Amend's Meats
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Amend’s high quality meat has been a culinary treat for the city of Des Moines since founder Conrad Amend opened his first meat market four years after the Civil War. Amend was 11 years old when, alone, he left Germany to seek his fame and fortune in the New World. He arrived in New York on the 11th of September, 1860 where he remained for one year.
He then worked in an apothecary in Buffalo, NY and then a farm and a meat market near there. After working for six years, Amend left to seek his fortune farther west with $50 in his pocket and a change of clothes.
Conrad opened his first shop in Des Moines in 1869. It was located at Second and Vine streets, but his main base of operations ended up being a three-story building that he built at Third and Walnut. Cattle were harvested behind the downtown building, sausage was made on the second floor and poultry was processed on the third floor. For over 50 years that building housed the Amend operation.
Conrad had a very large family with two daughters and nine sons. In 1908, the Amend sons joined the business, and with the help of William, John, George, Edward, Gus, Herman, Albert, Arthur and Ralph, C. Amend & Sons was born. The third generation of Amend men, Ralph Jr. and Richard carried on the meat processing business operating a packing plant, while Edward Jr. ran a retail store in Beaverdale.
The packing plant, known as Amend Packing Company moved to their current headquarters on S.E. 18th Street in 1928. Kent and Amy (fourth generation) continue the family operation.
Files
Amend's Meats
Photo of inside of Amend's Market meat counter with customers and employees. Large sign behind meat counter says, "Amend's Market. Best Meats. Lowest Prices." Another sign back left hanging over customers says, "Fresh Fish and Oysters." | Source: Amend Packing Co. Archives
Amend's Meats
Photo of Conrad Amend (right) and man in front of a very early Amend Meats location wearing long white aprons. "Conrad. Amend." printed across the front of the awning. Sausages hanging in the windows. | Source: Historic Tour #1: Des Moines: Confluence of People and Resources, 1982.
Amend's Meats
Photograph of the front of Amend's Meats and Groceries. Four delivery trucks parked on street out front with "Amend's" printed on the side. To the left of the store is a sign that says, "Ames Fish." The 1922 city directory lists addresses for Amend C. and Sons (Inc.) Groceries and Meat at 518 Locust and Ames L. Fisher, Cigars and Tobacco at 516 Locust. | Source: Amend Packing Co. Archives | Date: c. 1920s
Amend's Meats
Image of front of Amend's Meats and Groceries. Sign projecting from building says, "Amend's Meats Groceries." Painted on top side of building, "Amend's Food Market." Block letters setting above windows and doorway: Home of Amends Good Food. | Source: Amend Packing Co. Archives | Date: c. 1930s
Amend's Meats
Image of interior from behind the meat counter. Includes five employees in white aprons and hats, as well as many customers standing in front of the counter. | Source: Amend Packing Co. Archives
Amend Meat Market
1873 City directory listing for Amend Meat Market. Was not listed in 1871 directory. 1872 directory unknown. Text: Amend C, meat market, 3d(?), bet Court Av and Walnut, w2 [ward 2], m1 [males 1], f1 [females 2], t2 [total 2], b. [birthplace] Germany. | Source: Bushnell's Des Moines Residence and Business Directory | Date: 1873-01
Amend's Meat Market
News clipping. Text: New Meat Market. - Mr. Conrad Amend has opened a meat and sausage market at 509 Walnut street. He will keep constantly on hand a full assortment of the choicest of meats, which will be sold at the most reasonable prices. Give him a call. | Source: Daily Iowa State Register | Date: 1873-09-07