor policy. The loan will help Law purchase kitchen equipment and attract more events.
Address: 413 Euclid Ave.
More: French Way Cleaners building in Highland Park finally gets a tenant. What’s planned?
Hotori Market
Hotori, owned by Nam Ho and Torri Myers, is a new spot in Des Moines’ Western Gateway where people can shop for authentic Asian groceries, household goods, and experience cultural events and cooking demonstrations. With funding support, Ho and Myers plan to expand the shop’s inventory, strengthen its supply chain and enhance its infrastructure.
Address: 1417 Walnut St., Suite D
Rook Room
The Rook Room, founded by Annelise Tarnowski and Tony Tandeski, is a pop-up game-based events business in Des Moines that is set to open as a board game lounge and cafe just south of downtown. The loan will allow the owners to extend the venue into the basement, providing space to host events, offer private rentals, and welcome more guests on busy nights. The loan will also help with essential upgrades like emergency egress, zoning changes, new walls, lighting and furnishings.
Address: 300 S.W. Fifth Ave, Suite A150
More: The Rook Room brings 700 games to its Des Moines location, opening in March
Tullpa Restaurant
Led by chef and owner Gloria Henriquez, Tullpa Restaurant serves traditional, homemade Peruvian dishes in Des Moines’ Merle Hay neighborhood. With help from the loan, Henriquez will be able to upgrade Tullpa’s dining area with new furniture, Peruvian-themed decor, and refreshed menus, as well as launch a new marketing campaign to attract new customers and solidify its presence in the city.
Address: 3708 Merle Hay Road
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