In Memoriam: Ames Business/Restaurants

[cyfan4St8]

To all that are wondering about Great Plains... It's alive and well I went there last week with my wife and kids and it's as good as always.
Whiskey River is still around it got shut down for awhile because the building was falling apart and just was getting nasty (always was a little nasty ha ha). But it has a newer feel to it with still it's same kind of crowd.
I do miss gumby's, stick it to me Tuesdays sometimes was the best meal of the week. And being able to order delivery after getting home from the bars was awesome! Jeff's pizza is in campus town and it's really close to the same as gumby's. They have something like poky sticks and pepperoni rolls that we get still once a month. It always takes me back to some great memories.

Battle's was good and nice to have in campus town and it sucks how it didn't last after the owner died. In Boone a guy that worked for Battles awhile back kind of did something similar but i think even better called Jimmy's BBQ. Its so awesome and cheap ! I would much rather go there for fresh smoked meat than Hickory Park.

One place I miss is Legends, the view was awesome of campus and it was a similar meal to what you would get at applebee's but the parking to get there sucked. I really don't know why otherwise why it didn't do better.

 

[JP4CY]

The Boheme! Went there a lot the summer after freshman year. Had a friend who lived in the apartments next door who knew the whole staff so it would be pregame at his place then head in to the 1 18+ place in town and continue to drink.

Bingo

 

[jc4cy]

To all that are wondering about Great Plains... It's alive and well I went there last week with my wife and kids and it's as good as always.

...

One place I miss is Legends, the view was awesome of campus and it was a similar meal to what you would get at applebee's but the parking to get there sucked. I really don't know why otherwise why it didn't do better.

I was a sophomore or junior in college when this changed over. From what I could gather, Iowa State bought the building and removed Legends to make it into an "on campus apartment" (same category as Freddy Court). We called them the "Legend apartments"... oddest layout of any apartments I've ever seen. Great parties though until ISU took over and every floor had an RA. I think the old Legends restaurant is still there and is just a gathering place with TVs and couches and stuff.

 

[JP4CY]

One place I miss is Legends, the view was awesome of campus and it was a similar meal to what you would get at applebee's but the parking to get there sucked. I really don't know why otherwise why it didn't do better.

Two words: elevator puke

 

[JP4CY]

Also, Ames used to have a Long John Silvers on Lincoln Way by Taco Time that I'm sad closed.

That LJS had beer on tap for a long time.

 

[laminak]

To all that are wondering about Great Plains... It's alive and well I went there last week with my wife and kids and it's as good as always.
.

One of my friends was just in Ames and went to Great Plains and complained/debated on FB about how nasty it was, using low grade sauces and toppings. I haven't been there in many many years, so couldn't comment. Was he being a snob or did he order the wrong pizza?

 

[Tri4Cy]

They ended the Margarita Challenge, then closed. coincidence?

I have a drawer full of stupid college shirts, I should bust out my "I survived the Margarita Challenge". Others shirts included: You Pack, We Move (move in day help in dorms), I agree with Dave (I didn't but thought it was funny), VEISHEA was a Riot, It's OK with me, and countless home-made intramural team shirts.

Ha! I still love rocking the "Wasn't VEISHA a Riot" tshirt with the guy getting maced. Good times. Good times.

 

[jc4cy]

Also, I graduated in 2015 and knew Ames like the back of my hand. It's barely been 3 years and has changed so much:

- Someone put a Jethros where the Aldi used to be?!?
- Where did that giant Walmart by the mall come from?!?
- Holy balls theirs a median on Duff Avenue!
- Where did the Other Place go?!? That JUST opened when I was in school!
- When did a CVS just shoot up out of the ground where Charlie Yokes (RIP) used to be?!?
- I'm pretty sure if they keep adding apartment complexes in West Ames, those students will have Boone mailing addresses.
- Back when I went to college, the buildings weren't so tall by campustown that they block out the sun when you drove on Lincoln Way

 

[Farnsworth]

Not really a place of business, but bar specials that the city or state banned.

Bladder busters at Es Tas was always a good time.
Any Coin Any Drink at Chasers
Ladies drink free nights

 

[Cybirdy]

Two words: elevator puke

My husband and I were just talking about this last night. We walked by Legends on our way to/from Blaze pizza. We graduated ISU in the 90's but have lived back in Ames the past 10 years and used to frequent Legends. I said it was nice because it had parking, but hubby pointed out they needed a separate elevator for the restaurant.

 

[IcSyU]

Also, I graduated in 2015 and knew Ames like the back of my hand. It's barely been 3 years and has changed so much:

- Someone put a Jethros where the Aldi used to be?!?
- Where did that giant Walmart by the mall come from?!?
- Holy balls theirs a median on Duff Avenue!
- Where did the Other Place go?!? That JUST opened when I was in school!
- When did a CVS just shoot up out of the ground where Charlie Yokes (RIP) used to be?!?
- I'm pretty sure if they keep adding apartment complexes in West Ames, those students will have Boone mailing addresses.
- Back when I went to college, the buildings weren't so tall by campustown that they block out the sun when you drove on Lincoln Way

Aldi moved onto Duff behind Texas Roadhouse/AutoZone
The Super Walmart is where Dahl's used to be. The old Walmart I believe is parking.
OP went out of business. Landlord issues + sales issues.

 

[IcSyU]

Legends had some of the worst service in Ames before it closed.

View: Fantastic
Food: Very average and expensive
Drinks: Expensive
Service: Pitiful
Elevator: One of the elevators always seemed to be out of service. Multiple times both elevators were.
Parking: Disaster.

 

[CycloneBob]

For a touch of nostalgia:

Charco's Drive-In on South Duff
King's Food Host

Both had onion rings that would put any of today to shame.

 

[carvers4math]

Is Thumbs Up different than Thumbs? I believe Thumbs is still there, just down from West Street Deli, right?

Back in 1990-91, I practically lived at Thumbs. Lived in an apartment nearby. We'd go play pool up there a lot. They had a couple sawed off pool sticks you had to use for certain shots because the table was so close to the wall.

Thumbs is still there. The prof my son worked for always had meetings there or the coffee place on Welch lol.

Thumbs Up is long gone. It was on west side of Welch close to Lincoln Way. Casual dining in early ‘80’s. Seemed like the go-to first date place.

 

[JP4CY]

Not really a place of business, but bar specials that the city or state banned.

Bladder busters at Es Tas was always a good time.
Any Coin Any Drink at Chasers
Ladies drink free nights

Penny Pitchers at the Zone

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

That LJS had beer on tap for a long time.

Back when bars couldn't be open on Sundays we would stop by LJS and buy a few beers

 

[WhatchaGonnaDo]

There was a Taco Bell catty-corner from Clyde Williams Field (across LWay). They would have 5 hard tacos for $1 specials. Good grub, especially after drinking.

Was still open all the way up to ~2010. Right close to dorms, made for a great location for late night food.

Regularly gave out free cinnamon twists

 

[Farnsworth]

Ha! I still love rocking the "Wasn't VEISHA a Riot" tshirt with the guy getting maced. Good times. Good times.

This reminds me of another ISU RIP (although both have been replaced/no longer needed). Strange Search and Strange Talk. The VEISHEA Riot photoshop thread was one of the first I ever participated in.

 

[MartyFine]

The Fox Lounge

 

[JP4CY]

This reminds me of another ISU RIP (although both have been replaced/no longer needed). Strange Search and Strange Talk. The VEISHEA Riot photoshop thread was one of the first I ever participated in.

I would say half of my digital music today is from Strangesearch 18 years ago.