Amazing selection, super friendly and helpful staff. And some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever…read moreseen at a game store!

Cool niche place to go to. Lots of collectibles and board games that you wouldn't find in a normal…read morestore. Worth a look around.

I think in all of the IA Indie Bookshop Tour, I spent the longest time in this shop. There was so…read moremuch to look at, a cozy loft to just chill for a minute and try to narrow down my selection to 2 books - which ended up being 4... They have a wall of pre-loved books in great condition for great value and I also found a graphic novel I've only been able to find on Amazon. I am so glad I was able to find it and support an independently owned bookshop with it's purchase. I was next to tears by how many families with kids were in visiting the book shop, and carrying books the little ones picked out. Plus, the little reader nook in there is adorable. Also, something that really warmed my heart is the all gender private bathrooms (at least the one I went into) had a changing station and lots of room. Great coffee, good vibes and a great time. Can't wait to visit again!

Passing through to Des Moines, we stopped at Dog Eared Books. What a lovely shop! The exterior is…read moreso fun and welcoming and the inside is just the same. We were warmly welcomed by the staff. They have a great selection of books, including a shelf of previously loved with discounted prices. They have a great variety of merch too. Stickers, socks, t-shirts, etc. I will visit anytime I am down that way.

Located in the middle of Ames' Main Street shopping district, we thoroughly enjoyed our initial…read morevisit to Life Distilled, a modern day apothecary on the NW corner of Kellogg and Main. Lots of natural light and big windows make for a comfortable feel, and the staff was incredibly kind and not pushy. They took "Iowa Nice" to another level, making the visit fun and informative. Options include all natural fragrances, artwork, cards, flowers, bracelets, stickers, earrings, plants, and items for the home. The service was spot on with a high level of knowledge and kindness. They have in-store events, and it is just a feel-good store to visit.

The Knittery Nook has been with me through thick and thin. Thank you for enabling my yarn habits…read moreand thank you for your quality service and exciting selection. I have highly enjoyed getting to know all of the attendants through the years I've lived here. I wish i could stay in Ames longer and spend more time here. This is probably my favorite place in the city. I have also spent over 1k here in total over two years because i chew through yarn like it's a full time job. Will definitely be ordering online next time i need 999,999 skeins of alpaca. Love you all very much, and i am so sad to leave. I'll have to visit sometime.

I love this yarn store! It has a fun, modern vibe and didn't feel stuffy or old lady-ish at all. I…read morewas really surprised to find a really good selection of cotton yarns there. Most yarn stores I go to don't have cotton yarns which are great for Amigurumi (something I'm really into right now). They even had a cool Amigurumi book that I've had my eye on for a while. They also had some Amigurumi animals that they had made up using the cotton yarns, which is really a smart idea because they showed off the yarns really well. I chatted with a person who I think was the owner and she was really friendly and helpful. We talked about Amigurumi and crocheting, which I found very refreshing because most of the yarn stores I've been to cater mostly to knitters. I really like that they had books and tools for knitters and crocheters. I do both but I'm more comfortable with crocheting. I bought a hank of cotton yarn and the woman I was chatting with wound it into a ball for me. I really love that! They also teach knitting and crocheting classes. I can't wait to take one of their classes. I just can't say enough good things about this place. It feels like a relaxed and fun environment. I wish there was a store like this in Des Moines.

Love this store! Has a ton of eco-friendly alternatives…read more They also have a "refill" station in the back where you can refill on staple items such as laundry detergent and cleaning spray. Bought a oak milk bag and adorable container to store the milk. Cannot wait to test it out!

The Octagon Center of the Arts has since moved down the block a few spots. I recently wandered into…read morethe shop and the adjacent gallery that was featuring a sign history of Ames. Great Stuff.

I really love this place! Cool art store/gallery/space to rent!…read more I have enjoyed concerts, classes, and art shows here! The rooms are beautiful and big enough for a nice crew to be in, but not huge enough to make things not feel intimate! The store is full of hand made, art stuff! Like Prints, one of a kind things, local art, jewelry, kitchen items, books, dvd's, cd's you name it! If it's art they probably have it! Perfect store for gift shopping for the unique someone who has everything...

Nice little store! It has a large variety of items for a fair price, I bought two retro metal…read moresigns. The owner was super welcoming and she had two little dogs that acted as an adorable welcome committee. Overall definitely recommend the little trip out here!

Ames 1864 is located within the relatively new "Shops on Clark and Main", which used to house a…read moreHyVee pharmacy. It's on the far end of Downtown, and has not yet developed the foot traffic for people to stop and browse. Ames was founded in 1864, hence the name. This cute little shop contains several stationary and gift Items with that motif and similar. They also offer area maps (State, Lincoln Highway, etc.) as sort of a visitors center service. I came away with a very nice compressed paper-like cutting/serving board shaped like the State of Iowa. Other shops here at Clark and Main include Nook & Nest and Z.W. Mercantile. I found the entire complex to be inviting, well designed, and with a wide variety of interesting items. https://www.shopclarkandmain.com/