Cytown Update

8thfloor

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Aug 3, 2021
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I really hope this thread can stay uplifting and informative because the Ames gossip circle is all anti-Cytown and rumors of it imminently failing.
Ames townies wish Ames was Boone.

They have no idea what a monkey's paw wish that idea is.
Nice to know things haven't changed in the 20+ years since I've lived there. I'm sure they'd love to give up all the shops/restaurants/entertainment/sporting events/churches/public transit/etc. that wouldn't be there without students and alumni.
 

Roseclone07

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Need to get a shake shack in cy town. Seems like the type of set up they like and assume the college kids would flock to it.
 

Messi

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Need to get a shake shack in cy town. Seems like the type of set up they like and assume the college kids would flock to it.
based on their location map, ames iowa seems very unlikely

campustown already has a burger spot (freddys) and i cant say its packed when ive gone by it

1752855610752.png
 

Clonefan94

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Would Barn Town in CyTown be too many towns?
I certainly am all for a Brewery in CyTown, but I think a Sports Bar type place with a lot of craft beer options as well as your typical mainstream American Lagers and other libations might be a better fit. When I'm back to visit family in Iowa, my parents live reasonably close to Confluence, it's like pulling teeth to get my Dad to go there because they don't serve typical American Light Beers.

I know that's not apples to apples because Confluence doesn't serve food, but if it ends up only one establishment for food and libations, I think a place with more options for those libations might do better for a year round establishment.

Once it gets completed, I think it would be cool if CyTown incorporated some spots that could be rented out for game day. TG, Barn Town, could have their set up there for game weekends in a Beer Garden type atmosphere and not have to worry about filling the place out the rest of the year.
 

8thfloor

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Aug 3, 2021
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I certainly am all for a Brewery in CyTown, but I think a Sports Bar type place with a lot of craft beer options as well as your typical mainstream American Lagers and other libations might be a better fit. When I'm back to visit family in Iowa, my parents live reasonably close to Confluence, it's like pulling teeth to get my Dad to go there because they don't serve typical American Light Beers.

I know that's not apples to apples because Confluence doesn't serve food, but if it ends up only one establishment for food and libations, I think a place with more options for those libations might do better for a year round establishment.

Once it gets completed, I think it would be cool if CyTown incorporated some spots that could be rented out for game day. TG, Barn Town, could have their set up there for game weekends in a Beer Garden type atmosphere and not have to worry about filling the place out the rest of the year.
Maybe a sports bar and a beer-only brewery? Maybe not enough traffic to support both. I personally like breweries that don't serve food and allow either food trucks or you to bring your own food, but I realize that's not for everyone.
 

JH4ISU

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Mar 27, 2006
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I certainly am all for a Brewery in CyTown, but I think a Sports Bar type place with a lot of craft beer options as well as your typical mainstream American Lagers and other libations might be a better fit. When I'm back to visit family in Iowa, my parents live reasonably close to Confluence, it's like pulling teeth to get my Dad to go there because they don't serve typical American Light Beers.

I know that's not apples to apples because Confluence doesn't serve food, but if it ends up only one establishment for food and libations, I think a place with more options for those libations might do better for a year round establishment.

Once it gets completed, I think it would be cool if CyTown incorporated some spots that could be rented out for game day. TG, Barn Town, could have their set up there for game weekends in a Beer Garden type atmosphere and not have to worry about filling the place out the rest of the year.

Unrelated to CyTown, but now you can try again to get your Dad to Confluence:


I tried it this past weekend and it is basically a well executed American Light Beer.
 

NWICY

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Sep 2, 2012
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I really hope this thread can stay uplifting and informative because the Ames gossip circle is all anti-Cytown and rumors of it imminently failing.
Ames really should be grateful for ISU without it is Boone, Mason City, Ft. Dodge etc.
None of those are bad places but non are particularly vibrant.
 

NWICY

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Sep 2, 2012
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I certainly am all for a Brewery in CyTown, but I think a Sports Bar type place with a lot of craft beer options as well as your typical mainstream American Lagers and other libations might be a better fit. When I'm back to visit family in Iowa, my parents live reasonably close to Confluence, it's like pulling teeth to get my Dad to go there because they don't serve typical American Light Beers.

I know that's not apples to apples because Confluence doesn't serve food, but if it ends up only one establishment for food and libations, I think a place with more options for those libations might do better for a year round establishment.

Once it gets completed, I think it would be cool if CyTown incorporated some spots that could be rented out for game day. TG, Barn Town, could have their set up there for game weekends in a Beer Garden type atmosphere and not have to worry about filling the place out the rest of the year.
So 30 hops. Which is fine I enjoy the one in CR.
 

alarson

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I certainly am all for a Brewery in CyTown, but I think a Sports Bar type place with a lot of craft beer options as well as your typical mainstream American Lagers and other libations might be a better fit. When I'm back to visit family in Iowa, my parents live reasonably close to Confluence, it's like pulling teeth to get my Dad to go there because they don't serve typical American Light Beers.

I know that's not apples to apples because Confluence doesn't serve food, but if it ends up only one establishment for food and libations, I think a place with more options for those libations might do better for a year round establishment.

Once it gets completed, I think it would be cool if CyTown incorporated some spots that could be rented out for game day. TG, Barn Town, could have their set up there for game weekends in a Beer Garden type atmosphere and not have to worry about filling the place out the rest of the year.
I could be misremembering but wasn't the intention to have more than one food and drink type place, with one being like this, and one being more of a taproom?
 

alarson

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I agree that it still kinda blows my mind to see Big Grove expanding in the way they are.

However for my 2 cents, I'd be pretty disappointed if Big Grove specifically set up shop in CyTown. I'd rather have none and wait for someplace less obviously aligned with Iowa City to set up shop in Ames. There are so many other potential choices, we don't need to settle for BG. It would be better to have a non-specific pub like 30hop in CyTown than have BG there, IMO.

I get why you'd feel that way, but I'd keep in mind they've also demonstrated an ability to launch multiple taprooms spread out over the state. That's a skill and learning curve in itself for a business to seamlessly operate multiple locations, so if they were ever to be interested in this spot I think they'd have less risk of failure than a brewery that hasn't made that jump yet.
 

ribsnwhiskey

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I really hope this thread can stay uplifting and informative because the Ames gossip circle is all anti-Cytown and rumors of it imminently failing.

Plenty of that sentiment is from Cyclone fans who are still pissy about ‘losing parking’.