Many students who live in West Ames are likely aware of the lack of businesses in the area.

Jessie Harken, ISU alumnus who lives in Bird and Celtic Place on Coconino Road, suggests sidewalks be put in the area.

“They need to put sidewalks in. There’s a lot of people that walk and there’s not that many sidewalks,” Harken said.

Harken would also like to see more restaurant choices.

“Right now, if you live out there and you want to go to a restaurant, you have like two choices or you have to go all the way across Ames,” Harken said.

Quinten Powell, junior in art and design, lives in the Fieldstone Grand complex and agrees that places to eat within walking distance would be nice.

“I think there are a lot of students here, but not a lot of businesses,” Powell said.

Matt Eller owner of Eller Enterprises Inc., 4720 Mortensen Road #105, leases the West Towne apartments and commercial space in West Ames off the corner of Mortensen Road and South Dakota Avenue.

“It’s definitely been a lot slower out here than we’ve hoped,” Eller said.

Currently, Ames Racquet and Fitness Center, 4700 Mortensen Road, Family Martial Arts Center, 4700 Mortensen Road #101, Global State Mortgage, 4720 Mortensen Road #106, and Eller Enterprises Inc. are in the West Towne commercial space.

He said they are looking at new marketing efforts to fill the retail spaces.

“We wished it would have gone a little bit faster, but I think it’s kind of the trend right now,” Eller said.

Eller pointed out the prices for West Towne apartments are lower compared to campus housing and include free satellite television and a washer and dryer.

“You get a lot for what you pay for,” Eller said.

Eller hopes for West Towne to become a major retail center for Ames.

This includes the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, which Eller said will begin construction in the next couple months and plans for it to open in approximately spring 2008.

“Having the Hilton going in, I think it’s going to be an anchor that a lot of other people will follow and start driving the interest of retail commercial out here,” Eller said.

Bryan Kinneer, owner of West Towne Pub, 4518 Mortensen Road, is planning to build a family fun center, called Perfect Games, in the land west of his restaurant. Construction has not begun, but he hopes to have it open in August 2008.

Kinneer plans to gear the center toward families and adults. Part of the center will be for families with a Chuck E. Cheese-type atmosphere with games and a 24-lane bowling alley. The other part will be more adult oriented, with a 120-foot bar and feature music.

Kinneer sees a bright future for West Ames development.

“In the next 12 months, it’s going to double, easily,” Kinneer said. “It’s gonna explode.”

Eric Crawford, owner of Caf‚ Milo, 4800 Mortensen Road #101, said business has been slower this summer compared to what it was in the spring and when the establishment first opened in mid-Feburary.

“By the end of this last semester there were a lot of students coming in to study at night,” Crawford said.

Crawford said the cafe has swing dancing once a month this summer, and is working on having live music for the weekends.

“We’re trying to find ways to separate ourselves from other coffee shops in town,” Crawford said.