Plain Talk Books & Coffee, a truly distinctive neighborhood book store, sandwich and coffee shop, was established in 2009 in Des Moines’ historic East Village. 

Our store is named after Plain Talk, a former Des Moines newspaper put out by Plain Talk Publishing Company, whose operation was located on the same block as our store.

Our logo is derived from a cartoon we stumbled across while browsing the Plain Talk archives. 

The cartoon portrays an editor or writer standing, stretching, maybe taking a break or finishing up, reflecting or wearing out for the day. The caption, from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, asserts the power of writers and artists to give shape and meaning to the formless and intangible. 

Our antique lunch counter is inspired by the renowned soda fountain from Hammer Pharmacy, the previous and long-time occupant of our building.  

From the lunch counter you can see prints and signs on the wall paying tribute (along with our classic deli sandwiches!) to the Hast Meat Market, Hammer Pharmacy’s long-time neighbor.  

We named the lunch counter "Al and Lew’s" after proprietors Alvin G. Hammer and Lewis G. Hast.

 
You can feel the sense of place and presence of the past when you visit us. You can see it, too, like in the ghost sign advertising “Alvin G. Hammer, Druggist” along the building’s west façade.