We stopped here on our trip to Omaha. We grabbed lunch at the Greek restaurant, and had a place for the children to get some movement. The mall is nice. I wasn't sure what to expect with the reviews saying it's dated, but it doesn't seem to be (updated maybe?). It has a good selection of stores, and a place with rolled ice cream (intriguing, but sadly I didn't have the time to try it out). The restrooms were nice and clean. About the only strange thing was the kids play area, it was filled with young guys - mid to late teens, and about 8-10 of them. They seemed to be hanging out in there, and when we came near, they made no attempt to move. I hadn't planned to use the play area unless it was amazing (with a good slide, etc), but since it wasn't I wasn't too disappointed, but it was strange and there was really no room for anyone to go in and play with their children. read more

The selection of stores are limited. Most stores seem to be either closed or have no value to every day retail life.

It's a mall in a small town, but pretty decent for where and what it is. To be honest, I think it's even nicer than Merle Hay, as limited as it is. read more

The North Grand Mall is just a few minutes drive from my parent's house and definitely has seen better days. I think I stopped coming here when the Sears closed on one end of the mall, although Mom and Dad do like the Dollar Theater. There's also a new Walgreen's in the parking lot. Otherwise, this place is kind of lonely and in desperate need of some urban renewal. I'll stop at JC Penney if I need the basics (socks and underwear), but otherwise Target, WalMart, or driving to Des Moines are better choices. read more

How sad the people of Ames missed out on a new mall near the interstate because the owners of the North Grand Mall said the would not update the mall if a new one was built. Sure two new stores are coming but the mall itself gets nothing. How sad. The mall is more like a ghost town. But a great to walk since no one is in ur way. read more

I've been coming to North Grand for years. I've seen great stores come and go, and now with the recent revival of stores that opened in early March 2013, this mall isn't as bad as the other reviewers say nowadays. This mall is anchored by Younkers, JCPenney and TJMaxx. Technically, Kohl's isn't connected to the interior part of the mall, but I'll go ahead and qualify it as an additional anchor (sort of like how Best Buy isn't connected to Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville/Iowa City, Iowa, but they consider it to be (it's on the other side of Target, which is connected). Also, Shoe Carnival is a junior anchor, with an empty storefront built for a new store, but will update my review once it is filled. For awhile between 2006-2013, this mall has seen better days. Sears, Aeropostale, Hot Topic, Lane Bryant, GameStop, PacSun, Sam Goody, Pearle Vision and Waldenbooks have either moved out or closed, and lately, several of the empty storefronts have been taken over with Rue21, Justice and TJMaxx. I visit this mall primarily for Express, and the store looks really good considering it has an older prototype store. Other stores featured are Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, Eddie Bauer, Gap, AT&T Corporate, Maurices RadioShack, Foot Locker and Vanity. A new Walgreens, U.S. Cellular, Fazoli's, and Great Clips are outside the mall. The Cinemark Dollar Theater is a nice touch, and I'm happy that Cinemark has decided to keep ahold of it, rather than giving it to some other company that can barely afford to keep it open. It's nice to have it there, even with the Cinemark Movies 12 first run theater on the South side of town. The drawbacks: Like one of the other reviewers said, this mall's interior is very nice. The ceiling is high enough, the storefronts that aren't empty look pretty good, and the selection of furniture is comfortable. Now, with the exterior, you'd think that GK Developers would do something to spruce up the front main entrance. It reeks of the 1980s, and doesn't even say North Grand Mall on any part of the mall's exterior. The sign by Grand Ave. could use a replacement, as well. Another thing, is the food selection. There is the Flame and Skewer, Jimmy John's and Pretzelmaker. That's it unless you want to venture outside the mall, where there's Fazoli's and Papa John's. There are various empty spaces that North Grand could tear out and build a food court (particularly around the Cinemark and TJMaxx). Sure it's an investment, but it would work out. Some choices I'd like to see are Panda Express, Starbucks, Villa Pizza or Sbarro, and Taco Bell Other than that, the mall has dug itself out of a rut, and it's on the way to becoming a great mall to shop at, especially since it has Express. Rumor has it that Olive Garden is opening as an outparcel, but let's see what happens. With all the stores that Ames has received in the past five years, I think I could get by living in Ames and not going to Des Moines all the time for shopping. Just my two cents. read more

