Our Story
Established 1979
In 1979, Margaret Junkhan established her kitchenware store after several years of teaching French cooking classes with the Ames Continuing Education Program. She saw a demand for a store, within the Ames, Iowa community, when cooking starting to become the "in-thing" to do with Julia Child coming to the horizon and awakening interested in French cooking.
After 39 years, Margaret transitioned the store ownership to Mindy Bergstrom, a Minnesota native, who wanted to transplant roots in the Ames community. Mindy was a regular customer, when visiting family in Ames, for a handful of years prior to purchasing the business.
Although under new ownership in 2018, Mindy has kept the same values Margaret had for 39 years.
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Customer Service
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Over 20 years combined Team Experience
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Quality Products
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New and Interesting Gadgets
Cooks' Emporium is involved with the Ames Chamber of Commerce, Cytes as well as the Ames Main Street - Downtown Ames organization where Mindy serves on the Executive Board since 2019.
In The Press
March 3, 2018: Ames Tribune - New Owner of Cooks' Emporium Planning 2019 Remodel
https://www.amestrib.com/news/20180308/new-owner-of-cooks8217-emporium-planning-2019-remodel
March 9, 2018: Gourmet Insider - Cooks' Emporium gets New Owner
https://www.gourmetinsider.com/cooks-emporium-gets-new-owner/
March 2, 2019: Gourmet Insider - HTI Annouces 2019 Best of Award Winners, Cooks' Emporium Rising Star Retailer
https://www.gourmetinsider.com/hti-announces-2019-best-of-award-winners/
March 12, 2019: Gourmet Insider - Cooks' Emporium Remodel Marks One Year with New Owner
https://www.gourmetinsider.com/cooks-emporium-remodels-marks-one-year-with-new-owner/
April 12, 2019: Ames Tribune - Cooks' Emporium Reopening its Doors after Remodel
https://www.amestrib.com/news/20190412/cooks8217-emporium-reopening-its-doors-after-remodel
April 15, 2019: Gourmet Insider - Cooks' Emporium Reopens
https://www.gourmetinsider.com/cooks-emporium-reopens/
May 20, 2019: Ames Tribune - Nook & Nest opening on Main Street this Saturday, Cooks' Emporium sister store
https://www.amestrib.com/business/20190510/nook-and-nest-opening-on-main-street-this-saturday
October 16, 2019: Gourmet Insider - Cooks' Emporium Celebrates 40th Anniversary
https://www.gourmetinsider.com/cooks-emporium-celebrates-40th-anniversary/
October 17, 2019: Ames Tribune - Cooks' Emporium Celebrating 40 years in Ames' Main Street
November 1, 2019: Ames Chamber of Commerce - Mindy Bergstrom named Entrepreneur of the year
November 18, 2019 7AM: KHOI Radio - Local Talk: 7:40AM Mindy Bergstrom promotes Small Business Saturday
December 31, 2019: Ames Tribune: New Downtown Business Aims to Create a Waste-free Future
https://www.amestrib.com/news/20191231/new-downtown-business-aims-to-create-a-waste-free-future
March 12, 2020: Supplies run low Businesses affected as COVID-19 concerns continue to rise
May 14, 2020: Small Businesses take a long view on reopening
July 31, 2020: Nook & Nest expands next store with Stationery
October 21, 2020: Woman who Create
November 13, 2020: Z.W. Mercantile relocations near sister stores
