Midnight Coffee expands with acquisition of Des Moines metro café

CLIVE — A Johnson County coffee brand is expanding quickly across Iowa after coming under new ownership.

Midnight Coffee, previously known as Coffee Emporium in Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty and Tiffin, has announced a new acquisition in the Des Moines suburb of Clive.

This week, St. Kilda’s Collective at 12695 University Ave, Suite 140, will start its transition to become another Midnight Coffee location. The acquisition, Midnight Coffee’s fifth location, comes about four months after the Johnson County locations transitioned to the new name.

The new brand’s growth comes after owner North Liberty entrepreneur Alex Nelson purchased the first four cafés from founder Abby Ochs in July 2024.

“We saw it pop up for sale, and it’s a fantastic area with great aesthetics and a really great team in place,” Nelson said. “The Des Moines area is a market we have been wanting to expand to, and this shop checked all of our boxes.”

Nelson said the former St. Kilda’s menu will stay mostly the same with some small tweaks, for now. The menu offers pastries, sandwiches, burritos, grain bowls and various fusions of hearty breakfast fare.

The café also will keep its table service model — a contrast from the fast-casual Midnight Coffee locations in Eastern Iowa, which offer counter service and drive-thrus.

“It’s something we have wanted to test out and are excited to expand on our offerings,” Nelson said.

Another St. Kilda’s Collective location remains at 335 Fifth St. in West Des Moines.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.

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