City of Moline and business leaders gather for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Leedy Building in downtown Moline. CREDIT PRIYANKA SAINI
The historic and recently renovated Leedy Building in downtown Moline continues to get positive feedback and more business interest from the community. Just weeks after re-opening, the building’s first floor retail space is attracting other businesses. Its third floor banquet and conference space already is booking many celebrations and meetings for the coming weeks and […]
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The historic and recently renovated Leedy Building in downtown Moline continues to get positive feedback and more business interest from the community. Just weeks after re-opening, the building’s first floor retail space is attracting other businesses. Its third floor banquet and conference space already is booking many celebrations and meetings for the coming weeks and months.That’s the word from Priyanka Saini, who is managing the new Moline Banquet & Conference Center portion of the building, which is on the third floor of the building.In addition to booking celebrations for the refurbished facility, the building’s first floor soon will be home to other retail businesses. A spa specializing in facials, waxing and skin care services will go in one of the available units. Also, a boba/coffee shop will go into the corner space that once was home to a Fannie May candy shop, she added.“We believe these new businesses will compliment the event space beautifully and bring even more energy and foot traffic to the area,” said Ms. Saini.Last week, members of the business community and City of Moline leaders gathered at the historic building at 1530 5th Ave. for a grand opening event that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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Ved Pal points out some of the features on the third floor of the new Moline Banquet & Conference Center in downtown Moline. The center is located in the historic Leedy Building, 1530 5th Ave. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Ved Pal and Babli Saini family hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, May 17, for the renovated Leedy Building, located at 1530 5th Ave., Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
This Moline Club sign is still outside the building.
The Leedy Building is located at 1530 Fifth Ave., Moline. The top two stories of the building are becoming the new Moline Banquet and Conference Center. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Priyanka Saini is shown near the large oak fireplace on the historic Leedy Building’s second floor in downtown Moline. That renovated building soon will get a new life as an event and banquet center with room for tenant businesses on the first floor. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
This is a view from the third floor of the historic Leedy Building in downtown Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
This large, grand chandelier is one of the features inside the building.
This Fannie May store sign is still in a first floor window of the Leedy Building. The candy company was located in the building for many years. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
This piano sits in the corner of the new Moline Banquet & Conference Center in downtown Moline. The center is located on the second and third floors of the historic Leedy Building, 1530 5th Ave. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
But area residents also got to see sections of the renovated building during a soft opening celebration on Saturday, May 17. The Moline Banquet & Conference Center, which will also be known as the Moline Club, occupies the building’s second and third floors. The three-story building will host events, meetings and gatherings on the upper two floors. Since the opening celebration, Ms. Saini said the community has embraced the updated building. “Business has been going well. We have seen great response from the community. We have booked several events through the end of the year, including weddings, quinceaneras, baby showers and corporate Christmas parties. … We have also booked several events for 2026 and 2027. We are excited to see strong interest continue to grow,” she told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal this week.“The Leedy Building has historical significance, not only because of its age, but also because of the people associated with its origins. … Like the Reliance Building near it, the Leedy Building was among the first structures in Moline built with fire-proof construction,” said Moline Centre Program Manager Kirk Marske. “The building was also home to the Moline Commercial Club … which operated like chambers of commerce of today.” Here’s a look at the Leedy Building:
History: The three-story Leedy Building was built in 1912 for the Moline Commercial Club, a men’s organization founded in 1895 by Charles Deere, the son of John Deere. The building served as the YWCA from 1927-1978, and Fannie May Candies was a longtime fixture in the corner street-level space. Sundeen Clothing Co. was also an original tenant.
Features: The old Moline Club’s ballroom (third floor) still features the musician’s balcony, and the second floor event area still has the large oak fireplace and historic wood trim. The Moline Club has been a premier destination for business professionals, social gatherings and many memorable events. In addition to the areas available for event rentals on the second and third floors, the Leedy Building also has street-level space available for lease. That first floor will have four units available for retail space.
Address: 1530 Fifth Ave., Moline, located across the street from the Heritage Place building.
Owners: The building is owned by Ms. Saini’s father, Ved Pal, and her mother, Babli Saini. Her brother, Kuldeep Saini, is the general contractor for the renovation project. Her other brother, Pardeep Saini, also is involved in the renovation project.
Size: Each floor has about 7,000 square feet.
For more information: Contact Priyanka Saini at (309) 506-1230.