There's not many stores left in here anymore. Really only a place to stop if you're looking to buy clothes, shoes or video games. The dollar theater is definitely worth a visit though. read more

Unfortunately "the Mall" used to be better than it is now. But, one good thing is that the INSIDE is still in very good shape....it is just the outside that lacks luster. Just go.....it is everything I remember it being as a kid. Some of those stores have ALWAYS been there: Younkers, Sports Page? You can get what you need. Rumor is that Ames is trying to decide between putting time, money into "the Mall" or some new area of stores that I can't remember where it is at. read more

A town with a major university in it should have better retail options. No food court, limited bathrooms, poor store selection. If you are happy with JCPenney, Gap, Hot Topic then this is probably adequate. There is a major renovation plan underway. I think the mall owners and management understand the issues and can lure some more marketable retail stores to make this a shopping centre that can engage the college population that comprises a large portion of Ames. read more

One of the worst things about Ames is this sorry excuse for a mall. I can't remember it changing in any significant way in more than 20 years, despite repeated talks of a remodel or a new mall. It has a pretty miserable selection of stores - Gap, Express and American Eagle are about the only ones I'd ever pay a visit to, and of those, Gap is really the only one for professional apparel. The "department stores", JC Penney and Yonkers are pretty lame as well. The second star is mostly for the "dollar theater" (although I think it's now $1.50 except at special times) and Flame 'n Skewer, which is a decent restaurant. Most everyone I know does the majority of their shopping in Des Moines, and if for some reason I were restricted to shopping in Ames, I feel like I could probably do better at Target than I could at this mall. read more

Again, this is the only mall in Ames. Unless you need something real quick for the morning, you're better off driving to Des Moines and going to one of the malls there. Any of them are better than this one. read more

I suppose it isn't too bad for Ames, IA but I'll admit I did expect a bit more. They have the standards-Gap, Express, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret...but not much else. I guess you have to take what you can get... read more

Between the dollar theatre and the blacklight mini-golf, there is plenty of stuff here to while away an afternoon. There are not as many stores as there once were, but there are most of the mall standards - clothing stores, sporting equipment, a Claire's, a GNC, a game store, a Hallmark, and some places to eat. read more

Check out the new North Grand!! There have been a lot of updates done to this mall the last year. Better stores, more selection, and cleaner. The only issue I have is that the dollar theater shut down. I loved going to the movies after shopping all day and miss that. New stores include TJMaxx, Shoe Carnival, Gap, rue21, and a couple more. read more

The only redeeming store for this mall is TJ Maxx. There's a small Younkers and JC Penney's and a handful of the usual mall stores (Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret). There's also a Kohl's and a Gap Factory store. If you really want to go shopping, just go down to Jordan Creek Town Center. read more

I really only come to this mall around Christmas time, since I'm from Marshalltown I'd rather just drive an extra half hour and go to a mall in Des Moines, but my parents do like this mall. I remember being sad when the Pac Sun and the Hot Topic closed, but the addition of a Rue 21 and TJ Maxx really helped improve the mall in my eyes. I prefer this TJ Maxx to the one in Ankeny, but the rest of the mall really isn't that great. It's ok if I need to kill a few hours in Ames, but I wouldn't choose to come here. Plus the food selection is really lacking. I wish they would expand it a little bit, but at least they do still have the pretzel stand, which Marshalltown took out of their mall. The inside of the mall looks a lot better then the outside too! read more

several of the stores other reviewers mention are no longer in business. I wouldn't call North Grand Mall a mall, it has dwindled to a few shops, no food court, and dozens of vacant and dilapidated spaces. Its to a point I have nothing to shop for there anymore. Often on Friday nights the mall is overrun with screaming unsupervised kids. It needs paint, the roof leaks, the owners have completely been negligent in my opinion. Its is really sad. read more

Where in Des Moines are you going. Valley Fair,shoot went belly up on North East long ago, oh maybe Park View, ya not really there any more, Maybe South Ridge, lets go watch it sink while it still has a few buildings, Merle Hay, that's still there but boring been there done that, Valley West isn't to bad but it just doesn't have the glitz like Jordan Creek. Wow now that's the one to go to, for a year or two more. What new sheeple marketing green space monstrosity will go in the march west to get your money. If we would support the local Ames Mall maybe it would offer more, your money is the votes that keep business going. I don't want to be forced to drive to DSM or WDSM. Lived there and really don't want to do it anymore. read more