Lifestyle

Shopping

Main Street Cultural District

Recently revamped, Main Street Cultural District holds several unique shops and restaurants, along with several major art projects. The downtown of Ames, Main Street has a unique historic feel, brought by the Union Pacific Railway and many buildings dating back to the late 1880s.

North Grand Mall

Several large department stores.
Several popular clothing stores including American Eagle, Express, Eddie Bauer, Gap, and more

Jordan Creek Town Center

Only an hour from Ames, Jordan Creek is the largest shopping complex in Iowa. Jordan Creek gives a big city feel to an otherwise small-town area.

Fitness & Wellness

Ames Parks & Recreation

They have an extensive system of sports classes for kids and adults. (It’s the reason we don’t have a YMCA in Ames, the city outdid them.)

Seven Oaks Recreation

Located in Boone, approximately a half an hour from Ames, Seven Oaks is the nearest facility for skiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing. Summer activities include canoeing, kayaking, and river tube floats.

State Gym

On Iowa State University’s campus (EnSoft employees can purchase membership to some Iowa State services, State Gym being one), State Gym opened in January of 2012. With state-of-the-art machinery, an Olympic-sized pool, a large hot tub, a rock wall, basketball courts, two running tracks, and many fitness classes offered, State Gym has everything needed for total fitness.

Ames Racquet & Fitness Center

Ames has 3 Racquet and Fitness Centers, offering personal training, group training, swimming lessons, indoor tennis courts, and a 24-hour facility.

Arts

Reiman Gardens

Featuring 14 acres of beautiful gardens, an indoor butterfly wing and conservatory, and sometimes featuring art series, Reiman Gardens provides a quiet reprieve.

Octagon Center for the Arts

The Octagon Center is open to all ages and offers classes and workshops in ceramics, dance, fiber arts, painting, photography, and sculpture.

Brunnier Art Museum

Located on the Iowa State University campus, Brunnier Art Museum is the state of Iowa’s only accredited museum emphasizing a decorative arts collection.

Ames Community Arts Council

The Ames Community Arts Council organizes and showcases many events that celebrate the arts in Ames.

Des Moines Art Center

The Des Moines Art Center highlights contemporary art with a collection of 19th and 20th century artists.

Grocery

Pammel Grocery and Deli

Domestic and international groceries.
Touted as having the best gyros and kabobs in town.
Specializes in Pakistani, Indian, and Middle. Eastern groceries.

Wheatsfield Cooperative

Ames’s oldest and largest natural foods store.
Fresh, local, and organic foods.

Uni-Mart

Korean & Asian grocery.

British and American Foods and Gifts

British and American Foods and Gifts offers a variety of foods and gifts from the UK.

Ames Asian Market

A wide variety of Asian foods with an emphasis on Korean foods.

Aldi
Fareway
Hy-Vee
Sam’s Club

Restaurants

Aunt Maude’s

Aunt Maude’s features finer American cuisine served in an intimate environment.

Brick City Grill

Brick City Grill serves pub-style food in an upscale but still relaxed sports bar atmosphere. Featuring several big-screen TVs and a variety of beers, Big City is perfect for game day. With modern style and an outdoor patio, it is also great for a family dinner with your kids.

The Cafe

The Cafe is a locally-owned restaurant featuring creative and fresh food options with a sophisticated and quiet atmosphere. The Cafe is soon to open a second location within a 5 minute walk of the EnSoft office.

Cafe Beaudelaire

Cafe Beaudelaire is touted as “the soul of Brasil in the heart of Iowa!” Delicious international fare is served in a comfortable atmosphere.

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse

At Fuji Japanese Steakhouse you choose between hibachi and sushi service. The sushi is delicious and made to order. The hibachi grill is a fun and delightful experience.

The Great Plains Sauce & Dough Company

Great Plains Pizza is unlike any other. They produce top quality pizza at an affordable price, featuring more than 6 unique kinds of crust and all the freshest ingredients.

Hickory Park

Provisions Lot F

A great addition to the ISU Research Park, Provisions Lot F is a long-anticipated spinoff of the local favorite The Cafe. It’s conveniently located within 5 minutes walking distance from the EnSoft office.

The Spice

Offering authentic Thai cuisine, The Spice has a unique and comfortable atmosphere and a pride in every dish.

Thai Kitchen

Featuring authentic Thai food, Thai Kitchen has good food and quick service.

Chains

Arby’s

B-Bops

Blaze Pizza

Brueggers’s Bagels

Buffalo Wild Wings

Burger King

Chick-Fil-A

Chipotle

Coldstone Creamery

Culvers

Dairy Queen

Dominoes

Firehouse Subs

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Hu Hot Mongolian Grill

Jimmy Johns

McDonalds

Noodles & Company

Old Chicago

Pancheros

Panda Express

Panera Bread

Papa Johns Pizza

Pepperjax Grill

Perkins

Pizza Hut

Pizza Pit

Pizza Ranch

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Red Lobster

Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza

Subway

Taco John’s

Texas Roadhouse

Wendy’s

Wing Stop

Farmers’ Markets

Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market

Featuring not only a number of Ames local restaurants, farmers, and vendors, the Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market also offers live entertainment each week, providing an attractive atmosphere for summertime fun appropriate for everyone. The Ames Main Street Farmers Market beat 48 certified Main Street communities when it won the 2011 Iowa Best Image Promotion Award.

North Grand Farmers’ Market

Located outside of North Grand Mall, this farmers’ market has been around for more than 30 years and offers all of your farmers’ market staple local goods.

Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market

Des Moines is only a half hour drive from Ames. The downtown farmers’ market is one of the largest in the state. Featuring vendors from 50 of Iowa’s 99 counties, you can find food for all tastes, along with performers on every block in the midst of Des Moines’ Court Avenue district.