Small Town Shopping

Small-Town Shopping Makes For A Good Day Trip

I love making a day of it by shopping in old towns. I have found fantastic clothing stores in small towns and purchased a lot of clothing from them over the years. The store owners are always amiable and accommodating to your needs. Some old buildings have been re-purposed into beautiful stores. I went into an old bank building which was now a lovely restaurant. I also was in an old church, now a lovely antique store in Kalona, Iowa. I once ate in an old gas station that now served twelve people on old wooden stools in Missouri. I love looking at the lovely architecture of the old buildings in small towns.

Old Hardware Stores

I have purchased many items at old small-town hardware stores over the years. I love the hardware stores in Kalona, Iowa. I have bought old tools from them that were brand new and made much better than the new ones they make now. One of the hardware stores sold furniture upstairs, and I found a lovely table for my home. I purchased a brush cutter, a new lawn mower, and a sump pump from small-town hardware stores. I have seen old appliances that have never been used that will last many years. I still have one refrigerator going strong after 20 years of use. I also have a 1953 GE refrigerator that keeps things fresh and cool.

Antique Stores

You can find almost anything at an antique store that is made well. I purchased a lovely old settee that I had recovered and sat in my Dining room. I also bought a hand trimmer that trims my bushes to perfection. I have found lovely old oil lamps that I light when my electricity goes out in bad weather. It is nice to see some of the old toys you used to play with as a child. I found an old Doctors bag with all the plastic instruments still in it that I used to play with growing up. I found an excellent harmonica in an antique store in Southern Iowa.

Old Drug Stores

There are still a few old drug stores around that still have a soda fountain. I purchased a Green River soda from an old drugstore. A Green River Soda pop dates back to 1919, and it was also a big seller in the fifties and sixties; I have found lovely old greeting cards to send people. Some old drug stores still sell radios and other household gadgets.

Small Town Restaurants And Coffee Shops

I have found an excellent restaurant in small towns. I love the Tuscan Moon Restaurant in Kalona, Iowa. He specializes in Italian food and offers other food choices. I have ordered his lamb twice, and it is the best lamb I have ever eaten, as it was baked to perfection. I have found many small-town coffee shops in Iowa that I love to visit every time I go to their town. Most of the coffee shops have lovely baked goods for sale also. Small-town shopping keeps your money local. If we do not support small-town businesses, they will disappear completely. Make a day of it shopping and eating in small towns across America and take home some wonderful and valuable treasures with you.