Standing apart from the many other storefronts and businesses on Main Street is Ames Silversmithing. Opened in August 1976, originally at 130 Main St. before moving to 220 Main St. the next year, Ames Silversmithing is family-owned and operated by Gary Youngberg, his wife Karen Youngberg and their sons Kyle and Kirk Youngberg.
Youngberg shared how he found a love for jewelry making.
“During my first year of college at Iowa, I wanted to give my girlfriend (now wife) something for Valentine’s Day,” Youngberg said. “I bought some beads from a bead shop and strung some bracelets and necklaces. The girls on the dorm floor loved them and I started selling a few. Eventually they asked me to make rings and earrings so, true story, I checked out a couple of books from the university library, bought some rudimentary tools and taught myself how to silversmith. My study desk was cleared off for my tools, and I even had a torch in my dorm room.”
Youngberg explained how he came to live in Ames and establish his trade.
“I hated college, but my girlfriend convinced me to try Iowa State, so I came to Ames my second year, continued learning the trade and exhibited our pieces at local art fairs,” Youngberg said. “My college career ended after my second year. In August 1976, my girlfriend and I opened Ames Silversmithing at 130 Main St. in Downtown Ames.”
Youngberg also spoke on the importance of family at the store.
“The community at the store is family,” Youngberg said. “Dave Anderson and Scott Sorem have been here for 45 and 30 years, and Katie Sutton for 14. We also have some newer employees, Sabrina Bleile and Eryn Delahoussaye. I am also fortunate to have the blessings of having both my sons, Kyle and Kirk, in the store with me. Kyle is the consummate front man- knows the inventory inside and out, works with the clients to develop custom pieces and helps manage the inventory. Kirk focuses more on working at the bench. His skills are remarkable and his eye for detail is outstanding. Kyle’s wife, Katie, also works at the store in sales, inventory management and supplier relations.
Youngberg elaborated on his wife’s role at the store since opening it with him.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my wife, Karen [Youngberg], who is the true visionary of Ames Silversmithing,” Youngberg said. “Her interest and desire to grow the business and to stay current in today’s business environment has been the impetus behind our continued growth over the last 50 years. We all work with the customers out front, and many of our customers ask for employees by name as they have developed close relationships.”
Youngberg talked about what makes Ames Silversmithing unique.
“Ames Silversmithing is not your average jewelry store,” Youngberg said. “There are very few stores in the country that can boast of having seven full-time designers and goldsmiths on staff and our environment is welcoming and casual. You’ll typically find me working in golf shorts and a polo while showing our beautiful jewelry. I take great pride in developing beautiful and interesting displays, often showcasing fossils, unique sculptures or other works of art.”
Sutton spoke about what she typically does at the store as a jeweler.
“My job includes a wide variety of responsibilities throughout the shop,” Sutton said. “I primarily do bench work, which includes repairing rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I also perform a lot of ring sizing, jewelry cleaning and restoration work. I create custom jewelry based on customers’ requests and enjoy designing custom pieces for our display cases whenever I have the opportunity.”
Sutton explained what she does outside of repair and design work.
“I also work directly with customers by helping them drop off and pick up repairs, assisting with jewelry sales and helping them find the perfect piece,” Sutton said. “I also have the opportunity to help select new jewelry and gemstones from our suppliers, which is one of the most exciting parts of my job.”
Sutton shared her experience working at the store.
“My experience at Ames Silversmithing has been incredible,” Sutton said. “I’m truly fortunate to work somewhere that I genuinely enjoy coming to every day, surrounded by people I love working with. Even after 14 years, I’m still learning new skills and experiencing things I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to do. The Youngberg’s genuinely care about both their customers and their employees. They have created an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and encouraged to grow, and I think that’s one of the biggest reasons so many of us have stayed here for so many years.”
Anderson, a metalsmith and salesperson, talked about the community at the store he has experienced over his 45 years working there.
“The store has built a strong reputation within the Ames community, as a family-oriented atmosphere helps employees develop lasting relationships with customers,” Anderson said. “Many customers are loyal, repeat visitors who appreciate the personalized service and high-quality craftsmanship. The store’s reputation extends beyond the local community, attracting clients from across the country”
Anderson spoke about his experience working at the store as its first employee.
“I was Ames Silversmithing’s first employee and began learning the basics from Gary [Youngberg] at age 14,” Anderson said. “I have since worked with many mentors throughout my career who helped refine my skills. We started working exclusively with silver and gradually expanded into other metals. It has been exciting to see how jewelry designs have evolved over the years, especially with the addition of cutting-edge technology that allows us to create more innovative and detailed pieces that we were never able to do before.”
Bleile, a bench jeweler for the last three years, shared her experience thus far at Ames Silversmithing.
“When I started at Ames Silversmithing a little over three years ago, I was hired to be a front-end sales girl, and I had absolutely zero experience in jewelry,” Bleile said. “Everyone was super welcoming and patient with me. I have never been able to work with a company that is so understanding.”
Bleile talked about a specific moment that really defined the community between the employees.
“The community is just as amazing,” Bleile said. “The other employees are incredibly supportive of all hobbies and interests outside of work. In my last semester of college in 2025, I was required to play an hour-long recital for my music performance degree. All of my colleagues took time off from their day to come to the recital to support me and my passion for music.”
Ames Silversmithing is located at 220 Main St. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is open until 7 p.m. on Thursday and closed on Sundays. More information can be found on it’s website, and they can be reached at 515-232-0080.
