Downtown Hampton: Unique Shops in a Rural Iowa Setting

Exploring downtown areas is one of my favorite things to do in a small town. This past fall, while we were on the Franklin County, Iowa, Harvest Tour, we had an opportunity to check out downtown Hampton, the Franklin County seat. Hampton’s town square, anchored by a stately old courthouse, is surrounded by small, independent shops and cafes, where you are often greeted by the shop owners themselves.

Frankline County Courthouse, Hampton IowaRustic Brew

We started with breakfast at Rustic Brew, an appropriate name since they brew both coffee and beer. Owners Joel and Kathy Heuer served up an assortment of breakfast sandwiches, quiches and scones and chatted a bit about their business.

Rustic Brew, downtown Hamption IowaJoel and Kathy Heuer, Rustic BrewRustic Brew breakfast

Kathy had wanted to go into a retail business for quite some time. When they heard the Rustic Brew, a coffee shop they frequented, was up for sale a couple of years ago, they bought it in partnership with another couple. The Heuers are now the sole owners.

Joel, who likes to dabble with home beer brewing, expanded on his hobby and started brewing beer in the shop. He told us, “It’s like a glorified home brew setup, not very big.” According to Joel, it takes about ten hours of labor to make 30 gallons of beer, but the small system allows him to adjust ingredients, adding this or that to try new flavors, without much trouble.

Christensen Jewelry

After breakfast Skip revisited Rustic Brew with some of the other husbands to try the beer while I walked down the street to check out the gems at Christensen Jewelry. I talked with the owner, Russ Gibson, who is only one of only eight registered Certified Swiss Watch Makers in the United States.

Russ Gibson, Christensen Jewelry, downtown Hampton IowaRuss was in a watch making and jewelry program in a Texas college when he received a scholarship offer out of the blue from a watchmaking school in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Only twelve students were enrolled in the 18-month program, and just eight made it all the way through.

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At one time Russ worked for up to 27 jewelers around the country repairing watches, including one watch valued at $400,000. Today, besides selling ready-made jewelry and upscale giftware, he does a lot of jewelry repair and makes custom jewelry. He had just finished one of his more unusual commissions before my visit, a bolo tie with a meteorite amethyst set in it.

bolo tie

Cornerstone Cottage

The Cornerstone Cottage sells a big mix of items, everything from bath salts to toys. What a fun shop to browse!

Cornerstone CottageI asked owner Judy Wrolson what the hottest selling item was, and she pointed out adult coloring books. Huh? I didn’t know then that adult coloring was even a thing, but it has boomed in popularity in the United States in 2015. In fact, Judy often hosts coloring sessions, sometimes held at the Rustic Brew, where people (mostly women) gather together for an evening of coloring and visiting. “It’s a stress relief,” Judy told me.

Judy Wrolson, Cornerstone Cottage in downtown HamptonCornerstone Cottage carries all of the supplies needed for adult coloring: books, which often contain detailed symmetrical patterns, colored pencils and markers. She also pointed out books created by local artist Mariea Plendl, who specializes in fairies.

Books by Mariea PlendlWhile I would have loved to have visited more of downtown Hampton shops, it was time to move on to our next stop on the Franklin County Harvest Tour. I’ve noted Hampton on my list of places to return to, so I can continue my browsing.

Visiting Downtown Hampton

Hampton is located in north central Iowa, about 30 miles south of Mason City. Check the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce web site for more information on downtown Hampton shops and to download the visitor’s guide.

Accommodations

Accommodations during our stay was at the AmericInn in Hampton, Iowa. Find the best hotel room deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.

Disclosure: The Franklin County Harvest Tour, including the visit to downtown Hampton, was hosted by the Franklin County Farm Bureau, the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin County Historical Society. However, any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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4 thoughts on “Downtown Hampton: Unique Shops in a Rural Iowa Setting

  • December 16, 2015 at 8:04 am
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    Hampton is such a fantastic place and you hit some of the awesome businesses! Thanks for visiting

    Reply
    • December 16, 2015 at 9:09 am
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      Thanks, Katy. We had a great time in Hampton.

      Reply
  • December 22, 2015 at 9:43 pm
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    I did the Franklin County Harvest Tour in 2012 and we didn’t visit any of these places (maybe they weren’t in business yet?). I’d be really interested in Rustic Brew. Love me some coffee AND beer!

    Reply
    • December 23, 2015 at 12:18 pm
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      Could be some weren’t in business, or maybe they mix it up a bit each year. Fun tour.

      Reply

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