Everyday errands
Groceries and everyday errands downtown
The question people ask about downtown is where you buy groceries. The honest answer here is that there is a full grocery store on the same street.
The grocery store on Court Avenue
Hy-Vee operates a full grocery store at 420 Court Ave, about 0.1 mile from the buildings on the same street. It carries produce, a pharmacy counter and the usual departments, so the weekly shop is a walk, not a drive. Hy-Vee sets its own hours and services; hy-vee.com lists the current ones for the Court Avenue store.
The market on the block
From May through October the Downtown Farmers' Market sets up on Court Avenue on Saturday mornings, run by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. It covers the produce and the local makers in season; the Hy-Vee covers the rest of the week and the rest of the year.
The rest of the errands
Downtown carries the everyday basics within a few blocks, and the free-to-walk grid means most of them do not need the car. For anything bigger, the car reaches it: the getting around page has the distances, including Des Moines International Airport 5.2 miles south. Court & Marketplace rents one- and two-bedroom homes across both buildings, 308 and 312 Court Ave, with an in-unit washer and dryer in most homes and bulk internet included with rent. Live floor plans and today’s pricing are on the availability page.
Questions people ask
Where is the nearest grocery store to Court & Marketplace?
The Hy-Vee at 420 Court Ave, about 0.1 mile away on the same street. It is a full grocery store with a pharmacy counter.
Is there a grocery store within walking distance downtown?
Yes. The Hy-Vee on Court Avenue is about 0.1 mile from the buildings, so the weekly shop is a walk.
Can I buy groceries at the Farmers' Market?
In season, yes, for produce and local goods on Saturday mornings, May through October. The Hy-Vee on Court Avenue covers the rest of the week and the off-season.
Do I need a car to live downtown?
Not for the basics. A full grocery store, restaurants and the market are within a few blocks. A car still helps for larger trips; the getting around page has the distances.
The Hy-Vee at 420 Court Ave was confirmed open on hy-vee.com, October 2026. Hours and services are set by Hy-Vee and change. Distances are by road from 308 Court Ave, measured with OpenStreetMap routing.
More about living here
- Living in the Court Avenue District
- The Downtown Farmers' Market, out the door
- Parks and trails near Court Avenue
- Eating and drinking on Court Avenue
- Getting around from Court Avenue
- Things to do downtown
- Court Avenue Lofts and Market Place Lofts: which is which
- The floor plans, explained
- The fitness center, business center and lounge
- Pet-friendly apartments on Court Avenue
- How to apply at Court & Marketplace
- Working from home on Court Avenue
- What residents say about Court & Marketplace
- The Court Avenue District guide
- All questions