Restaurant / ISU gear shopping in Des Moines/Ames?

My family and I are flying up from Texas to Des Moines this weekend for a wedding. It will be my first time back in Des Moines and Ames in well over 10 years (usually I fly into Minneapolis and drive straight to my hometown of Waukon - northeast Iowa).

I'd like to pick up some good buys on I-State shirts, hats, etc. I hear TJ Max is the place to go. Does anybody know any specifics as to which TJ Max location would be best or other places that have great deals?

Also does anybody have good restaurant recommendations in Ames? I'm over 25 years out of the loop on a good place to go eat. Is Hickory Park still going and still good? How about Great Plains Sauce & Dough with those thick whole wheat pizzas and the honey? Or are there ever better places these days? I'd like to take my (14 year old) son somewhere with a lot of Iowa State spirit to it if possible.

Thanks for any advice on the shopping/eating!

Hickory Park and Great Plains are still going strong. Do you want DM restaurant recommendations too? Wasn't clear based on title of your thread.

Yes, I'll take Des Moines restaurant recommendations as well but my preference would be to find a nice Ames restaurant that perhaps features some Iowa State decor. I'd like to plant the seed in my 14 year old son that Iowa State would be a good college.

I'm tempted by Great Plains, in my memory their pizza was fabulous. Is there pizza really that good or do I just remember it that way? And is there restaurant nice? I think I've never had anything but delivered pizzas from them back in my college days.

I'd also still like to know where, TJ Max perhaps, that I can get some great deals on ISU gear.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by bgprest

Yes, I'll take Des Moines restaurant recommendations as well but my preference would be to find a nice Ames restaurant that perhaps features some Iowa State decor. I'd like to plant the seed in my 14 year old son that Iowa State would be a good college.

I'm tempted by Great Plains, in my memory their pizza was fabulous. Is there pizza really that good or do I just remember it that way? And is there restaurant nice? I think I've never had anything but delivered pizzas from them back in my college days.

I'd also still like to know where, TJ Max perhaps, that I can get some great deals on ISU gear.

Thanks.

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TJ maxx wont have much at all. Neat at Granite City in DM and go to Scheels in Jordan Creek for gear.

There are two stores in Des Moines one at Jordan Creek, and one on University by Valley Mall. The Cedar Rapids store as lots of Iowa State products.

For ISU themed restaurants, Wallaby's was always a good choice. I won't say it is the best food in town, but lot's of cool ISU stuff on the walls.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bgprest

My family and I are flying up from Texas to Des Moines this weekend for a wedding. It will be my first time back in Des Moines and Ames in well over 10 years (usually I fly into Minneapolis and drive straight to my hometown of Waukon - northeast Iowa).

I'd like to pick up some good buys on I-State shirts, hats, etc. I hear TJ Max is the place to go. Does anybody know any specifics as to which TJ Max location would be best or other places that have great deals?

Also does anybody have good restaurant recommendations in Ames? I'm over 25 years out of the loop on a good place to go eat. Is Hickory Park still going and still good? How about Great Plains Sauce & Dough with those thick whole wheat pizzas and the honey? Or are there ever better places these days? I'd like to take my (14 year old) son somewhere with a lot of Iowa State spirit to it if possible.

Thanks for any advice on the shopping/eating!

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I second checking out Scheels for gear. Or if you want to make it Ames only go to Strawberry Patch in the Ames mall. Was just there and they had some great deals right now for shirts, sweatshirts, and hats.

Great Plains is still great pizza. If you are looking for an ISU themed place to eat in Ames I would go to Wallaby's.

Marshalls in West DesMoines had an outstanding collection of ISU gear a couple of weeks ago.
. Water Tower Place
4100 University Avenue
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone:
Get driving directions

TJ Maxx is great for deals on I-State gear but it is very hit/miss. I picked up two Nike Polos for $17.00 a piece back in June. They both retail for $60 at Scheels. Nike hats are typically $7. There are three stores in the DSM area. Mills Civic Parkway near Jordan Creek Mall, University Ave near Valley West Mall, and Delaware Avenue in Ankeny.

Great Plains is still good and I suggest taking your family there. Hickory Park is good but more commercialized than what you remember from the past. They moved around the corner on Duff Ave into a larger building. I believe it was a Bananza 25 years ago.

I give another vote for Great Plains. I went there for the first time in two years a few weeks ago and they haven't missed a beat

All the restaurants discussed are good choices. I think the legends bar and grill on the 7th floor of a new appartment building overlooking campus is a must stop for someone who hasn't be to ISU for awhile. The views of campus and the city are really impressive at night. Even if you don't eat dinner there maybe stop for a appetizer or a drink.
Its newer, clean and pretty tame so it should work for your 14 yr old.

Legends American Grill - Google Maps

parking lot on the east side... Just walk in by the garage entrance and take elevator to the top floor.

Great Plains always gets my vote. About the only place my family eats in Ames

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Originally Posted by simville02

Great Plains always gets my vote. About the only place my family eats in Ames

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Only thing about GPSD is that the menu's more limited than Wallaby's.

GP is an Ames institution. Wallaby's is an ISU promoter. Neither better than the other, depending on what you want. Lots of ISU stuff to look at on the walls and ceiling in Wallaby's.

OK, my thought on the ISU gear is that you usually get what you pay for. If you go to Strawberry patch, you will end up with some cheap stuff for sure, but it will fall apart in a year or two. I'd rather have one good, solid shirt than two flimsy ones. My advice would be to go to T-Galaxy...they've renovated and have a lot of nice stuff, plus some sale items in the back. Dogtown U is right across Welch from T-Galaxy and has some decent deals.

For food, I would rather stick in Ames than go to DM if I were in your situation. You're coming for the ISU experience and spending time in DM would take away from that. For a 14 year old kid, I would vote for Great Plains hands down. The place has expanded and even though I wouldn't call it upscale, it's nice enough for a pizza joint. If you have time for multiple meals, I would probably go to Wallaby's too (ISU themed).

IF you are in Ames, stop in at the MU for great ISU gear!