November 7, 1946 "The Embassy Club has leased the space formerly occupied by the Gotham club at 214 10th street effective November 1, 1946. Mr. Warner Wood, recently returned from service in the U.S. Navy, has been engaged as manager of the Club. The Board of Directors has voted to extend to Charter members the privilege of joining the club for the sum of $10.00."

One might think our clubs heritage generates from the above solicitation letter sent in those happy bustling days after the end of WWII. However, you would have to go back in club history rolls to 1885 at 615 High street and the formation of the Grant Club (named after civil war general Ulysses S. Grant and later president) to truly trace our beginnings. The Grant Club succumbed to the Depression economy in February of 1933 and was reopened as the Hawkeye Democratic Club in the same location. This club quickly gave way to the "EMBASSY CLUB" which gained notoriety due to the large number of liquor raids there by the Police. This was further complicated by a nasty situation with the club's Orchestra & Conductor as business declined leading up to 1934 and the Club Belvedere taking over the enterprise! Surely one of the most sumptuous illegal gambling establishments ever opened in Des Moines, it flourished along with many others in downtown Des Moines with the repeal of prohibition in the mid 30's, until it too drew attention situated as it was next to the St.Ambrose rectory. The Belvedere then closed as police raids had once again seized all its gambling equipment and liquor and the building was vacant till 1941 when it became the State's Job Bureau office.

As stated above the modern incarnation of the Embassy Club began in 1946 in the former Gotham Club space in the Hotel Fort Des Moines. You guessed it, the Gotham club had been raided and closed by the police. It had along with the Town Club in the Hotel Savery enjoyed heavy patronage and made lots of money throwing 2-3 free parties annually complete with big name orchestra's and all the food and liquor members could consume! The Embassy after once and for all getting rid of "amusement devices" (slot machines etc.) in the mid 50's evolves too 1963 and the signing into law of Iowa's Liquor by the drink statute for our next milestone. This eliminated the need for lockers behind the bar for members liquor storage and the subsequent "borrowing" that went on. Hostess Murphy and Waitress Charlotte Wagner, a witness to those times, told me as a very young Maitre' d that in Locker Club days when they raised the "set-up" price from a nickel to a dime, a setup being the glass, ice and mixer needed for your own liquor to mix in, quite a ruckus was created.

The Embassy continued operations in the Hotel Fort Des Moines till 1974, when it was decided to move its 1000 plus members to Des Moines's first Skyscraper the 25 story Financial Center at 666 Walnut Street. With $550,000 in liquor, food and initiation fee income collected the club developed its new luxurious home. Original Manager Warner Woods now in poor health retired and the search was on for a true Gourmet type Manager with the team led by Mr. Leroy Daubert & Mr. Ed Glazer presidents of the board.

Oley Hrdlicka a WW II refugee from Czechoslovakia was enticed from Colorado and the new Manager brought a progressive European culinary and wine program to the club that was unequalled. There were many happy years in the Financial center quarters.

In 1990, the Embassy club maintained its tradition of wanting the finer things in life, as it moved to the top of the newly built 801 Grand building. Once again the Embassy club became the highest point in the state, atop the most luxurious skyscraper in Iowa and then some. The move was generally agreed to have been poorly executed and successive managers were hired with poor results till 1993 (the year of the flood). Local Caterer and restaurateur Michael R. LaValle (having left the club in 1981 as Asst. Mgr.) was recruited back as Manager and led the club's revival along with the dedicated crew of the Club. This was further complicated due to the negative tax law changes, meal deductions, corporate mergers, and flight to the suburbs that occurred through out the 1990's! In 1996 the clubs original 50 year corporate charter expired and was renewed as well.

In 1998 the Embassy re-opened the former Metropolitan Club (which was the former Bohemian Club), space in Capital Square (400 Locust St.) constituting the first time a Des Moines city club had a second location. This was the location of the clubs extravagant Millennium celebration and following soon after in 2002 the leasing by the club of the beautiful ballroom at the Temple for Performing Arts at 10th & Locust as a banquet only facility, for the clubs 3rd location. In October of 2002 the impossible occurred with the Des Moines Club (located 34th floor Ruan Center 666 Grand), and the Embassy Club's Boards of directors meeting and agreeing to merge the Des Moines Club (4th location) with the Embassy Club to form the Des Moines Embassy Club. The now 2000 member combined club enjoys a "Town & Country " relationship with Glen Oaks Country Club, a 300 club reciprocal list, 2 fine dining and meeting clubs in adjoining skyscraper towers, 68,000 leased square footage, and annual budget of just under 6 million dollars.

Maintaining the highest standards of Hospitality for all these years the club staff looks forward to welcoming you to the club!

Compiled by Michael R. LaValle General Manager/Culinary Director Des Moines Embassy club