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Ames Tells A Story

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Ames Tells A Story

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Here to bring you laughs + love + community
Columbus, IN and beyond

10/26/2026

Hopefully y’all got a chance to go to the Mill Race Monster Festival this weekend. It felt magical and special and filled with love and hope and connection.

Yesterday at Bespoke Events + Experiences, during a podcast taping with The Strange Road and Matthew Jackson /PARAHOLICS , Ryan Singer described the weekend as a “safe space for the silly and the strange,” which felt SO fitting that I made a note about it. (When the episode is available you should listen— the discussion was so good and thought provoking).

I also heard a lot of talk about embracing the weird, which I LOVE. (I mean, I went to the festival the first day with my kids and my ex-husband and his girlfriend— I LOVE “weird.” 😂).

I feel so honored for getting to be even a small part of the magic. During our Q&A session, I made sure to ask Kevin Zeigler if he feels proud of the work he’s done on this comic and all that it’s helped to inspire. Because I think he should.

And there are so so many people involved with this project who I think should feel the same. I saw a lot of people put their heart and time and energy into pulling this off. It was a beautiful experience and I can’t wait to see how it grows and evolves over time. ♥️♥️♥️

10/22/2026

I’ve asked myself a few times why I’m doing this. Why this account and the telling of stories feels important.

Connection and community are so often driving what I do, sure. So I guess it just makes sense. But without the physical shop, the reason feels less tangible and so it’s harder to grasp onto sometimes.

*I* know people are important to me. But I like my reasoning for doing things to be bigger than myself. I think I can both be at the center of my own world, while also knowing I’m not at the center of THE world. And so, I ask myself why I’m doing what I’m doing pretty constantly. Not just about this account, but in general.

I’ve seen so much AI created content, and I don’t even know how much social media content I see any more is from real people. And when I realize this I think THAT is why I’m doing this.

I’m talking to real people in my own community because I don’t want to forget about what really matters to me—people.

In a world where I can work online and order anything I want and have it delivered to my door, it could be really easy for me to never have to interact with human beings again. And sometimes that DOES feels easier.

But I know it’s not what will make my life feel whole. And I know community takes effort. And I know if I follow that red string of love I will feed my soul in a way that makes all of this make sense— even if just for a moment.

I hope y’all are enjoying so far. Thank you for being here while I figure out how this looks and makes the most sense. And I hope you find value in hearing the stories of REAL people around you. ♥️🫶🏼

10/15/2026

“You don’t realize how thin the walls of your life really are.”

Taylor Burdekin said this to me in the middle of Arts Alley (Columbus Area Arts Council), her favorite place in Columbus, and it really resonated with me.

She had this realization because of her cancer diagnosis she received in 2024. Only about 2% of people diagnosed with her form of cancer, multiple myeloma, are under 40 (which she is).

Cancer is something she thinks about almost all of the time, but it’s so important for her to not live in that world. She didn’t want to become “the girl with cancer.” And because of this she realized what she wanted in life: little, simple things.

All of this led to the creation of Little Local Life .

Her parents always owned a small business so she feels like those values transferred to her. She wanted to contribute to community and be a cheerleader for local businesses. Something that has really stood out to her is the amount of powerful women she has met through this journey who are “getting stuff done.”

What stood out to ME during this conversation is that I’m not sure Taylor puts herself in this category. Taylor, a previous professional ice skater who competed in the 2018 Olympic trials, who had a stem cell transplant and had to be in isolation for her cancer treatment, is in remission from said cancer, and created a business in connecting people and communities, might not see that she IS a powerful woman.

And isn’t that how it too often goes?

I feel honored to know and be in community with Taylor 🫶🏼

If you want to see some of what she adds to the community, make sure you’re following Little Local Life . If you want to hear more from Taylor herself, you can see her deliver the keynote at the Foundation for Youth Columbus Great Girls Wonderful Women Luncheon (See more here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1528286779345793&id=100064934556716)

Favorite place📍: Arts Alley because she loves how so many people came together to make a regular alley into something special
Connected to self 💫: When she’s creating something or dreaming of ways to make something better
Connected to others ♥️: Having shared experiences like the one we had in the alley and listening to how others view the world while she considers (and sometimes *re*considers) how she views it.

10/07/2026

I met Roy the weekend after Kevin Zeigler told me how much he loves karaoke.

Before the past month you probably very rarely would have seen me at a karaoke event. But I decided to go see what all the hype was about. And I found something much greater than I expected: Roy.

He was sitting at the table next to us, by himself. My friend said hi to him and I thought it was the perfect moment to introduce myself.

Roy spent some time telling me about his fairly newfound love for karaoke (that he just discovered at 86!). He teared up telling me about his wife he lost 10 years ago. And for a while after she passed he didn’t feel like he had much to keep him going. And then, about a year ago, his friend suggested he try karaoke and all the sudden Roy had a reason to keep going, a reason to feel joy.

