In Memoriam: Ames Business/Restaurants
- Thread starter Farnsworth
- Start date
Starbucks is moving because of this
This was announced way before Pollards project.
I don't know if they ever got UP approval to go over the tracks.
It's not all music. I went there quite a few times for the comedy shows and open mic nights.
I saw Hannibal Buress at the M-Shop in 2011/2012 time frame. There were maybe 30 chairs in there for it? Was ******* incredible considering he started blowing up that year and soon after that. Selling out arenas.
Also saw the vagina monologues in there.
I'm glad it's still going strong.
Trying to imagine you at Vagina Monologues. Surely you got called out at some point. I would have paid double for that show!
Yeah, the Downtown Plaza is a huge priority right now, and plans are already being made around that. It's expensive enough.
Ames definitely seems to be trending towards something more cosmopolitan and less college drunk/ag kid **** kicker vibe that was pretty prevalent when I was there ('03-'08).
It's funny to see people bemoan it, because when I was there everyone complained that it wasn't chic enough (but it was a hell of a good time).
I was in Ames the same time you were. If you wanted fancy you went to Des Moines (or MSP or Chicago).
It was a lot of fun.
I think there's definitely room for both in Ames! I don't entirely understand why we have to do either/or. We do personally tend to frequent the more cosmopolitan places, but ISU is still a huge ag school in an ag state - we have room for that, too, for sure.
That is also my concern. They say that we should be able to park in the west lots - that are already half taken up by employees and service cars, and parking is already rough to find as it is. I have to go to City Hall once a month or more (during non pandemic times) for a city commission/board that I'm on, and it's a game of intricate timing to get a spot.
Yeah, I remember getting indignant any time Ames got **** on back then, which was pretty much all the time. We had a blast the whole time, and my buddies who went to Iowa came over here on a regular basis because they had such a good time. Everything was cheaper, more laid back, and just less stuffy in general.
Watching Ames become trendy and ISU athletics/fanbase get national respect is both satisfying on one hand, but simultaneously makes me nostalgic for the way things were 15 years ago.
I think a lot of the changes Ames is wanting to make is trying to fill the void in appeal they had for the young professionals/postgrad crowd.
I lived in Ames a few years after college, and it did get better with places like Torrent and Alluvial, growth of the research park, etc. But DSM is still the place to be once you hit 25 or so.
Ames still has its college town charm, but I don’t blame them for wanting to close that gap.
I lived in Ames a few years after college, and it did get better with places like Torrent and Alluvial, growth of the research park, etc. But DSM is still the place to be once you hit 25 or so.
Ames still has its college town charm, but I don’t blame them for wanting to close that gap.
Thanks for the rec! Always looking for a good new BBQ joint in the area to try out.
I miss Battle's too, that place was incredible. I visited the one in Campustown a few times -- it was always empty when I was in there.
