Iowa All Over: Main Street Cultural District home to chocolates, clothing, jewelry

AMES — Along Main Street in Ames, visitors will find a few similarities between all the businesses. Of the 46 businesses, several are family-owned and operated.

'The Main Street Cultural District is enjoying a pretty nice level of success right now,' said Dan Culhane, president and chief executive office of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. 'You travel up and down the Main Street Corridor and throughout the rest of downtown, and by and large we're full. Vacancy is very minimal and occupancy is something we really enjoy.'

Shoppers can find items from quilts to chocolates to clothing to antiques. There are boutiques, custom jewelers, a locally owned coffee shop and other shops.

On a cold and snowy January day, customers stopped inside Chocolaterie Stam to warm up over chocolates and coffee. Opened in fall 2006, the store is owned by husband and wife Anne and Terry Stark. The business serves 40 varieties of European chocolates, gelato, cookies and coffee.

'The chocolates are made in a European tradition, so lots of hazelnut bonbons,' said Anne Stark, who imports the base chocolate used here from Belgium. 'We also have some cookies or biscuits that are European, as well. We also have a nice variety of licorice.'

Lisa Thomas, who manages the business, said shops along Main Street are 'very well supported by all the stores.'

'We're always referring, 'If you're new in town, stop down on Treats on a Leash,'' Thomas said.

Just a few doors down on Main Street, Gilger Designs specializes in repurposing or remaking jewelry. The store, now in its 17th year of operation, also sells original designs. The business is owned by Mike and Judy Gilger and their sons, M.J. and Justin.

'I think we're a very close knit family, in that if we can't do something, we will suggest you go down to Ames Silversmithing or you go to Swank's if you need something for your watches,' Judy said. 'I think we really understand what each family-owned business is trying to do, and if we can't, then we send them on to somebody who has that expertise.'

Gilger noted that, 'When you're coming to the stores downtown on our Main Street, you're talking to the owner or the owner's family members, or employees that are vested in the business.'

Tangerine Zebra, an antique and vintage décor shop, is owned by Cathy and Bob Hague. It has been open three and a half years.

One counter near the front of the store displays a platter of antique spoons, forks and knives. Nearby there are glass bowls, dishes, vases and gravy bowls. One box contained cut-up pieces of old license plates. The store also sells jewelry, signs and home and garden décor.

'We try to find things that are a little bit unique and not things that a lot of the other antique stores have,' Cathy said.

'We like Ames,' Cathy said. 'Their Main Street is a pretty vibrant fun place, where a lot of Main Streets are dying and Ames is not. It's been a good place for us to be.'

For a listing of shops along Main Street in Ames, go to amesdowntown.org.