Raygun founder feels a 'cool connection' to Ames as he celebrates opening new store
Raygun founder and owner Mike Draper insists that professionally, he never picks a side between the state's three universities. However, his maternal grandparents did meet at Iowa State College in 1952.
"I do have to admit that without Iowa State, I wouldn't even exist as a person," Draper said in an email about opening his ninth store.
Draper and his team designed several new products for the Ames location, while a large photo of his grandparents hangs in the store.
"I feel kind of a cool connection to the place knowing it was the start of my mom's entire family," Draper said.
Raygun unveils new designs for Ames store
Of the many designs selected for the new Ames store, Draper said his favorite is "Sorry we're not Olive Garden." His second favorite is "Peanut Butter: Apparently NOT created in Ames."
Draper said in their Facebook competition for new Ames products they had a peanut butter idea, thinking that George Washington Carver invented peanut butter while at Iowa State University. Alas, someone pointed out that it is a myth, so they updated their image.
"Our store aims to help folks learn," Draper said.
Store manager Melissa Asklof said opening day on June 30 was packed, especially over the lunch hour. What did she hear most from her customers?
"Laughter. Lots of laughter," she said.
Asklof comes to her new position without any retail experience but with a long love for all things Raygun.
"I'm a big fan," she said. "I started shopping there back in 2016 because I got caught by one of the shirts. I just thought it was so funny. And going to the store every time I was in Des Moines became a guilty pleasure."
Local community reacts to new business
Kendra Snider, manager of Café Diem on Main Street in Ames, visited the store on opening day. She had never been to a Raygun business before.
"I love all of the colors and all of the different styles," Snider said. "I like that they are simplistic but also make a point. I like anything that has a little pun joke in it. I'm a sucker for a pun joke."
Snider said she working with Asklof to make new Café Diem shirts for the coffee shop.
"We like to keep things local," she said. "We are looking at making our yearly T-shirt designs and we are talking to see what we can do to keep it local and keep it close and have some fun with it."
Mitchell Hein, of Ames, had also never been to a Raygun store but left with two shirts. They were gifts for his parents.
"This one, it says 'The Greatest Teacher in the Universe,' is for my mom. She's a teacher," Hein said. "And this one, it says 'Ope, Sorry' is for my dad because he says ope a lot," Hein said. "I had a little trouble picking out what to get because they have lots of good options. And I think this is a good addition to downtown Ames."
Hannah Cochran from Cedar Rapids drove to Ames to check out the new store, even though Raygun already has a location in her community.
"The shirts are just so funny. I like the one about Olive Garden the best," Cochran said. "I'm very passionate about this. I'm always craving Olive Garden. It's perfect. Actually, all of these are perfect for my family because they are funny but still kind of low key. It's a great store and from what I know it's a good company."
Katie Jackovich of Ames said she loves the other Raygun locations and is especially happy to have a local store where she can shop conveniently.
Ames resident Alycia West said she has also been to Raygun stores before. Her favorite designs involve Gary the Cat.
"I really love getting community members to downtown Ames and this is a great addition to those ready to explore Main Street. I didn't buy anything today, but I will definitely be coming back," West said.
Store Manager Asklof said she loves Raygun so much because she is a "huge cat lady," and Raygun features so many cat designs. The store's exterior blade sign, which will be installed soon over the front door, features Gary the Cat who is holding a ray gun and saying "Pew Pew Pew." That image is the unofficial logo for the store.
Ames City Council member Gloria Betcher raised some concerns over it saying she was “concerned with how this image will affect those who have been affected by gun violence.”
However, after hearing from the city attorney that denying the blade sign due to its verbiage or image would be a freedom of speech issue, the council approved the sign unanimously on Tuesday, June 27.
The new Ames Raygun store is located at 301 Main St., Suite 106 where Hair Professionals once occupied the space. The storefront is on the ground level of the Sheldon Munn Hotel.
Teresa Kay Albertson covers politics, crime, courts and local government in Ames and central Iowa for the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register. Reach her on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11 and at talbertson@registermedia.com, 515-419-6098.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Customers from around Iowa flock to new Raygun store in Ames
