Non profit 100% free trade…read moreThey bring in products from over 30 countries Street parking and walk into peddlers area Great unique gifts Ornaments, jewelry, home decor, scarves stuffed animals Moderate price

Maker to market. Shop gifts intentionally--…read morehandmade, ethical. During these unprecedented times, I find myself thinking more and more about how I spend my family's hard earned dollar. Ten Thousand Villages is a fabulous retail spot to support. While the store has over a hundred locations in North America-- they do fair trade right. Every handmade purchase directly impacts the life and community of its maker in a developing country. I hopped on their site one day during quarantine to shop with my mom in mind. The site is so, SO easy to navigate. There's a Gift Finder tab that I found extremely helpful. I opted for the Recycled Sari Flowers. No two flowers are entirely alike due to them recycling fabric. They were made in Bangladesh. (My mom does NOT have a green thumb. I feel like fabric flowers will be welcomed.) On the site, you get to see a blurb about the maker of each item. It makes you feel good to see who you're supporting with your purchase. Shop Ten Thousand Villages for any gift giving you may have. Whether it is during social distancing on their site, or at their store in the ped-mall. It is a literal treasure trove.

I usually love this store, and the the cashiers are always nice, except today. From the very…read moreinstant I had an encounter with him, he was not helpful,

I love Ollie's! Two…read moreof my favorite stores are Aldi and Big Lots and I get both of those vibes when I'm in Ollie's. This location opened in the fall and I think we've been five times or so. The first few times just to browse, but the last couple of times for specific items (air mattress for example). You'll find something different each time you visit. It's like treasure hunting to dig through some of the shelves. I scored some limited edition Method brand hand soap on my first visit. Snagged as many as I could and paid less than half of what I would have at Target. Yes, I get excited about hand soap. A great place to go if you need guest items - I stock up on toothbrushes, body washes, things like that. They have non-perishable food/pantry items. No fresh food. Great place for baking supplies, spices, cereal, shelf-stable items if you aren't really picky about brand names. I would love to see the pet merchandise expanded upon, but they do have an aisles worth right now. Lots of things for the home like rugs, sheets, pillows, towels. Several aisles of toys and a huge area dedicated bargain books. Kitchen, automotive, electronics, office supplies, and seasonal also. While I love a bargain, some of the items at Ollie's are not. We did find an air mattress at Ollie's, but it was much less expensive to get one from Walmart. While their books are 'bargain' prices, I'm not sure they're less expensive than the big box stores. The price tags all have an 'ours' and 'theirs' price. Sometimes there isn't much of difference. I noticed this when buying Halloween candy. I signed up for their rewards program - Ollie's Army. It's easy join and use and you get a coupon for joining. Sign up for their weekly emails, too. The company did a really nice job upgrading the outside of the storefront and appear to be maintaining the parking lot. Customer service has always been above average when we've visited. If you need assistance with something, there are plenty of employees available. Grab a shopping cart - you'll need it!

Surroundings changed our lives--for the better! Took a builders-grade ho-hum house and ramped it up…read moreto a custom-designed lovely home. Decorator Lori Waters is truly wonderful, a talented blend of good taste coupled with the experienced pragmatism to make your design dreams come true. Over about ten years in several phases, we have completely made over the place upstairs and down, inside and out. Stayed within the budget, gently nudged us into trying new ideas when we were stuck firmly in the mud of 1985, and just generally gave us a new way of using the spaces that perfectly suited our wallet, our taste, and our lifestyle. Could NOT be more proud of the finished product, although as Lori reminds me, "We still need to address that old yellow bathroom..." We will, Lori, as we start the next phase of this immensely gratifying partnership! Surroundings is the place to go when you decide you're ready to turn your house into the delightful home you've always wanted.

From the owner: By appointment only, contact us at 319.351.4653 for your next interior design project…read more Interior design and decor for elegant living. Surroundings is the Iowa City source for elegant living. We are interior designers, we have the decor to furnish your home in style. When you want a beautiful home, turn to Surroundings. Since 1987, our experienced designers have been creating the look you desire for a truly pleasant home. Our design services include: Project management Space planning Accessorizing Holiday decorating Once we work together to determine how to arrange your space, there is no need to shop from several stores. We carry a wide array of products: furniture, flooring, wall coverings, window treatments, lamps and accessories. And you have assistance with the entire project during each step. Our manufacturers include Corian/Zodiq, Duralee, Hunter Douglas, Wood-Mode and many more. Call today to enhance your surroundings!

After hearing about a 20% off Alessi sale at Design Ranch, I decided to check it out. The shop…read morereally is off the main drag so it requires a special trip. The shop is small but filled with all sorts of fun furniture and household items. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming and offered to help out with anything I needed. One of the staff informed me that any Alessi item could be ordered through the shop and purchased at the sale discount. Not a bad deal! If only I had more money to spend!

Unique gift store. Lots of high-end items. Excellent service.read more

Definitely nothing "Budget" about it.(Pricey!) Sales persons great, installation great and…read moreproducts look great. However, good luck if there is a problem. I am getting the run around after spending $3000 on blinds with this company. Blinds don't match. Multiple calls, multiple pictures required, blinds taken down and put back up for more pictures, etc. 6 weeks later, still not resolved. This should have been resolved the first day when the installer noticed a color mismatch. Not happy.

Excellent a service and product. Jan came out to my house and she was so patient with me as I…read morepicked out window coverings. She offered great suggestions and I am delighted with the results. The installers showed up on time and were very professional and informative. I plan to do to business with them in the future!

We would like to extend our genuine appreciation to your company for demonstrating what true…read morecustomer focus looks like. Every interaction reflects a level of professionalism that is increasingly rare, and it's clear that your team takes pride in doing things the right way. Your commitment doesn't end at the point of sale -- you stand behind your products with integrity, responsiveness, and a willingness to ensure that customers feel supported long after their purchase. That kind of follow‑through builds trust, and it's the reason your organization stands out. Thank you for setting such a high standard. Your dedication to quality and customer care has made a lasting impression, and it deserves to be recognized. Steve S. Cedar Rapids

Great Store. Wide Selection of hundreds of different vendors. Alway new items weekly.read more

This place is AWESOME!!! The style is a great mix of everything from modern to mid century to farm…read morehouse. The store is easy to shop and beautifully kept. Owned by a local mother/daughter duo this is a MUST SHOP BOUTIQUE!!!!!! Whether you're looking for a unique birthday present, or for something great to add to your own home you must come here.

From the owner: A Few Local Vendors. read more

This is the best antique store that I've ever been to and I've been a lot in the upstate Woodstock…read moreNew York area, which is a Mecca of thrifting. I not only like the variety that they have but everything is well organized. As a seller, they offered me fair price for all the items I brought in ranging from T-shirts to jewelry. Steve s Todd are very exceptional atwhat they do and good honest people. This is the type of business in Iowa City you hope never goes away

Wow! What a find. Amazingly good stuff (wish I had $8000 to buy a Roman era mosaic table from…read moreTunisia, but just to see it was a shock) and a lot of it. Everything was reasonably priced for the quality and had a wide variety of things to pick through. Clean and about as organized as an antique store can be. Highly recommend a stop if you're anywhere in the area.