Campustown Redevelopment

JP4CY

Lord, beer me strength.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2008
74,500
95,470
113
Testifying
Quintons is trash
I said something like it. Is there anywhere in campus you can get a beer, wings, sandwich, soup, salad, burger, etc under 1 roof? Es Tas may be the closest thing I guess.

For a University of 36,000 that’s mind boggling.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Messi

Messi

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 25, 2011
8,070
15,473
113
Cedar Rapids
I said something like it. Is there anywhere in campus you can get a beer, wings, sandwich, soup, salad, burger, etc under 1 roof? Es Tas may be the closest thing I guess.

For a University of 36,000 that’s mind boggling.


Always thought a well established Des Moines bar/grill would be smart to open up a Campustown location. Wellmans, El Bait Shop, Star Bar, Whisky River are some places i think could work if you found the right spot.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: JP4CY

alarson

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 15, 2006
59,465
74,129
113
Ankeny
Always thought a well established Des Moines bar/grill would be smart to open up a Campustown location. Wellmans, El Bait Shop, Star Bar, Whisky River are some places i think could work if you found the right spot.

I think Legends had the same idea. Didnt go so well for them.

Though 'right spot' was probably the problem there. Not being on street level really hurts in campustown
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Messi

ISU22CY

Well-Known Member
Dec 15, 2012
5,112
6,726
113
Iowa
I think Legends had the same idea. Didnt go so well for them.

Though 'right spot' was probably the problem there. Not being on street level really hurts in campustown
When I was in school 07-11 I recall going to legends maybe 2 times. 1 was for a club get together and 2nd was with friends. Location killed it plus as others mentioned nothing like killing your appetite with puke in the elevator on the way up and down.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: CycloneSarah

JSmoove

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 19, 2012
796
367
63
2611 Helser, Louden
When I was in school 07-11 I recall going to legends maybe 2 times. 1 was for a club get together and 2nd was with friends. Location killed it plus as others mentioned nothing like killing your appetite with puke in the elevator on the way up and down.
Aside from riding the barf bucket that was the elevator to get there, the view of campus you got was pretty awesome.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: IASTATE07 and SCNCY

2forISU

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2008
6,249
2,209
113
Over the last decade, Ohio State's "main area" Short North has been revitalized and it's quite impressive. I wish Ames/Iowa State had the same vision and looked at other campuses that have revitalized their main areas.
I know Columbus and Ames are not comparable but it's interesting to see the transformation and how they took an eyesore and made it to a great area of town.
 

JP4CY

Lord, beer me strength.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2008
74,500
95,470
113
Testifying
I know Columbus and Ames are not comparable but it's interesting to see the transformation and how they took an eyesore and made it to a great area of town.
Yeah, I've been to a lot of Big 12 and Big 10 towns/cities. Ames Campustown, while it was maybe charming 20 years ago, is pretty bland, boring, and somewhat dumpy.
 

mj4cy

Asst. Regional Manager
Staff member
Mar 28, 2006
31,804
14,767
113
Iowa
Yeah, I've been to a lot of Big 12 and Big 10 towns/cities. Ames Campustown, while it was maybe charming 20 years ago, is pretty bland, boring, and somewhat dumpy.

I was just in Austin last week......yes I can see why they don't have to really recruit very hard to get 4/5 stars in all sports.
 

TXCyclones

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 13, 2011
11,403
12,613
113
TX
Yeah, I've been to a lot of Big 12 and Big 10 towns/cities. Ames Campustown, while it was maybe charming 20 years ago, is pretty bland, boring, and somewhat dumpy.

I posted this back in August and got lambasted for doing so. Campustown/Ames ain't what she used to be, and that's sad considering that the student population has increased dramatically.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: JP4CY

ISUalum2012

Active Member
Mar 24, 2014
154
50
28
Yeah, I've been to a lot of Big 12 and Big 10 towns/cities. Ames Campustown, while it was maybe charming 20 years ago, is pretty bland, boring, and somewhat dumpy.

Somewhat dumpy? Besides the new buildings that have gone up in the past 6 years, almost all of the establishments are quite dumpy. It's sad there isn't really a place where you'd feel comfortable taking your visiting parents for a drink after a game or something.
 

ribsnwhiskey

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Feb 6, 2009
9,062
4,265
113
80246
Over the last decade, Ohio State's "main area" Short North has been revitalized and it's quite impressive. I wish Ames/Iowa State had the same vision and looked at other campuses that have revitalized their main areas.
I know Columbus and Ames are not comparable but it's interesting to see the transformation and how they took an eyesore and made it to a great area of town.

I was just in Austin last week......yes I can see why they don't have to really recruit very hard to get 4/5 stars in all sports.

Columbus Population: 860,090
Austin Population: 947,890
Ames Population: 66,191

Good comparisons.
 

awd4cy

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2010
27,978
19,605
113
Central Iowa
Manhattan, KS population: 54983
Stillwater, OK population: 49504

I’ve been to both and they have better bars / campustowns than Ames.
What’s really better about those places? I’ve been to Manhattan and Aggyville and I would easily disagree. I guess I’m probably biased, but I think our campus town now looks a lot better and has enough to offer for me anyways. Guess I can’t speak for everyone though.
 

2forISU

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2008
6,249
2,209
113
Columbus Population: 860,090
Austin Population: 947,890
Ames Population: 66,191

Good comparisons.
Hard time reading? Below I make the comment that Columbus and Ames are not comparable, but carry...
"I know Columbus and Ames are not comparable but it's interesting to see the transformation and how they took an eyesore and made it to a great area of town."
 

Messi

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 25, 2011
8,070
15,473
113
Cedar Rapids
What’s really better about those places? I’ve been to Manhattan and Aggyville and I would easily disagree. I guess I’m probably biased, but I think our campus town now looks a lot better and has enough to offer for me anyways. Guess I can’t speak for everyone though.

ISU campus itself is way better than Kansas State. I thought KSU aggieville had much more selection and overall better options than Welch ave/Lincoln Way. I felt KSU had nicer/cleaner bars and more bar&grill/restaurants. I love ISU but our campustown options at the moment are limited to fast casual restaurants or tired bars.
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
32,437
28,768
113
40
Driftless Region
Visit site
I didn't see much difference between Campustown and Aggieville or Stillwater.

Aggieville was a cleaner/nicer area, but it wasn't any more fun. Stillwater was in no way significantly different, other than the bars being full of smoke.

I wouldn't say Campustown is better, but it's a lot less dumpy than 5 years ago. It's probably a nicer looking area right now than any part of Stillwater I hung out it (Washington, and the neighborhood just south of Boone Pickens).
 

2forISU

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2008
6,249
2,209
113
Manhattan, KS population: 54983
Stillwater, OK population: 49504

I’ve been to both and they have better bars / campustowns than Ames.
Hell, Main St. in Cedar Falls is better than Ames Campustown.
Population: 42,000
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
32,437
28,768
113
40
Driftless Region
Visit site
ISU campus itself is way better than Kansas State. I thought KSU aggieville had much more selection and overall better options than Welch ave/Lincoln Way. I felt KSU had nicer/cleaner bars and more bar&grill/restaurants. I love ISU but our campustown options at the moment are limited to fast casual restaurants or tired bars.

Aggieville doesn't have more selection, but it's much more food and family oriented so you have better eating options and cleaner bars.