In Memoriam: Ames Business/Restaurants

[cyfan92]

Ames' problem is old farts have too big of representation and the town has an entire class of "I'm smarter than you so shut up"

I would never want Ames to be Ankeny... But it does need to redevelop itself

 

[usedcarguy]

For $10 a bottle? Hy-Vee has a ton of different sauces but this one is the most expensive I saw. I'll make the drive from Ames to Boone to get me a couple bottles of Jimmies.

Just take another decent sauce and dump a bunch of cumin in it. You'll have a very similar sauce. BTW, I LOVE heavy cumin bbq sauces!

 

[CycloneErik]

And on top of all that Uber and Lyft are in town

We even have the DoorDash now!

 

[CycloneErik]

That seems to be exactly what's happened lately. Ames has grown a ton, and it seems to be the young professional class driving it. I don't think there are a lot of kids graduating ISU and putting down life roots in Ames, but you don't see a lot of that anywhere.

When I left Ames, I was ready to get the hell out. In 2-3 years, the non-college areas started seeming very appealing to me, and they still are. It's definitely taking it's time, but when you go away for a year or two at a time, and then come back in, the changes seem pretty drastic.

It's really a difficult town to nail down. Ames is really a working class/poor town (without counting college students) that people don't see due to the university, DOT, and research parks. The schools have a huge # of people receiving assistance due to economic reasons, but we just don't see that foundation of the town because we see the other parts.

 

[SCNCY]

Speaking of old Ames businesses, what ever happened to the Olde Main guy?

 

[Jiub]

Anyone remember Ruffels near where the current Texas Roadhouse is? I think it was called Ruffels and it was way back like mid 1990s. Can anyone confirm the name?

I also remember having two movie theaters in North Grand Mall as well as a Baskin Robins and a Subs n' More as well as Valentinos and House of Chen out back,

 

[Angie]

Anyone remember Ruffels near where the current Texas Roadhouse is? I think it was called Ruffels and it was way back like mid 1990s. Can anyone confirm the name?

I also remember having two movie theaters in North Grand Mall as well as a Baskin Robins and a Subs n' More as well as Valentinos and House of Chen out back,

Ruttles! 50s diner.

 

[CycloneErik]

Anyone remember Ruffels near where the current Texas Roadhouse is? I think it was called Ruffels and it was way back like mid 1990s. Can anyone confirm the name?

I also remember having two movie theaters in North Grand Mall as well as a Baskin Robins and a Subs n' More as well as Valentinos and House of Chen out back,

Ruttles ruled!

 

[Jiub]

Ruttles! 50s diner.

Thanks for the correct name! I was born early 90s, so I barely remember it

 

[TXCyclones]

Anyone remember Ruffels near where the current Texas Roadhouse is? I think it was called Ruffels and it was way back like mid 1990s. Can anyone confirm the name?

I also remember having two movie theaters in North Grand Mall as well as a Baskin Robins and a Subs n' More as well as Valentinos and House of Chen out back,

Ruttles, and House of Hunan. Hunan was awesome!

 

[mapnerd]

Ruffles is that store that's been around since the 1700's and still sells the same clothes today as they did back then! They cater to more than just Whigs!

 

[Mr Janny]

Ruttles ruled!

Went to Ruttles one time with a group of friends. We were all in our teens.
My buddy was stoked that they offered IBC root beer, as he fancied himself a root beer connoisseur. He immediately ordered a bottle when we were seated, while the rest of us got fountain drinks. After finishing his first bottle, the waitress politely asked if she could get him another. He of course accepted. This continued several more times over the course of the meal, with my buddy drinking no less than 8 bottles of root beer. Ruttles was the best restaurant on the planet, as far as he was concerned.... Until the bill came.

"My total is wrong" He exclaimed angrily to the waitress, "You charged me for 8 drinks!"
"Well sir, you had 8 root beers" replied the waitress.
"But everyone else got free refills!"
"Not on bottles, hon"

Suddenly, Ruttles was the worst restaurant he'd ever been to. The bill was paid in protest. Little tip was given. Vows were made to never return.

Still tease him about it to this day

 

[Cyched]

We even have the DoorDash now!

I’ll be over for dinner

 

[baller21]

Ames' problem is old farts have too big of representation and the town has an entire class of "I'm smarter than you so shut up"

I would never want Ames to be Ankeny... But it does need to redevelop itself

It’s not just an Ames problem.

 

[Crookedhatkid]

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.

Jimmy’s is really good.

 

[CycloneErik]

I’ll be over for dinner

IT'S THE DAY I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF!!!

 

[CycloneErik]

Went to Ruttles one time with a group of friends. We were all in our teens.
My buddy was stoked that they offered IBC root beer, as he fancied himself a root beer connoisseur. He immediately ordered a bottle when we were seated, while the rest of us got fountain drinks. After finishing his first bottle, the waitress politely asked if she could get him another. He of course accepted. This continued several more times over the course of the meal, with my buddy drinking no less than 8 bottles of root beer. Ruttles was the best restaurant on the planet, as far as he was concerned.... Until the bill came.

"My total is wrong" He exclaimed angrily to the waitress, "You charged me for 8 drinks!"
"Well sir, you had 8 root beers" replied the waitress.
"But everyone else got free refills!"
"Not on bottles, hon"

Suddenly, Ruttles was the worst restaurant he'd ever been to. The bill was paid in protest. Little tip was given. Vows were made to never return.

Still tease him about it to this day

My best friend and I went there around New Year's Day one year. They offered us postcards and crayons, so we made up postcards for the Taekwondo instructor we taught for. Misspellings, backwards letters, everything you'd expect.

We sent the postcards and didn't hear about it for years. Friend finally mentioned it. No surprise, he'd known it was us all along and just never knew what to say.

 

[cyfan92]

It’s not just an Ames problem.

I know what you are saying. That's true. But what I meant was Ames has a high share of it's population coming from those with grey hair. Most living on fixed incomes. Any wind that property taxes are going up or their short commutes everywhere may add a minute or two... They shoot it down

 

[SolarGarlic]

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 there at a similar time. It was fun, but as a suburban kid, I felt a little out of place. I guess I shouldn't have based my college decision on my cheering interests that I inherited from an ag family.

Ames is definitely trending toward a more cosmopolitan vibe (relatively speaking), and it will be better for it in the long run. That's not to say I'm not emotionally stirred when I see a kid in full Carhartt with a 30 of Keystone.

 

[Cycsk]

Ames' problem is old farts have too big of representation and the town has an entire class of "I'm smarter than you so shut up"

You rang?