News : VU/Our Iowa Magazine/Local Businesses Partner to Bring New Visitors to Town

Together Vinton Unlimited, Our Iowa Magazine, and some local businesses are doing exactly what it set out to do: bring new faces, new energy, and new dollars into Vinton.

Every issue, Our Iowa Magazine features a section on Vinton as a destination community and through their Lucky I contest, offers an incentive—Vinton Value Dollars and gift certificates that can be spent at local businesses. The response has been heartwarming, both for visitors and for the local shops that welcome them.

One of those visitors was Kay T., a recent Our Iowa Magazine reader who traveled to Vinton to see what the community had to offer. Her visit turned into a full day of shopping, dining, and personal connections—exactly the kind of experience Vinton Unlimited hoped to create.

“We went to Vinton yesterday, and it was a very nice experience,” Kay shared in a thank-you note sent after her trip.

Kay and her companion enjoyed a meal at Pizza Ranch before exploring several businesses. At Henkle Creek Mercantile, she found a long-sleeve T-shirt and a shirt jacket she “absolutely loved,” while also getting the chance to meet the store’s owner and staff.

She also stopped by Brickside Coffee Shop, shopped at Simply Blooming Too (now operating as Blooming Bee Boutique), and connected in person with Melody Snow, who had sent her the Vinton Value Dollars as part of the promotion.

“Everywhere we went, we met very nice people,” Kay wrote. “All in all, it was a very nice experience.”

For Vinton Unlimited, stories like Kay’s highlight the power of partnerships and personal hospitality. By working with Our Iowa Magazine—a publication with readers across the state who value small-town charm—Vinton is reaching an audience already eager to explore communities just like it.

“This is about more than just shopping,” said Vinton Unlimited director Melody Snow. “It’s about showcasing who we are, building relationships, and giving people a reason to come back.”

If Kay’s visit is any indication, that mission is working. With welcoming businesses, friendly faces, and thoughtful collaborations, Vinton continues to prove that a small town can leave a big impression.

The local businesses participating with Vinton Unlimited and Our Iowa Magazine are Cameron’s Clothing, Flowers by Nature’s Corner, Henkle Creek Mercantile, LaGrange Pharmacy, Red Cedar Wines/The Niche, and Viking Sewing Center.