Bulk foods Heaven. Reasonable prices. Lots of items made locally, lots of items not made locally…read morebut branded 'Stringtown Grocery.' Produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, candies, fudge, jams, jellies, small section of personal care items and supplements. Check out their greenhouse that's filled to the brim with annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, beautiful lawn and patio furniture, bird feeders, garden care items, and much more. We bought of of this year's vegetables plants for less than $25! Highly recommend. Cash or check only.

Such a charming little store! Stringtown Grocery is a wonderful hidden gem in Kalona. The shelves…read moreare filled with bulk goods, local produce, homemade baked treats, and unique pantry staples you won't find anywhere else. The store is clean, organized, and has a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the prices are very reasonable. I always leave with something special -- whether it's fresh cinnamon rolls, hand-packed spices, or locally made jams. Definitely worth the trip if you're in the area!

Our once-a-month trip to this part of Iowa, S. Central, means a stop here will always be worth it…read more We'll visit 2 or 3 Amish discount stores and bring home $400.00 to $500.00 dollars' worth of meats, cheeses, spices, oils, canned goods, coffee and who know what else, and we usually spend around $200.00 to $250.00 dollars total. And the people running the store, always wonderful.

I call this place the 'scratch and dent sale'. Go here…read more Save yourself some money. Great for snacks and dressings. Always a few surprises. Always tons of deals.

It's a long day when we visit Hershberger Highway 2 Discount Grocery. It's a drive of over 2 hours…read moreone way, and well worth it. For a hundred to a hundred twenty dollars spent we'll bring home boxes, (1 or 2), and coolers, (1 or 2), filled with what we find. Now a once-a-month road trip.

Tradition - when I visit family in southeast Iowa each year I enjoy taking a drive through Davis…read moreCounty to visit the Amish shops. The atmosphere of the Amish people driving horse and buggy, boys in suspenders and straw hats while girls wear their bonnets and traditional dresses, the courtesy the men show, clothing hanging on the clothesline, bare feet, fresh produce - I love it. We stopped by the grocery store to pick up baking supplies for cornbread, rhubarb jam, and butternut squash. Most products sold in the store are packed in bulk. It is such a wonderful experience to be amongst the Amish. Please be respectful.

Their chicken shawarma is up there! Probably one of the top ones in iowa. Going to be my regular…read morestop on the way to and from Ames and waterloo.

This place is easy to miss, but don't. They have an excellent range of spices and food from around…read morethe world, with much of it from the Mediterranean and Middle East. Iraqi mango sauce? They have it. Habash brand spices? Tons. Halal butcher shop? Yep. Cadbury buttons, flakes, dairy milk, and milka? Yes. Tea? Of course. But following the Billy Mays mantra, "but wait! There's more!" There's a grill where you can get a massive shawarma or a decadent Dubai chocolate that runs a risk of instant diabetes. It's worth the risk. AND then the there's the baklava vault, which also has babousa and other desserts. The baklava is a must and there is a variety of it. Lastly the folks working there are super friendly and obliging. Shopping here is basically a small international trip and the mix is something special. Ironically a place like this is what makes America great. Do yourself a favor and visit this domestic exotic in Cedar Rapids.

I called in an order & received it promptly & great quality goods!! It was sent to me without me…read morepaying first, so I returned a check promptly. Awesome experience!

The mercantile store for the Amish community in the Kalona IA area. Not very big, but it has a ton…read moreof items for the kitchen, making clothing, and some darned amazing local baked goods thrown in there for good measure. A simple section for toys for the young ones is available. I'd swear the nice shopkeeper lady was there in visits from my family decades before. With the Stringtown grocery nearby, it's all these hard working, pious families need. We all can learn a thing or two about life from shopping in this area. Excess is not always what makes you content and happy in life...

HOOOORAY WOOOHOO YIPPEEE KAYAYAYAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! local, organic, family run market that…read morecarries all the yummy real fresh food that was made close to- or in your hometown! Well, MY hometown :-) lucky me I just found this place- spoke w the owner who is a super cool chick- scored some local butter for 2$?!? and organic milk 3.49$ (SERIOUSLY?! its that much for Organic Valley @ the grocery!!!) and apples (honeycrisps- 2 for a DOLLAR!?! 2.58/lb @ the grocery!) and some garbonzo bean flour to hone my hummus makin skills. Their prices are WAYUNDER what you would expect for such stellar food and if you know me you know I LOVE LOCAL :-) and they carry grass fed beef and eggs and cheese and chicken and sausages and bratwurst and sour cream and yogurt and pumpkins and....for a little hometown grocery this place HAS IT!!!!! (closed Tuesdays)

This Dollar General tends to overwork their people and expect them to restock plus run register at…read morethe same time. Can't be done. The district manager really doesn't know her job. The people brought in at the time they were going to do inventory were nasty and outspoken to an employee while she was helping a customer. Snide remarks aren't to be said to employee's; especially in front of customers. The present manager really doesn't seem to do alot and misses alot of work due to illness, etc. We go to Riverside or Wellman Dollar Generals instead of the one in Kalona. Well worth the extra mileage. It seems when they do get good employees they are not treated fairly so they quit.

Update: I'm taking my review from 4 stars to 1 star. This is why:…read more Well,  just found out that Dollar General replaced Dorothy, the manager, at the Kalona store. That was a mistake.  She was so hard working,  and tried to meet their ridiculous expectations even with a woefully small staff. I don't plan on going in there again.  I'll pay a bit more some where else.