Shopping Extravaganza
where you will find small shops of all types
You won’t find any mall stores in the Amana Colonies. It’s just not that kind of place. What you will find are small shops of all types that are owned by the Amana Society (the original settlers of the community) or mom and pop entrepreneurs that have a special focus. Many of the shops will carry some locally made products along with interesting things from far off places. If you are interested in locally made items make sure to ask the shopkeeper to point them out. Many of our shops have centered on crafts that were important during our communal era.
Woodworking is one of those and a visit to the Amana Furniture Shop and Schanz Furniture will demonstrate the difference between what you’ll find in the Colonies and furniture elsewhere. We specialize in solid wood furniture and the quality is evident.
If you’re looking for blankets, scarves, and items made from fabric go to the Amana Woolen Mill. It is one of the original industries in the Colonies and they still weave today in wool, cotton and other fibers.
Ladies love these next 4 shops. Amana’s main street has Yana’s Boutique and The Clothes Encounter which offer stylish ladies apparel. They are located right across the street from each other. Just down the street is Heritage Designs Quilting and Needlework. It is rated as a TOP 10 Quilt Shop in the USA.  Fern Hill Gifts & Quilts, in South Amana, has an impressive number of quilts and home décor. They even design their own quilting fabric. Needlework has long been a popular hobby in the Colonies and if you practice this hobby you will want to see both stores.
It’s a short drive to High Amana but a step back in time 100 years when you enter the High Amana General Store. Very little has changed since 1858. Operated by the Amana Heritage Society is looks much like it did 100 years ago. In contrast, the Amana General Store, in the village of Amana, features a wide variety of products from both local and faraway places and the displays they create are beautiful. You’ll find a huge variety of items including food products, coffee, tea, gifts, and it’s also home to the International Christmas Market. Almost everyone that visits Amana stops by to see a huge selection of Christmas items. Take a step into the beautiful displays and you’ll be wishing it was Christmas even in the middle of the summer.
If you’re looking for something the kids might like, go next door and visit the Little Red Wagon. It’s full of toys, some you’ll even remember from your childhood. Across the street and down a half a block you’ll find The Noble Stone. It’s full of rocks, and fossils and stuff that the kids love.
