Moving to Ankeny

**Cy Heavy** · 04-10-2008, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Cyfan322

Can anyone confirm or debunk the rumor that best buy is moving in on delaware?

Also, there will be a slew of new residential and commercial lots opening soon on 2nd Ave/State street to the north of orlabor from what I have heard.

You're right about the 2nd Ave shops-there will be a second Hy-Vee directly across from Rookies and off Orlabor.

**Torks Pub** · 04-10-2008, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by RTBIO

Property taxes aren't bad here yet compared to other places in the Midwest, especially when you consider the growth and quality of the school system.

Yet is the key word. The city council just settled for a $.24 increase and the school board is coming back to the public as their bond past last year isn't going to cover the plans they sold to the public. They will ask for another bond increase in 2011. Polk Co. is also going to ask for a property tax hike.

Don't forget commercial property gets dinged at 100%. The likes of CJ's and the Tower will have a tough time passing the rent increases along to their customers.

Otherwise, Ankeny is a great place to live especially since I can be back from the Jack or Hilton in 20-30 minutes.

No word on Best Buy yet. Elwell and others have been in contact with them. Hopefully, soon.

**dmclone** · 04-10-2008, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by ripvdub

They get it from the same distributer, but its not the same quality. Dahls and Fareway are better than HyVee. You'll notice that HyVee's meat is bright red with hardly any mabling or fat, it'll be tougher and more dry.
The only real difference between Dahls and Fareway meat is the people working there and how they cut it.

Maybe things have changed from 8 years ago but here is how it was in 2000. Dahls, Fareway, and Hy-Vee may have different cuts and may trim different but they use the exact same meat(USDA Choice). Not trying to be a dick but I know this because I worked at Hy-Vee for 6 years, worked in the meat department for over a year, went through the management training program which requires you to know exactly the meat that every competitor uses. I also unloaded PDI (owned by Hy-Vee) semi's and talked to many of the drivers.

I'm not saying that the Fareway in Ankeny doesn't have a better meat department or they don't have cuts you like better but when it comes to actual product sitting in the back room, they both have a lot of boxes that say "Swift & Co."

**ripvdub** · 04-10-2008, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by dmclone

Maybe things have changed from 8 years ago but here is how it was in 2000. Dahls, Fareway, and Hy-Vee may have different cuts and may trim different but they use the exact same meat(USDA Choice). Not trying to be a dick but I know this because I worked at Hy-Vee for 6 years, worked in the meat department for over a year, went through the management training program which requires you to know exactly the meat that every competitor uses. I also unloaded PDI (owned by Hy-Vee) semi's and talked to many of the drivers.

I'm not saying that the Fareway in Ankeny doesn't have a better meat department or they don't have cuts you like better but when it comes to actual product sitting in the back room, they both have a lot of boxes that say "Swift & Co."

I was a meat cutter/ asst mgr for Dahls for 3 years and I think I remember us getting the bulk of our meat from PDI and another distributor. It's been a few years so I don't really recall.

All I know is I wont buy beef at HyVee. I might as well buy it at WalMart.

Nowadays i buy whole ribeye loins and cut the steaks myself. Its cheaper and I know how I want it done.

**ajk4st8** · 04-10-2008, 07:19 PM

If you are in your 20's dont expect to find much of anything to do here. Always driving to Des Moines to find a time not loaded with soccer moms with Starbucks and Bagels or screaming kids.

Going out to eat is terrible. Bears is way over rated. All the chain places are full of little kids, and the bars full of yuppies and divorcees out for a drink but in bed by 10.

Good news is that you are close to Des Moines for finding something to do.

**iowaboy** · 04-10-2008, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by wartknight

I am a once-a-week stopper and Benchwarmers. Games are always on and the beer is always cold. Food is average. Always smoky but that may be changing with the new law going through.
HyVee is much better than Dahls as far as prices go, but there's no such thing as a quick trip inside. If you need something fast, Hit up one of the Fareways. If you are going for meat, go there as well. HyVee is recently renovated and is one of the nicest I've been in.
The Casey's off I35 on Oralabor has about anything a guy could ever want.
If you ever go to WalMart, plan on taking a shower afterward.
I go to Heartland Tire on 69 on the North side. They've treated me pretty well. I have used Graham Tire before with no complaints.
Bears is good.
Chips is overrated.
Briarwood is a great golfcourse if you can get a tee time.
Ranallos in uptown is a nice restaurant, but not a place that you would go to every weekend.
Oh, and if you ever feel like there's a dead spot in the conversation with an Ankenesian, just ask about the football team for next year.
Football, and Marching Band, are king in Ankeny.

