What needs changing in Ames first?

why the obsession with a mcD's in campus town. I see it as a plus that it is one less crap meal to tempt you.

Crap meal? I beg to differ. The McRib and Fish sandwiches kept me alive when I needed it most.......during the beerscapades.
 
When did that MickeyD's close in Campustown? I could have sworn it was still open Aug '03 when I graduated. For them not to have Golden Arches in Campustown is a little bit ridiculous...

Closed sometime in '04 if I'm not mistaken - there was a McDonalds when I arrived on campus August '03, it was gone a year or so later
 
while I agree that ISU campus is far better than Iowa's it isn't that the UofI is without features. The Iowa River in the fall is beautiful and the pentacrest is a beautiful piece of historical architecture with a decent sized grass "campus" as well. The bar scene is 10 times better than ISU which is why a lot of ISU students road trip to Iowa City...and the reason it is better is probably due to a combo of friendly business climate towards bars and 18 years of age to enter.


I prefer my ratty ames bars. More real folks less plastic people.

Not sure what makes UI bars 10x better, just more of them. The bar/rest atmosphere is a plus which Welch just doesnt have, but other than that the bars were close enough I didnt have to drive anywhere afterwards. I honestly couldnt have cared less about being 18 and not getting into the bars. House Parties were available anywhere and frats were generally welcoming.
 
business is business and if enough people wanted it, it would still be there.


True. But as with alot of the eats on Welch things just dont stay. People loved Davinch and it went away a few years after I left. That place was always busy. Something about that area kills business. Poor managment? High rent? Does Hunkziker own Welch? =)
 
That said, even with a new mall we won't have anything like the Jordan Creek town center or anything like that, so I'd settle for getting a Younkers or something. We're getting a Super Wal-mart in March, so that'll improve that option for those not morally opposed to Wal-mart

About the mall, and what ornryactor said back on page 2 (sorry, didn't want to quote that far ago...), I'm not sure I like it.
Sorry to contradict you ornry - but Coral Ridge Mall has effectively killed Westdale Mall, it's gone through new ownership, and various changing opinions of how far the city should go to "save" it. And I don't think it looks good - the best idea seems to be demolish and build an outlet mall or rezone it.
I also read in the newspaper over break that Lindale Mall had 5 or 6 stores elect not to renew their lease. Though they said that's normal, and still a healthy mall... that many stores saying "no thanks, good bye"? Maybe I just know nothing about mall economics, and I'm pessimistic...

If they have an idea to help limit the competition between the malls, or a plan on how to reinvigorate the old mall... I'm not sure the old one would survive.

I like flag guy's idea the best - a shuttle to Des Moines. That would allow students and residents access to their malls, concerts...
 
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Don't get me wrong. I dont think the UofI's campus is with out features, I just prefer ISU's.

You are right on the bar scene. It is definitely better in Iowa City if you are an avid bar goer. It is amazing how lenient they are there. I enjoy bars as well, but i can also understand where people come from when they say the bar scene gets old. I would personally take a great house party with a bunch of people i know and chill atmosphere than a cramped bar and paying out the *** for drinks, but thats just me. Thats why there will always be the ISU's and UofI's of the world.
 
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Oh, and, for food.

My vote goes to In-N-Out Burger. They currently only have locations in California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. I stopped at one over break and it was packed (lines for a fast food joint tables??)

Put it out here, maybe on the Litzel hardware location, it can run McD outta business :cool:

edit: by "out here" I mean west ames
 
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Oh, and, for food.

My vote goes to In-N-Out Burger. They currently only have locations in California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. I stopped at one over break and it was packed (lines for a fast food joint tables??)

Put it out here, maybe on the Litzel hardware location, it can run McD outta business :cool:

Ah good ol Litzel. Had many a key made there. Couldnt stop losing my house key.
 
I think with them building the mall out there that's inevitable. And then you will have one of the worst urban sprawls in America for a city the size of Ames... :yes:


They already do. Try driving from the west side of Ames to the mall. It takes a half hour to get there. But I can get from downtown to Jordan creek a lot faster.

My parents live on the north side of Ames, sometimes we all go to HP for dinner, if we leave at the same time, I beat them from Ankeny!
 
I still have the wood from my loft that I bought from them :smile:


You know, its places like that, that make me miss Ames. My wife doesnt get why I get sentimental about stupid things in Ames. But that was my life for years. As much as I hate those stupid Lebeda commercials, I miss hearing them on the kitchen radio when I worked at Davincis. God, Im turning into a woman.
 
why the obsession with a mcD's in campus town. I see it as a plus that it is one less crap meal to tempt you.

Convienient for gameday breakfast at 7:00 AM.

As it is, the one on West Lincoln Way is almost as good.
 
I'm willing to bet most people who are doing the complaining don't even live there. Yeah I know one guy said he grew up there, but so did I. I know Ames isn't perfect, but its a lot better than people who like to complain about it make it out to be.


Traffic isn't bad. OMG get out of state and see what really badtraffic is like. Even Des Moines doesn't have bad traffic. That's why I can't believe when people leave games early. Traffic in Iowa is non-existent.

Ames has alot of nice shortcuts to get around town if you know them. Ames is ready for growth road-wise (Ankeny wasn't and is still trying to catch-up).
 
I live in Chicago. I was born and raised (reared) in Chicago. I mention this because I don't need to see more congestion and "cookie cutter" growth. I like Ames because it is a small town in a mid-town atmosphere. I think there are some changes that could be made, and I think growth around the expressways (US 30 and I-35) is inevitable and needed, but I like the fact that I don't have to deal with the same suburban sprawl that is everywhere, which by the way, Ames has too much of already. I will agree with the lack of good jobs, that really sucks. I wouldn't mind adding some more job producing industries to the area, but I don't need to see another suburb.
 

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