Best downtowns in Iowa?

[Kinnick 4 Prez]

Not talking about DM or CR, but which downtowns (let's say towns between 5-75K) do you enjoy to visit maybe once every few years?
Taking into account maybe having a town square, old brick buildings, courthouse, shops, restaurants and maybe a river running through it

Decorah and Pella stick out to me with some of their shops and festivals. Even though its not Iowa, Galena has always been a place I enjoy visiting. Or some river towns in MN and Wiscy like Stillwater or La Crosse. Feel like our neighboring states have better options.

Throw some other Iowa towns out there and why you enjoy them?

 

[Bro D]

I like visiting Dubuque every once in a while. Always have a good time there

 

[McLovin32]

Opened thread to mention Decorah. Also enjoy stopping in McGregor as well.

 

[Brown Dog]

Le Mars has a nice downtown.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

I know it's under the 5-75k.
But...
St. Ansgar Iowa pop 1,100 has as good a downtown as anyone near that size. I think you'd be hard pressed to see a town as rural/small with such a strong downtown business scene.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Or some river towns in MN and Wiscy like Stillwater or La Crosse. Feel like our neighboring states have better options.

Going up to Stillwater next month. I love Lacrosse, they have dozens of pickleball courts, inside and out. St. Cloud, Minnesota is also a favorite. ( in the summer ) Home of The Fabulous Armadillos, best tribute band around...

Fabulous Armadillos

Home page of Fabulous Armadillos, a rock group from Saint Cloud, MN. Come Out Of Your Shell....and experience the Fabulous Armadillos.

fabulousarmadillos.com

 

[LunchBox50]

It's not in Iowa, but the best small-town downtown is Galena, Ill.

 

[cheeselog8]

Prior to 2018 it was Ottumwa. Once Chills 'N Thrills left it hasn't been the same.

 

[hawkeye54545]

Prior to 2018 it was Ottumwa. Once Chills 'N Thrills left it hasn't been the same.

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Years ago me and a group were leaving Scooters the bar acrossed the street. As we walked out there were 2 strippers from Chills fighting in the street. The highlight was one ripping the others wig off and throwing it. Good times

 

[ConvenientParking]

I know it's under the 5-75k.
But...
St. Ansgar Iowa pop 1,100 has as good a downtown as anyone near that size. I think you'd be hard pressed to see a town as rural/small with such a strong downtown business scene.

Their home football games are a good time too for small school football. This is dated info but I have to imagine it's similar now

 

[cheeselog8]

Years ago me and a group were leaving Scooters the bars acrossed the street. As we walked out there were 2 strippers from Chills fighting in the street. The highlight was one ripping the others wig off and throwing it. Good times

Lots of good times there. Once we stopped there as part of a bar crawl for my buddy's bachelor party. We paid a stripper $20 to take him to the "private" couch (which was just in the back by the pool table and not private at all). She attempts to unzip his pants and says she'll blow him. He refuses, comes back white as a ghost and just says "she smelled so bad."

 

[WSC72]

Le Mars has a nice downtown.

Especially if you enjoy ice cream. Now if you could move Bob’s downtown it would easily top the list

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

Not talking about DM or CR, but which downtowns (let's say towns between 5-75K) do you enjoy to visit maybe once every few years?
Taking into account maybe having a town square, old brick buildings, courthouse, shops, restaurants and maybe a river running through it

Decorah and Pella stick out to me with some of their shops and festivals. Even though its not Iowa, Galena has always been a place I enjoy visiting. Or some river towns in MN and Wiscy like Stillwater or La Crosse. Feel like our neighboring states have better options.

Throw some other Iowa towns out there and why you enjoy them?

I was just in decorah over the weekend to celebrate my grandmas 94th birthday. We made a stop at Mabes for pizza.
Whats crazy is I feel like that town is nothing like it was when I was a kid. Not saying that in a bad way but it no longer has the staple shopping stores I went to as a kid and has greatly shifted into being a tourist town.

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

Their home football games are a good time too for small school football. This is dated info but I have to imagine it's similar now

I’d agree. I had a fun time my senior year when we played there and beat them.

