Historic Valley Junction

Historic Valley Junction offers something for everyone! For me theirs nothing like a stop at Black Cat Ice Cream or a Latte at Cozy Cat Cafe. As a local artist, I appreciate having The Blok just a "block" away and when dining out with friends the wide array of options can't be beat! Love the vibe, aesthetics and events that VJ provides year around!

I love coming here on Thursdays for the farmer's market! It's a fun way to support local vendors which is important for the area's economy. There are usually a few performers along the street as well as a band at the pavilion. The additional food trucks along 5th add to the plethora of good food! Love the little bakers and gift vendors along the way! Great way to draw attention to the brick and mortar locations there.

VJ has great local shops - esp the original Tavern with their spicy grinder pizza and thin onion rigs, Nan's Nummies, and the Cat Cafe where you can hang out with adorable adoptables while sipping tasty coffee drinks.

Excellent place- people both customers sales people are terrific Their offers are first and the 'Jingle in the Junction' was an fantastic opportunity find out this gem of a place! Come visit us in Lansing, Michigan's olde town too. Scott Holmgren

So many amazing shops!! Whether looking for something specific or just browsing. This is an amazing place for all! Great food, too!

This was our first visit since moving to Des Moines last July. They have a very nice Farmers’ Market in Historic Valley Junction every Thursday at 4:00 with plenty of breathing room and lots of friendly vendors.

I visited Vallely Junction for the Henry Gregor Felsen car show that was hosted by the ISRA. I was very impressed with all of the shops that were open; it definitely kept that old time vibe alive.

Great atmosphere, but you pay for it in the shops. I went to two shops that sold hand made candles. Very few options under $30.

Experience the Charm of Historic Valley Junction The Historic Valley Junction is an amazing collection of shops, bars, and restaurants, and we love hanging out at the various functions in the Junction--you should really come check it out! We especially love the Thursday nights during the warmer seasons when the farmers' market is in full swing. The area comes alive with live bands and food trucks, providing entertainment and delicious food for everyone. We've often ridden our bikes down from Ankeny on the trail system to get there. While parking can be tricky, we never have too much trouble finding a spot within easy walking distance, especially since we typically arrive when the main street is closed off, creating a huge pedestrian mall feel! While I'm not really reviewing one specific place, I want to encourage you to come see what this area is all about. Come any day of the week, but especially during the special events when they close the street and you can experience the full charm of the area.

Do not delay! Experience the junction. There are multiple opportunities for window shopping and socializing. The big plus is the architecture of the old buildings.

My friend from out of town refers to Valley Junction as a, "Sleepy Little Downtown Area," But it's so much more than that! It's our cities rich history of the rail road, some of the coolest vintage/retro antique/art shopping in the state, some great restaurants/bars, and a farmers market that in the summer gets streets dancing! I love that its all ma and pa stores down one of the only one way streets in the city! I have made that mistake a few times.. Also with new construction going into places like The Hall, and it's proximity to the bike path, the future will be as rich as Valley Junction's past!

Great place to go explore. Some of the boutiques are more mature in taste, but still fun to browse through.

From here or not this strip is fun! A lot of different food and bars to try out. It also seems to be growing. A few new businesses have popped up and it's so fun to see what they have. Look forward to trying the Farmers Market.

Valley Junction is kind of off the beaten path, although there is good signage from I-235. There is also shuttle service available on Thursday evening. It's also Iowa's 40 Main Street communities, nationally-certified, and currently one of the largest and most successful Main Street communities in the state. And back in the late 1900s, Valley Junction was a bustling rail/transportation center and community. Yet, I'm not sure what to make of Valley Junction. Part of the multi-block district has neat art galleries and what looks like a hip restaurant (Cafe Su). Other parts look like a college bar scene or a slightly tattered small town business district. I don't sense a unifying theme on what this area wants to be. I should come back again and maybe for the weekly Farmer's Market or one of their arts events. A once a year personal snapshot of Valley Junction probably doesn't do this place much justice.

Valley Junction is back in vogue again. They have gotten many new stores and it is a destination that locals and out of Townes go to get unique gifts, antiques, clothes and delicious food. If you are looking for a place that has great art festivals, antique festivals and many other events. They gave a great Farmers Market on Thursday's in the summer plus they have a live bands at the event. It is a must attend event. The stores stay open late on Thursdays to accommodate the Farmers Market! If you haven't been down to Valley Junction you really should find the time... it will make you happy!

A great place to take walks & look at the shops. Quite a few bars & places to eat with very friendly staff. Also a very clean area. Shops for vacuums, scrapbooking, jewelry, costumes, clothes, etc. And there's a weekly Farmers Market with live music every Thursday :) Definitely worth stopping through many times!

Awesome collection to local shops and neat finds. There is a collection of art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, and quirky stores. Such a fun place to find gifts, souvenirs, or just something for you. Came for the Jingle in the Junction event. Everything was crazy busy so I can't wait to come back and spend a bit more time looking around. I can't wait to go back. There is plenty of parking and everything's laid out really well.

I love valley junction. My girlfriend brought me here a few years ago and we go all the time now . There are a lot of antique shops that we love to explore through. I was even gifted a sweet watch from one as well.

This is a nice corner of otherwise highly "yuppiefied West Des Moines", where it isn't some nouveau boutique or eatery. It's better when there is a farmer's market, even tho it is usually a pretty lame one. Come and check out something different for Central Iowa.

I stopped here a few times for a unique experience. The experience was awesome, it is an old classic town with various old school shops. I am not sure about the cultural/historical aspect about Valley Junction, but am willing to learn. I will definitely return here to check out the food served by the various venders on the street.

I came here today for the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Valley Junction. They closed off part of the street to set up tents for food and shop vendors and also had children's bounce houses to jump around in. There was live music as well. Valley Junction is perfect for you if you enjoy antiques, vintage pieces, or art. There are a strip of shops and some restaurants here and there to shop and eat at. I'm not sure if the shops normally close early (or if they closed early due to the Cinco de Mayo celebration), but by the time we got there around 7pm, the stores were closed. I did get to do some window shopping, however. Additionally, Valley Junction always has different events going on each month. Make sure you check their website if you're interested!

Awesome place with a ton of little shops! Great places to get decor with beautiful hand crafted items and local artists :) highly recommend going there to find a restaurant or purchase decorations!