# Kaleidoscope at the Hub

Des Moines, IA · mall · tier: draft · Retrofit Atlas record `m-5a6ed06ecc` · release 2026-10-21

Canonical: https://retrofitatlas.org/malls/ia/des-moines-kaleidoscope-at-the-hub/  
JSON: https://retrofitatlas.org/data/records/m-5a6ed06ecc.json · Provenance: https://retrofitatlas.org/data/records/m-5a6ed06ecc.provenance.json · API: https://retrofitatlas.org/api/v1/sites/m-5a6ed06ecc

## Facts

| Field | Value | Provenance |
|---|---|---|
| Status | demolished | documented · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Strategy | redevelop | documented · model extraction, unreviewed |
| New use | housing | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| What is there now | The west part of the former Kaleidoscope from 7th Street to 6th Street remains, but it is now referred to as the Hub, not Kaleidoscope Mall. | documented · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Opened | 1985 | documented · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Retrofit year | 2019 | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Original developer | Hubbell Realty | documented · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Redeveloper | Blackbird Investments | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Planning notes | In May 2018, it was announced that Blackbird Investments planned to build an apartment tower at 515 Walnut Street. | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |

## Quoted support

- **year_opened**: “Kaleidoscope at the Hub was an indoor mall in downtown Des Moines, Iowa built by Hubbell Realty in 1985.” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub
- **original_developer**: “Kaleidoscope at the Hub was an indoor mall in downtown Des Moines, Iowa built by Hubbell Realty in 1985.” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub
- **after_notes**: “The west part of the former Kaleidoscope from 7th Street to 6th Street remains, but it is now referred to as the Hub, not Kaleidoscope Mall.” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub
- **status**: “The building was gutted in April, was fully demolished soon thereafter.” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub
- **strategy**: “In May 2018, it was announced that Blackbird Investments planned to build an apartment tower at 515 Walnut Street.” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub
- **enclosed**: “Kaleidoscope at the Hub was an indoor mall in downtown Des Moines, Iowa built by Hubbell Realty in 1985.” — extraction-deep:nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b
- **demolition_year**: “In February 2023, the mall was boarded up in preparation of its demolition.” — extraction-deep:nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

## Anchors

Musicland

## Parties

- Equitable of Iowa — owner (from text)
- Midamerican Energy — owner (from text)
- Hubbell — owner (from text)

## Timeline

- 1985: Opened as indoor mall
- 2018: Announcement of apartment tower
- 2019: Eastern half vacated and removed
- 2023: Mall boarded up for demolition
- 2023: Building gutted and demolished
- 2027: Expected completion of 515 Walnut Tower

## Background (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, shortened)

Kaleidoscope at the Hub was an indoor mall in downtown Des Moines, Iowa built by Hubbell Realty in 1985. The original ownership groups included Equitable of Iowa, Midamerican Energy and Hubbell. The east "block" of the mall had a vibrant Food Court with approximately 7 restaurants at any given time. The first tenant to open in the mall was Panda Chinese Food in the Food Court. Other stores that were leased in the building include Vogue Vision, Skeffington's formalwear, Laura Ashley, Musicland, Ritz Camera, Michael J's, Seifert's, Johnston & Murphy, Walker's Shoe Store, Peck & Peck, Alphabet Soup toys and many more. The Kaleidoscope was accessible from the skywalk or from the ground level. It was in close proximity to many Des Moines attractions including the East Village and Casey's Center.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub

## Sources

- Quoted support for year_opened — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope_at_the_Hub

## Cite

Retrofit Atlas (2026). "Kaleidoscope at the Hub, Des Moines, IA." Record m-5a6ed06ecc, release 2026-10-21, tier draft. https://retrofitatlas.org/malls/ia/des-moines-kaleidoscope-at-the-hub/ (accessed 2026-10-21).

```bibtex
@misc{retrofitatlas_desmoineskaleidoscopeatthehub,
  title = {Kaleidoscope at the Hub, Des Moines, IA},
  author = {{Retrofit Atlas}},
  howpublished = {\url{https://retrofitatlas.org/malls/ia/des-moines-kaleidoscope-at-the-hub/}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Record m-5a6ed06ecc, release 2026-10-21, tier: draft. Built on the Retrofitting Suburbia map (Dunham-Jones and Williamson) and the sources listed on the record. Accessed 2026-10-21}
}
```

Licence: research use only; terms undecided with the authors (https://retrofitatlas.org/licence/). Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0. Tiers: curated = from the authors' public map, not reviewed by them; draft = imported or model-extracted, unreviewed.