👋 Welcome to Rolling with Ankeny
Hey Ankeny! This is the first edition of Rolling with Ankeny — your weekly dose of what's happening in town, new spots to check out, and the stuff that makes this city worth calling home.
Every week you'll get:
• 🗓️ What's happening around town
• 🍽️ New restaurants & business openings
• 💡 One local spotlight (a person, business, or hidden gem)
• 📣 Community announcements you might've missed
Let's roll.
🏓 Ankeny's Pickleball Problem (In the Best Way)
If you haven't noticed, Ankeny is basically the pickleball capital of Iowa. The Albaugh Family Senior Community Center has Learn to Play Pickleball sessions, Drop-In Pickleball running multiple times daily, and Table Tennis and Chair Volleyball too.
Whether you're a seasoned player or just curious what all the noise is about, drop in this week. No sign-up needed for the drop-in sessions.
📍 Albaugh Family Senior Community Center — https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/394/Albaugh-Family-Senior-Community-Center
🗓️ Multiple sessions daily — check https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/Calendar for times
🍽️ What's New in Ankeny
Dave's Hot Chicken just opened on SE Delaware Ave — Ankeny's first location! If you haven't tried Nashville-style hot chicken yet, this is your sign. Fair warning: "The Reaper" level is no joke. 🔥
Link: https://restaurants.daveshotchicken.com/ia/ankeny/best-chicken-sandwich-se-delaware-ave/
Tribute Eatery & Bar at The District at Prairie Trail is the newest addition to the Ankeny dining scene — taking over the former 30hop space with a fresh renovation. Brunch, elevated comfort food, craft cocktails, and late-night eats. Great date night option (hint hint, Valentine's Day is Saturday 👀).
Link: https://tributebar.com/ankeny/
💡 Local Spotlight: Dave's Hot Chicken
Ankeny finally got its own Dave's Hot Chicken at 1805 SE Delaware Ave (Suite 800), and the lines have been real. The chain started as a parking lot pop-up in LA and has blown up nationwide — and now it's in our backyard.
The menu is simple: tenders or sliders, pick your heat level (No Spice to Reaper), and sides. The move? Start with Medium and work your way up. Don't be a hero on day one.
📍 1805 SE Delaware Ave, Suite 800, Ankeny
🕐 Check their hours — they stay open late
🤝 Community Corner
These are local businesses run by people right here in our community. Check them out and show some love:
🌻 Rooted Resplendence Farm — Fresh U-cut flowers and farmstand bouquets, located just north of Ankeny in Elkhart. 15+ sunflower varieties and the perfect spot for an evening out with friends. Opens this spring!
Visit: https://rootedresplendencefarm.com/
📦 SendIt Iowa — Need a quiet, professional meeting space? Their meeting room is perfect for client meetings, trainings, or interviews. Starting at $30/hour.
Book: https://senditiowa.com/meeting-room
🥋 Martial Arts America — Central Iowa's premier traditional Taekwondo school, right here in Ankeny. Classes as low as $30/mo with family rates. Great for kids and adults!
Visit: https://www.martialartsamerica.net/
📣 Quick Hits
• Valentine's Day is Saturday — still need a plan? Trailside Tap (https://trailsidetap.com/) is doing a special Valentine's evening. Tribute Eatery & Bar in Prairie Trail has great date night vibes. Don't forget to make a reservation!
• Pickleball never stops — drop-in sessions daily at the Senior Community Center. Seriously, this town runs on pickleball.
• Kwik Star #1707 is now open — another quick stop option when you need gas station coffee that's actually good ☕
That's a Wrap
Know something happening in Ankeny that we should cover? Reply to this email or hit us up on Facebook.
See you next week! 🤙
— Rolling with Ankeny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rolling-with-Ankeny/61587115814348/