Grab a Brew at Rustic Brew in Hampton, Iowa
A good coffee shop can sometimes be hard to find. Thankfully, that isn’t the case in Franklin County because of the Rustic Brew! I got to know the ladies there VERY well when I worked only a few doors down the street…probably too well, but I don’t regret it! 😉 However, I’ve known owners Kathy & Joel Heuer since I was in high school and love what they’ve done with this main street coffee shop!
Developing Rustic Brew
After working in a law office for 24 years, Kathy felt it was time for a change. She also knew how much Joel liked brewing beer, so it seemed natural to purchase the shop which was “Mary B’s” at the time and take it over and transform it into the Rustic Brew. They decided to not only take over the coffee shop, but also add a microbrewery with Joel doing the brewing. Opening in January of 2013, they now offer a variety of different items including specialty coffees, smoothies, beer, retail items, and delicious homemade foods! They also have a room for parties and business meetings. They host class reunions, baby and bridal showers and also do light catering.
Friday in Franklin County: Chapin Station
Have you ever found a treasure in the most unsuspecting place? Well, that’s exactly what Chapin Station is! Tucked into the tiny town (actually unincorporated) of Chapin, you will find this unique shop! Randy and Holly Coffee are the owners of this diamond in the rough in Franklin County! So, what is it? It’s a shop that offers a mix of vintage and new decor, rescued and repurposed furniture, antiques, primitives, chippy, rusty, galvanized, architectural, and industrial for your home!
Friday in Franklin County: AmericInn of Hampton
As you age you watch the community around you evolve and grow. Part of those observations for me is remembering when the AmericInn of Hampton was built. Now, it’s a staple in the community!
On July 3rd of 1998, the AmericInn of Hampton was opened by previous owners. They saw a need in Hampton and jumped at the opportunity! I remember, at the time, it was a huge deal that Hampton was getting a chain hotel that was locally owned. Now, the hotel is owned by Bharat Patel who is very involved in the community and continues to keep the hotel updated!
Friday in Franklin County: Breadeaux Pizza
Friday in Franklin County: Pakoda’s Steakhouse
Friday in Franklin County: Franklin County Fair
I’m proud to say that I live in the county that I was born and raised. I left after high school, got my college education and was gone for a few years before coming back. Part of my childhood was spent at the Franklin County Fair! As a young child, my parents were always in charge of a food stand on the grounds. When I was in middle school, my dad was on the fair board. So, pretty much from the age of 3-27, I spent a week in July working at the Franklin County Fair. I have the fondest of memories of the fair and since it’s fair week I figure it is the perfect feature for Friday in Franklin County!
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fair is held in Hampton, Iowa each July usually and runs Wednesday through Sunday. However, you have to make sure to start the fair off with the parade on Tuesday night! The biggest and grandest parade in the county, the fair parade features a large variety of floats!
Waterhawks Ski Show
Free, family fun! How great is that combo? The Waterhawks Ski Show gives you just that! 4th of July weekend, T and I headed to Waterloo to camp again just like we did last year. I made the declaration that we were going to try something new, go somewhere new, etc. Thanks to the help of the Waterloo Convention & Visitor’s Bureau I learned about the Waterhawks Ski Show and I decided that it would satisfy my desire to “take in” something new and hopefully hold T’s interest!
Waterhawks Ski Show
So, Friday night we followed the directions from their website to their lake to see what this was all about. The Waterhawks Ski Show is free to the public to attend. You just drive in, park, and find a place to sit. You’re welcome to sit on their stands or take blankets and lawn chairs. We were there early enough (not knowing what to expect for a crowd) that we were able to back our truck up to the viewing area and set up our chairs in the back to get a perfect view! Then, we walked around and checked out the facilities and grabbed something to drink from their concession stand. While there is no charge to get into the event, make sure to grab a snack from their concession stand to help support them. You can pick from drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), candy bars, pizza, popsicles, and chips!
Friday in Franklin County: West Fork Wharf
Remember how I said I love the town I work in? That love affair doesn’t stop with Forever Yours, Healing Hands, Jaspersen’s or Timeless Treasure either! (Are you sensing a theme??) It extends to the West Fork Wharf and owners Bob & Kim Jensen! If you haven’t visited the West Fork Wharf yet, you need to put it on your to do list, but do it immediately! I find myself actually craving the Wharf! My 12yo step-son says randomly, “it’s too bad we can’t go to the Wharf tonight!” He loves the cheese and onion personal pizza he gets! I love the cheese curds, ranch dressing, propeller fries, and the wings, and….
Well, I think you get the point!
Friday in Franklin County: Got You Covered
If you follow me over at Learning As I Go, you know that I spend a lot of time at baseball, basketball, and football games, etc. This means I need to be extra prepared with my spirit-wear and when I’m in need, I head to Got You Covered in Hampton! John & Deb Currier have an amazing little business in the downtown Hampton and I’m excited to feature it here today!
Setting Up Shop
Clothing and sewing has been in Deb’s blood for a long time. In 4th grade her mother taught her how to sew and she made all of her own clothing as she went through school. Working with thread and fabric has always been natural to her. She began looking for something to supplement their income. However, she wanted to work from home so she could be with their children. She eventually started to research commercial embroidery and found it was a niche that she wanted to pursue.
Friday in Franklin County: Country Heritage B&B
I grew up in Hampton and have been back for almost 10 years now. Throughout my time working there I was lucky enough to get to know several other business people. Two of those are the owners of Country Heritage Bed & Breakfast. This amazing bed and breakfast is located in rural Franklin County on Highway 3 between Latimer and Hampton. Donnis and her daughter Lacey are the owners of this quaint historic home and are fantastic at what they do!
Opening the Inn
So, how did they get started into the hospitality business? The house, in which they run their business, was built by the ancestors. 10 years ago it came up for sale and they decided it was time to bring it back into the family and share it with others! Obviously it’s a bed and breakfast so patrons can select from nightly stays, extended stays (interns have stayed throughout the summer), and you can even rent the whole house for events. This is a great place for girls weekends, family reunions, or meeting up with college friends and kids . Of course, they will provide a delicious, home-cooked breakfast for those who who stay! When renting the entire house, you and your guests receive access to the kitchen, decks, and fire pit! You can truly make it your home away from home.
