The Main Street Cultural District in Ames is an ever-changing, always charming array of unique businesses and services. Visiting downtown is an entire experience. Families, friends and individuals alike can spend an entire afternoon shopping at the one-of-a-kind stores, eating at the many great restaurants, creating arts and crafts projects and much more.

Downtown: Food

From all-American cuisine to exotic Thai food, downtown offers a diverse selection of restaurants to choose from.

Thinking Italian? Lucullan’s Italian Grill has an intimate atmosphere and Italian dishes for every taste. They also offer a lunch bar and a Sunday brunch.

If it’s pizza you’re craving, Great Plains Sauce and Dough is known for its classic thick wheat crust perfect for dipping in honey, along with a cozy dining atmosphere. Gumby’s Pizza is popular with students who have late night cravings for their famous and delicious Pokey Sticks.

Olde Main Brewing Company and Restaurant features fresh brewed beer and a variety of American dishes from a bacon cheeseburger to pepper crusted duck entrees.

The Spice Thai Cuisine offers a sophisticated ambience and brings a bit of ethnicity to Ames. The Thai dishes range from chicken yellow curry to vegetarian Thai fried rice.

Other restaurants to try downtown include Downtown Deli, Caf‚ Diem coffee shop and Aunt Maude’s.

If you’re in the mood to stay in and make dinner, Wheatsfield Grocery is a full service grocery store offering local and organic food. Support local farmers and eat healthy with the help of Wheatsfield. Fareway offers groceries at very reasonable prices and is conveniently located downtown on Burnett Ave. Cooks Emporium is Ames’ only cooking supply store and will provide everything you need to stock your kitchen.

For those of you early risers, The Grove Cafe is a family run cozy breakfast cafe featuring huge pancakes and anything you could want for breakfast.

Chocolate stores:

Main Street can satisfy your sweet tooth at any of the following candy shops: Chocolaterie Stam, Temptations, Lillie Mae Chocolates.

Downtown: Shopping

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift, window-shopping or treating yourself to something new, downtown is full of unique shops to suit your needs.

There’s no shortage of shoe shopping downtown with three different stores to choose from. Lazy M Shoes, Emerhoff’s Footwear and Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. are all great places to go to add to your shoe collection.

If you need to dress up for a special occasion, Moorman Clothier’s is the perfect place to go. Both men and women can find high quality, formal attire, along with a wide selection of casual clothing.

The Savvy Shopper is the place to go for women looking for great clothes and accessories at discount prices. They offer name brands at a 40% discount everyday. Shoes, accessories, jewelry, clothing; every woman will find what they need at The Savvy Shopper.

Worldly Goods specializes in fairly traded products from all over the world. This nonprofit retail store offers the customer a cultural experience with all of its unique products ranging from collectible art to clothing.

Looking for a vintage collector’s item? Antique Ames boasts three levels of an extensive collection of antiques. Great Stuff Ltd. Consignment offers gently used items for your home at great prices.

Jewelry is a great way to celebrate a milestone in your life or the life of someone close to you.

Downtown Ames has several places to choose to help you celebrate those moments. Gilger Designs offers both fine jewelry and artwork by Michael Gilger. Ames Silversmithing has unique designs with a wide selection of gemstones from diamonds and rubies to tourmaline and boulder opal. Nature’s Touch Jewelry features a large earring collection, freshwater pearls, accessories and more. Swank’s Jewelry, owned by Rick Swank, is yet another location downtown to find jewelry, watches and more.

Additional Downtown Shopping

Don’t stop there! Downtown offers a variety of additional places to shop: Specifics Furniture, Ames Christian Supply, Lemstone Books, Shoppes on Grand, Duck Worth Wearing are just the beginning!

Downtown: Beauty

• Marc-Stephens
• Skin Solutions
• Chic Beauty Salon
• Therapeutic Massage
• Hair Professionals
• Pro Nails
• His ‘n’ Hers
• Creative Hair Designers
• It’s All About Me
• Eva’s Soap Essentials
• Merle Norman
• Avenues for Health
• Star Studio
• John’s Main Street Barber Shop

Downtown: Entertainment

The Main Street Cultural District is full of activities, events and places to go to entertain yourself. Outdoor concerts, cookouts, sidewalk sales, rallies and more are just a few examples of the events held downtown.

Recreation opportunities are endless downtown. Visit Skunk River Cycles for full lines of bicycles and cycling apparel and fitness equipment including treadmills, excercise bikes and weight machines. Bicycle Surplus specializes in new, used and refurbished bicycles at reduced factory direct prices.

Family Martial Arts Center is a great place to get in shape and have fun at the same time. Classes offered include Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, body shaping courses, and several classes for kids.

Nightlife in downtown is great for those who enjoy the bar and club scene and are looking for a different atmosphere than the CampusTown bars. Start off at Whiskey River for drinks, great food, pool, and a local Ames feel.

Next, try The London Underground, an English style pub with many drink specials, a wide selection of import beers and a great place for the adventurous student or Ames locals. Then grab a group of friends and head to the Corner Pocket for a few rounds of pool at one of their 16 pool tables or watch a ball game. End your night at Deano’s 119 Main for a casual atmosphere and your pick of music from their old fashioned jukebox.

Dangerous Curves is an adult entertainment bar and club for an alternative ending to your night.

Downtown: Arts & Crafts

Feeling creative? Everything you need for your arts and crafts project can be found downtown.

Many places even offer classes for those of you who may not know where to start with your project.

The Prairie Fibers Company features natural dyed and eco-dyed fabrics and fibers and also offers classes for book making, loom weaving, embroidery and more.

Quilting Connection is your one-stop-shop for everything quilts. They offer classes for everyone from beginners to advanced quilters as well.

Ames Sewing and Vacuum Center is the place to go if you need a new sewing machine, want to take a sewing class or if you need your current sewing machine repaired.

Visit Kil’N Time Studio to paint your own pottery, try your hand at glass fusion, or bring a group of friends for a pottery party. Classes in glass fusion, clay, mosaic, glaze and more are also available.

Walden Photo has everything from photo finishing to photo calendars to digital services. Photography classes are offered here as well.

Innova Ideas & Services is a creative house which provides services in graphic design, special events planning, marketing, photography and more for those who need help with generating creativity.

Evert’s Flowers, Home & Gifts is the oldest flower shop in Ames. They offer one of the largest selections of high quality realistic silk flowers, floral accesories, interior decorations, gifts and fresh flowers.

If you don’t feel ambitious enough to try your own art project, visit Gallery 319, where you can browse through or purchase artwork. They also provide custom framing and other art accesories as well.

The Octagon Center for the Arts is a community arts center in a historic building with art galleries featuring local, regional and national touring exhibits.