Good post. Ankenys Marching Band and the Directors are terrific. IF you are into DRUMLINES however, Dowling is light years ahead of anybody else in Iowa at any level. I have two sons living there and its a wonderful place to live.

Within a few years there will be another high-school as they are growing so fast.

**wartknight** · 04-10-2008, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by iowaboy

Good post. Ankenys Marching Band and the Directors are terrific. IF you are into DRUMLINES however, Dowling is light years ahead of anybody else in Iowa at any level. I have two sons living there and its a wonderful place to live.

Within a few years there will be another high-school as they are growing so fast.

I probably wouldn't have posted that, but I have a friend who works in the Ankeny Band Dept. and I was just at Benchwarmers with him last night.

**ericlambi** · 04-10-2008, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by SSSSState

SuperTarget - shopping
Lucky Bamboo - chinese
Noodle Zoo and Chips- casual dining
Ranallo's - upscale dining
Leaning Tower - pizza (although driving to Pagliai's in Johnston is worth the trip and then some)
CJ's Bagel's and Palmer's Deli- excellent lunch stops
Metro Fitness or Anytime Fitness (Anytime if you want a quick no-frills workout, open 24 hours a day)
Hy-Vee (groceries, but buy meat from Fareway like others say)
Tonic - drinks (cougars galore)
Clipper - drinks and tacos
Stix - meet/meat market (maybe this is where all the teenage mothers from Wal-Mart come from that were mentioned above)
El Azteca - mexican (where the actual Mexicans prefer to eat)

Panchero's sucks. Chipotle will drive that crappy food, Hawk loving corporation out of the Des Moines area hopefully.

1. I can't believe it took this long for someone to mention Ranallo's.

2. I vehemently disagree with you on Panchero's. Chipotle quality is much worse. Pancero's actually makes the tortilla while you are standing there.

3. I do not live in Ankeny (my Mom and grandparents do), but I understand there is now a Palmer's deli in Ankeny. I like Palmer's.

**ajk4st8** · 04-10-2008, 07:41 PM

Ranallos is solid too. Good dining for a good price.

**wartknight** · 04-10-2008, 08:05 PM

Hey, I gave Ranallos some love right away in this thread.

**jamesfnb** · 04-10-2008, 08:50 PM

Palmers Deli is excellent and it's right by the best and cheapest gym in town, Accel Fitness ($20/month). Both are near the corner of Ankeny Blvd. and 1st street.

HyVee is where we go.

Stix is a decent bar on Delaware, full of a lot of young chicky mammas, lots of pool tables, and a dance area to watch the chicky mammas shake their groove thing

Target is the best, my wife is one of those soccer moms and yes she has noticed a stare or two when bending over to get something on the bottom shelf. We won't go into a Walmart.

Eating and drinking at the Marina on 415 near Polk City is fun in the summer time. They have live music and you can eat/drink right on the water and stare at the "talent" in swimsuits.

Ankeny Summerfest usually has decent bands with a big beer garden area.

We love Ankeny.....absolutely lover living here.......

**captain7cf** · 04-10-2008, 09:43 PM

i love hearing BBW is coming to Ankeny.. i hate driving to west dsm to have it.... I heard that the construction across from the sports complex is going to have a Legends... that would be on the corner of 2nd Ave and 18th...

also i know a manager that works for best buy... its def on the books... it was tentatively scheduled to be this fall but because of the weather and a few other reasons he said he is guessing next spring or summer...

**Chad** · 04-10-2008, 10:35 PM

Ankeny needs a decent gym like Prairie Life Fitness Center really bad. Also a Scheel's or Dick's would be awesome...MC Sports is just not worth my time. Lots of close golf courses. The new praire trail development could be a super nice addition to a growing town.
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**thunderdave** · 04-10-2008, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by jamesfnb

Palmers Deli is excellent and it's right by the best and cheapest gym in town, Accel Fitness ($20/month). Both are near the corner of Ankeny Blvd. and 1st street.

HyVee is where we go.

Stix is a decent bar on Delaware, full of a lot of young chicky mammas, lots of pool tables, and a dance area to watch the chicky mammas shake their groove thing

Target is the best, my wife is one of those soccer moms and yes she has noticed a stare or two when bending over to get something on the bottom shelf. We won't go into a Walmart.

Eating and drinking at the Marina on 415 near Polk City is fun in the summer time. They have live music and you can eat/drink right on the water and stare at the "talent" in swimsuits.

Ankeny Summerfest usually has decent bands with a big beer garden area.

We love Ankeny.....absolutely lover living here.......

I apologize.