Experience Ames for your best shopping day ever! Ames has abundant small businesses stocked with beautifully curated goods. Whether you’re shopping for your home, yourself, or browsing for a friend, Ames is the perfect destination.
Elevate your home
Ames Main Street is home to unique local shops that have everything you need to elevate your living space. Shop from any of these Ames favorites:
- Locally owned and beautifully refined, Nook & Nest on Main is the perfect shop to enhance your housing experience. Create a beautiful and welcoming space by selecting your new favorite pillows, candles, wall hangings, and so much more.
- For beautiful greenery, look no further than Back Alley House Plants. Their expanded location on Main Street is filled with an ever-changing gallery of plants. Stop by this unique store to bring the beauty of nature into your home.
- Shop products from more than 50 countries at Worldly Goods, a non-profit, fair-trade store, operated by volunteers. Browse from unique pieces of clothing, coffee, and tea from all around the world, and trinkets of all shapes and sizes.
Lunch at Potter’s![shopping](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20338%20225'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Enjoy Potter’s Shoppe & Eatery for a mouth-watering lunch menu and a unique shopping experience. The shop features a curated selection of vintage and modern items, making this the perfect place to snag a gift for someone special. After browsing, take a bite of one of the classic lunch options like the Cuban or the Turkey Reuben.
Treat yourself
After spending the morning shopping for your home, do some shopping for yourself!
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- Feed your imagination and let your mind wander while browsing the shelves at Dog-Eared Books on Main. This independent bookstore is committed to nurturing a love of reading by offering a curated and inclusive selection of books.
@discoverames What’s better than a good read and a cute dog? Check out @dogearedbooks in downtown Ames! #bookstore #dogcostume #downtownames #talktome
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Life Distilled Up the street lies Life Distilled. Refresh your space with a new essential oil diffuser paired with your choice of essential oil. Shop for household, personal care, and health-supporting products blended in house.
- Or pamper yourself with new soaps from Buff City Soap on South Duff. All Buff City’s soaps are plant-based and made in-house with no harsh chemicals. Try the signature foaming hand soaps, laundry soaps, bar soaps, or even bath bombs!
Dinner and drinks
A full day of shopping requires a delicious dinner to replenish, and there is nowhere better than Provisions Lot F. Each dish is crafted with locally sourced ingredients, ensuring a fresh and unforgettable experience. Then “wine down” the day while you take a sip at Della Viti. Choose from over 40 wines in the self-serve wine system to curate your own unique wine-tasting experience. Or take a glance at the beer list and classic cocktail menu.
Written by Reese Scherder, Marketing Intern