He practices his songs ahead of time and brings in a hand written list for the DJ. He usually sticks to the classics— like Elvis and Kenny Rogers. But he also told me a secret— he had been wanting to sing a Bruno Mars song but it wasn’t quite ready. I said, “Roy! I was just talking about Bruno! I would love to hear you sing a Bruno Mars song when you’re ready.” We exchanged contact info, and I’ve heard him sing a Bruno song since then and introduced him to lots of my friends.

If you know Roy you know what a sweet human being he is. If not, but you want to hear him sing, you can usually find him at The Garage Pub & Grill on Thursdays, Ziggies Fridays (unless it’s the 3rd Friday and he’s at Reed’s Place), or 4th Street Bar and Grill Saturdays. And he might start adding it to his routine when he goes to visit people he cares for at the nursing home.

Roy has been such a good reminder for me to not be afraid of connection. And for that I’ll be forever grateful.

Favorite Columbus location: “I love airplanes. I get bored at home so much and hate to cook so I go up to Blackerby's Hangar 5 to eat lunch and watch air planes”

10/01/2026

“Zig” feels like the kind of guy you’d want to spend your evening at a bar or singing karaoke with.
“Kevin” feels like the kind of guy who studied Sequential Art, is a cartoonist, and has spent his life analyzing the lighting, style, and substance of commercials, even from a young age.

Whether you know him as Kevin or Zig (or Zig Zone!), you know Kevin Zeigler somehow finds the perfect balance between both of these personas. His chill, go with the flow, artsy demeanor makes you somehow surprised, and also not surprised, at all the paths his life has been down.

Zig loves the art of illustration and storytelling, but don’t call him an artist. He knows he is one, but he prefers “cartoonist” since it sounds more whimsical. If you know him you know this actually makes total sense.

Kevin shared with me that he always dreamed of drawing mainstream comics, that he always loved the escapism and hope they instilled—but that the pressure and the time of doing so would cause him to have to sell his soul and end up hating the thing he loves. Like *probably* most of us, he still doesn’t feel like he can say he has found the perfect balance of *success.* But his favorite place in all of Columbus is 4th Street, and that’s where he gets to work with people who truly feel like family to him. And he’s surrounded by a community who wants to celebrate his work and inspires festivals (one of his most notable endeavors, as of late, might be his comic The Mill Race Monster. The interest in this comic and the art surrounding it helped to inspire the upcoming Mill Race Monster Festival).

I think he’s getting this thing figured out more than he realizes 🤗.

Favorite Columbus location: 4th Street Bar and Grill
Most connected to himself: When he’s drawing
Most connected to others: Singing karaoke because he can express himself, have fun, and shape or shift a mood (and show 4th Street patrons he’s human too)

If you want more Zig (who doesn’t), you can follow him on socials or find his art at http://www.thezigzone.com

09/21/2026

My grandma had a peace about her that could be felt by anyone in her presence. I think it’s why she had even more friends than me 😆. I would joke with her about it around Christmas time while looking at her stack of Christmas cards she had received— “Whoa grandma you are so popular!” And she would laugh the same shy laugh she always had when I was teasing her.

She was born in 1923 in Bridgeton, Indiana. You might know it because it’s one location of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana. But for me it feels like home. Not because it was ever *mine*, but because I’ve felt connected to it my whole life through stories about school there or Sundays spent with family or cousin time in the “crick” (the “creek” if you’re from the *city*).

My grandma was strong and independent and loving and nurturing all at the same time.

When I told her I was naming my store after her maiden name I think she thought I was silly. She wouldn’t want to draw attention to herself in that way and she wouldn’t want anyone to think she needed such a grand gesture.

Before she died (at 98, she was SO close to 99), my sister, mom, aunt, and I sat with her and asked her questions about her life. We recorded her and I watch them back sometimes. Most of her answers kept coming back to how proud she was of her family. In the end, that’s what mattered to her. But she knew that already. We knew that already. It’s why she lived her life in the way she did— family is always what mattered to her. Before I left that evening I mustered up the courage to tell her how proud I was to be her granddaughter. I knew I would cry saying it but I knew I had to. She returned the sentiment.

She died a few weeks later. My sadness reaches a little deeper now, but it’s not hollow like it was in 2022. In the years since, I’ve filled it with love and memories. I set aside time to feel connected to my grandma, and I also get surprised by it sometimes.

If she was alive today I would tell her about my plans for this space and for keeping her name on it and she would humbly not understand. But she would love to listen to me tell her about it anyway.

09/16/2026

I had the idea for my business before I knew where it would be. But then I found 425 Washington and I knew— she’s the one. And when I get an idea that I’m certain came from the universe, I don’t let go very easily.

It was 2020 and everything was shut down. My 2 year old had just gotten out of the PICU, and I was 6 months pregnant. But all of those things made me even more sure I needed to pursue my dreams. So I would put my toddler in the bike seat and ride through Noblitt, Mill Race, and then through downtown so I could see *my* building every day (it wasn’t *mine* yet, but I wanted her so badly I needed to check on her). If I wasn’t riding my bike past I was driving. I just needed to see her and feel connected to her.

