In Memoriam: Ames Business/Restaurants

Tri4Cy

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Strange Search was just amazing. I'm so surprised they even dared do it with all of the Napster stuff that was going on at the same time, but I hoarded music.

The week before they shut the network down I downloaded anything and everything I could find. I know their was a hidden/private network that was still running for a year or two later but strangesearch was amazing!
 
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urb1

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Jan 23, 2010
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Urbandale
I assume the Hardee's on Welch Ave is gone now. There or IHOP, is where we always stopped coming back from the bars. Cave-In (disco) had Lucky Q (country) and Brass Bull (quiet) right above it. We'd watch Monday Night Football at the Brass Bull, because they had a big screen TV. It was probably smaller than most TV's today and was so blurred, it was hard to tell what was going on.

The corner of Welch and Lincoln Way had a nice quiet bar, Baxters's, that has stain glass fixtures on the ceiling.
 
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VeloClone

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Jan 19, 2010
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Brooklyn Park, MN
I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet: but Oddfellows by the mall was always good. Their Oddfellow burger (a burger with glazed donuts as a bun) was the weirdest most amazing burger ever. Plus mac n cheese as a side was awesome.

Also, Ames used to have a Long John Silvers on Lincoln Way by Taco Time that I'm sad closed.
I think the last time I ate Long John Silvers and actually enjoyed it was about 30 years ago from that store. We carried out and ate it at Brookside Park. I've had it maybe twice since and every time it is a giant pool of grease gut bomb that takes all of the fun out of it.
 
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Frak

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Apr 27, 2009
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I would say half of my digital music today is from Strangesearch 18 years ago.

I’d say half mine came from Napster, Bearshare, Kazaa. Probably 1/4 from ripping my old cds and 1/4 paying iTunes. Younger people don’t understand what a big deal Napster was. Before that, if you wanted a song you pretty much had to buy the whole cd. I got burned countless times paying for one good song and getting ten crap ones. Napster was a free for all for awhile there.
 

LindenCy

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There used to be a chick fil a inside the MU?!?!?!? Wtf????

Reading everything in this thread makes me sad lol

Chick fil a came in when they did the renovation in 1995 or 1996. I didn't know what it was at the time, but man, wish it was still there.
 

LindenCy

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I haven't gone through the whole thread, but did anyone mention Do Biz Cookies? I don't know that they were great, but it was a big part of Ames in the 90's.

Ah, see it was mentioned on page 3 by @OPCyclone.
 
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MeanDean

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Jan 5, 2009
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Blue Grass IA-Jensen Beach FL
Give me 24 hour made to order breakfast spot, whataburger is glorified BK, never been to a bojangles and if you vote RUNZA get the **** out of Ames and go back to Nebraska you dirty Husker.
In and Out would be a different story.

How funny would it be to open a combo convenience store/burger joint? Kum and Go collocated with In and Out.
 

DrISU1024

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May 22, 2010
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I haven’t posted for ages but this thread got me thinking.

1. I believe there was a place on Main Street called Gold’s.
2. A few places at North grand mall: The Flame and Skewer, Maid Rite, Woolworths used to have a diner like place, House of Chen and the Baskin-Robbins.
3. The suburban at the Gilbert corner.
4. There was a Burger King in campus town at one time. I believe it was on Lincoln Way just east of where you turn on Welch. I remember it because you used to be able to enter the front or the back of the building.
5. Bonanza was always packed whether it was on South Duff or at the old location by the underpass on grand.
6. And for a non-restaurant entry, the Darkstar arcade in 2 locations. 1 near campus town and the other in the mall.
 

urb1

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Jan 23, 2010
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Urbandale
Nobody has mentioned Co-op Tapes and Records. I liked to reward myself on a Friday afternoon by scouring their cut-out/bargain bin for something new to listen to. Still have a lot of the vinyl I got there.

Not sure if it was the same place, but a record store just east of Welch would rent records for $1.00 for a day. One guy would rent a record, and we'd all record it.
 

CyCrazy

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Dec 17, 2008
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Ames
I haven’t posted for ages but this thread got me thinking.

1. I believe there was a place on Main Street called Gold’s.
2. A few places at North grand mall: The Flame and Skewer, Maid Rite, Woolworths used to have a diner like place, House of Chen and the Baskin-Robbins.
3. The suburban at the Gilbert corner.
4. There was a Burger King in campus town at one time. I believe it was on Lincoln Way just east of where you turn on Welch. I remember it because you used to be able to enter the front or the back of the building.
5. Bonanza was always packed whether it was on South Duff or at the old location by the underpass on grand.
6. And for a non-restaurant entry, the Darkstar arcade in 2 locations. 1 near campus town and the other in the mall.

The Suburban had one hell of a Tenderloin. And the head waitress was a riot, she was either pissy or happy as a clam.
 

cyfan4St8

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Jan 3, 2008
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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?
I’d say he messed up in what he ordered I’ve been going there for so long and we hit it up at least once a month and it hasn’t changed much and it’s always good.
 

BurgundyClone

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Apr 15, 2007
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East of Omaha
A little surprised nobody has mentioned Winston’ & Tazzles? $0.25 draws on Wednesday’s, $1 pitchers on Thursdays and free beer from 7 to 10 on Fridays and Saturday’s. And for some stretches, Ms Pac-Man and the revolutionary NBA jam. A dump, but it was OUR dump in the early 90’s. Also a Boone movie theatre had $1 or $2 new release movies. There was a Chinese place next to the old Qwik Shop (where I met my wife) that was excellent, across the street from Taco Bell, errrrr Dunkin Donuts.
 

Cyclones_R_GR8

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Feb 10, 2007
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Nobody has mentioned Co-op Tapes and Records. I liked to reward myself on a Friday afternoon by scouring their cut-out/bargain bin for something new to listen to. Still have a lot of the vinyl I got there.
Was that the shop that was beneath Minsky's pizza?
 

Cybball37

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Dec 11, 2015
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Central Iowa
West Cyde Wings - big tasty wings and beer

Cafe Northwest- they made a good steak and long islands

Indigo Joes- big beers and chili fries

Ah, Cafe Northeest. My first weekend as a freshman, my roommate and his girlfriend’s parents took me there. Long Islands until we were nearly blind. Rough next day setting up the room and our loft.
 
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LindenCy

Kevin Dresser Fan Club
Staff member
Mar 19, 2006
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Chicago, IL
I haven’t posted for ages but this thread got me thinking.

1. I believe there was a place on Main Street called Gold’s.
2. A few places at North grand mall: The Flame and Skewer, Maid Rite, Woolworths used to have a diner like place, House of Chen and the Baskin-Robbins.
3. The suburban at the Gilbert corner.
4. There was a Burger King in campus town at one time. I believe it was on Lincoln Way just east of where you turn on Welch. I remember it because you used to be able to enter the front or the back of the building.
5. Bonanza was always packed whether it was on South Duff or at the old location by the underpass on grand.
6. And for a non-restaurant entry, the Darkstar arcade in 2 locations. 1 near campus town and the other in the mall.

House of Chen moved to east Lincoln Way. I assume it is still there. Isn't the Flame and Skewer still at North Grand?