Waukee Round-Up: Top Five Business Stories of 2011

1) Jimmy John's Opens in Waukee

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, located at 105 N. Warrior Lane, opened for business in October and has since become a very popular lunch spot in Waukee. The Warrior Lane franchise was the 22nd Jimmy John's location in Iowa.

2) Sears Hometown Store

A new opened Nov. 1 at 300 W. Hickman Road. The 7,000-square-foot store carries everything from home appliances to electronics to home and garden items and tools. Every item in the store is backed by the Sears' warranties and guarantees and if he doesn't have a particular item in the store, it can still be ordered.

3) Kosama Waukee

, the largest Kosama location in the metro area at 5,000-square-feet, is next to Mickey's Irish Pub and Grill at 70 Laurel St. It opened in September and offers a total body makeover course that's skyrocketed in popularity since it's start in 2010.

4) Alice's Road Corridor Gets RISE Grant

In October, the city of Waukee found out it would receive a for $5.29 million to help pay for the Alice's Road corridor project.

The grant will pay for the construction cost of three of the six lanes of Alice's Road planned between University Avenue and Ashworth Road. The total cost of the project is estimated at $10.4 million with construction expected to begin in 2012.

The Alice's Road corridor, once completed, is expected to bring in businesses critical to the future of the city of Waukee. An estimated 1,700 acres in new development is expected over time with the completion of key infrastructure within the corridor.

5) Hy-Vee Store

The proposed Hy-Vee grocery store, convenience store and car wash at the intersection of Northeast Alice’s Road and East Hickman Road could possibly be underway in 2012.

A site plan for the new Hy-Vee was approved in February 2011 but there's been no building on the site to date. Construction on the convenience store and car wash could begin as soon as this spring.