 

[WhiteSoxClone]

Cedar Falls downtown was a complete dump when I was growing up and now it is really outstanding. Lots of nice shops and restaurants, the Community Theater, the Black Hawk hotel, and its close to the river. I think its always underrated in these discussions because of how run down it was 25+ years ago.

I'm not sure what Traer's downtown is like today, but I always thought the spiral staircase was cool and a nice center feature for a small town downtown.

 

[McLovin32]

Cedar Falls downtown was a complete dump when I was growing up and now it is really outstanding. Lots of nice shops and restaurants, the Community Theater, the Black Hawk hotel close to the river. I think its always underrated in these discussions because of how run down it was 25+ years ago.

I'm not sure what Traer's downtown is like today, but I always thought the spiral staircase was cool and a nice center feature for a small town downtown.

The gym I go to is in downtown CF. I do love that area. When it's warmer outside I'll usually go for a 15-20 minute walk around the downtown/river area to burn a few more calories once I'm done at the gym, but also because it's really friggin enjoyable just walking around.

 

[the24fan]

Osage

 

[ICWestfan]

I was just in decorah over the weekend to celebrate my grandmas 94th birthday. We made a stop at Mabes for pizza.
Whats crazy is I feel like that town is nothing like it was when I was a kid. Not saying that in a bad way but it no longer has the staple shopping stores I went to as a kid and has greatly shifted into being a tourist town.

Mabes is garbage but the sentimentality is strong for that place. Used to love bar hopping back in the day, now we just stop at Your Place for a bev when in town. Neither of us are crafty's so TG and PR are no goes.

 

[McLovin32]

Mabes is garbage but the sentimentality is strong for that place. Used to love bar hopping back in the day, now we just stop at Your Place for a bev when in town. Neither of us are crafty's so TG and PR are no goes.

Back in Aug of 2020 my buddy and I went up there to trout fish, and spent the night because he still didn't have electricity from the derecho. Your Place was one of the only places open at that time. We got hammered there and only spent like $20 each. Basically left a 100% tip because the bartender was really cool and we definitely drank more than we were charged for/csb

 

[IAFB2021Champs]

Mabes is garbage but the sentimentality is strong for that place. Used to love bar hopping back in the day, now we just stop at Your Place for a bev when in town. Neither of us are crafty's so TG and PR are no goes.

I wouldn’t say it’s garbage but much like the things I loved about decorah growing up, Mabes pizza isn’t what it was back then either.

 

[LunchBox50]

Mabes is garbage but the sentimentality is strong for that place. Used to love bar hopping back in the day, now we just stop at Your Place for a bev when in town. Neither of us are crafty's so TG and PR are no goes.

I think you're the first poster I've ever seen say that Mabe's pizza sucks? Maybe? I like a good hot take like this.

 

[Here_4_a_Day]

I was just in decorah over the weekend to celebrate my grandmas 94th birthday. We made a stop at Mabes for pizza.
Whats crazy is I feel like that town is nothing like it was when I was a kid. Not saying that in a bad way but it no longer has the staple shopping stores I went to as a kid and has greatly shifted into being a tourist town.

Ted's Tobacco? lol The influx of liberal outsiders has destroyed what was in Decorah.

 

[Whiskeydeltadeltatango]

To throw another name out, Atlantic has a nice little downtown.

 

[Here_4_a_Day]

I wouldn’t say it’s garbage but much like the things I loved about decorah growing up, Mabes pizza isn’t what it was back then either.

Sugar Bowl and Ronnie's? Jule's Office Inn and Van's Sportsmen's Rendezvous?

 

[torbee]

Haven’t been there in 20-plus years so maybe it’s not nice anymore, but I recall Monticello, Iowa having a very nice downtown.

 

[The-Dude-Abides]

To stay just inside you parameters using 2020 census data, it's obviously Iowa City.😏

Since they're no doubt over 75k by now, I'd add to the list others have suggested, Washington and Fairfield. Decent little county seat squares with some actual interesting things going on from time to time. Elkader has some interesting old buildings and nice scenery with the river running through it. It's been close to 20 years, but I remember thinking Winterset had an interesting downtown too.