Like somehow if I stayed away for too long we would disconnect and she would be lost forever.

It makes sense I was so drawn to her, considering the history of the space and my love for strong independent women (more to come on that this week).

We made it happen. And Ames Mercantile came to life in exactly the way I imagined. And it was such a beautiful experience for me.

But Ames was never just a physical place for me. It was where I created, maintained, sustained community. It was a physical manifestation of who I am and what I want to provide. When I closed in 2024, I had plans to maintain *this* virtual space. As a place for connection and community.

I’ve come back to the idea so many times. And now I’m finally doing it.

I’ll be telling the stories of this community— of love, of sadness, of history. I want you to come to this space and find stories that are playful, unexpected, heartwarming, silly, and connecting. I want to be the story holder. The place where people come and sit it all down.

I want to invite people into their own story— and then I want to connect you, the reader, to the story.
I want to be a space where the mundane feels sacred and the sacred feels real.

By connecting with myself, I invite each of you to do the same.

And in doing so, I hope we can weave a thread of connection and love that feels so real you can almost touch it.

09/10/2026

This is the first time I’ve put my heart into something and decided to share it with the world since Ames.

But I’ve thought a lot recently about how I don’t want to live a scared protected life.

Since Ames closed, I’ve stayed pretty well guarded. I felt like I had lost so much just in the year and a half that proceeded that last day. I felt confused and scared, but also so sure that it was time to focus on me. And if there’s one thing I’m pretty good at— it’s listening to the universe. And I guess sometimes I have to do that even when that means I don’t understand it or it’s uncomfortable.

These last few years weren’t a time that work wasn’t being done. But the work was internal and intangible (or, at least, I had to work harder to see it and feel it). And now, the work I’ve done on myself and the adjustments I’ve made feel bigger and more powerful than all of the rest of my life put together.

And, really, this all IS the rest of my life put together.

I want to tell stories again. And feel connected to all of you and to our community. And I want all of you to feel connected to me and to others and find community here.

I want all of the best parts of Ames to come back to here. Because Ames has always been so much more than a physical space.

Please stay tuned for stories and history and community and connection and love and sadness and all the things you feel you NEED to hear in order to feel connected and whole.

In the first week or two I’ll tell my story and my history (including my grandma, of course). But then I want to start to tell the stories of all of you 🫶🏼. And weave a thread of connection along the way.

I love you all. I’m so excited to be back.

03/26/2025

Things have been HAPPENING in The Upstairs!

I’ve enjoyed slowly getting back into the swing of things with showers and other parties. But last weekend we had a full circle moment: Not only was The Upstairs the location for a WEDDING, but it was our very own ‘s wedding 🥰💕♥️.

If you frequented Ames Mercantile in our last couple years opened, you knew (and most likely loved!) Adin. So help me wish them and their new wife, Liz, a big congratulations on this new journey and send them lots of love 🫶🏼

01/07/2025

On this day last year (yesterday, now) I hosted my final event at the shop and called it New Beginnings.

It was amazing. The amount of people who showed up to support me felt overwhelming. The amount of community and connections I felt that day felt really special. In honor of that day, I wanted to do a check in to show y’all what’s been happening over the past year and tell you some of my plans for the future:
- I officially closed the shop in February 2024. I spent the next few months traveling and exploring and learning. I started a 40 days of learning something new challenge for myself and I’ll share some things I learned later
- At the end of March Viewpoint Books reached their goal and we all signed a lease so they could move into the downstairs space at 425. What a blessing that was and continues to be 🫶🏼. I love owning a building downtown and I love that one of my favorite stores and business owner is in it.
- I finally felt ready to re-open up The Upstairs in September. We’ve hosted a few events and have a few scheduled for the future. If you want to schedule an event, please do so at theupstairsatames.as.me
- In October we hosted an event with Matthew Jackson of The Paraholics. The month before, he came to the shop and did a paranormal investigation and it was SO COOL. I have often felt like I wasn’t alone in the space but I felt a deep connection with the history and whoever I was sharing the space with. And this experience felt like it confirmed the connection was mutual. If you haven’t yet, you should check out the info/video from that event. https://www.paraholics.com/p/a-haunting-viewpoint-chapter-2
- I spent the last part of the year covered up with faculty responsibilities (I’m a full time professor, and have been even while running the business).
In my readings on this day last year, a few themes were rest and spiritual rejuvenation. I feel like I rested more than I’ve ever rested. And I’m still getting comfortable with being okay with more rest. But I also feel ready to find a place for creation this year, in a few different ways, so stay tuned for that ♥️.
I plan to incorporate connections and community in my life in a bigger way in 2025 and I hope you’ll want to be here with me 🥰.

Address

Columbus, IN

Opening Hours

Wednesday	11am - 5pm
Thursday	11am - 5pm
Friday	11am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

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