Located in the Historic Valley Junction in West Des Moines, Heart of Iowa Market Place offers opportunities to sample, share and remember Iowa with distinctly Iowa gift items and products.
As much as the products themselves, it is the experience we deliver that keeps our customers coming back and leads them to tell their friends and family about us. The Heart of Iowa is a place where customers can refresh and explore; a place reminiscent of a time when the pace was slower, the family were near and neighbors were friends.
We specialize in Iowa gift baskets, gourmet foods, souvenirs, John Deere, Iowa Hawkeye and Iowa State gifts. We are a key resource for gift items that are “All Things Iowa”.
We take great pride in designing every gift box or gift basket with personal attention to detail, creating each one to convey the special message or sentiment you wish to share. As a family owned business, we are small enough to meet our customer’s special requests, yet large enough to accommodate any company’s large corporate gift needs.
We offer shipping to U.S. recipients through UPS. Des Moines area delivery is also available.
TESTIMONIALS
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Abby Sharp – Owner
Abby Sharp, an Iowa transplant from Wisconsin fell in love with the Iowa culture while attending Iowa State University and while being involved with the community upon graduation via the Young Professionals Connection and other community organizations. Abby’s background in design and project management lends itself to the retail business and the longstanding mission.
“I love being able to create innovative custom gifts and develop a retail experience that ensures customer satisfaction in the store, online and while working with us one-on-one”, says Abby.
In her spare time, Abby enjoys being outside, whether it be biking, running, hiking, or taking her white lab, Emma, on adventures.
Shelby MacLeod – Assistant Manager
Iowa native Shelby MacLeod moved to Des Moines in 2015 after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa. Having always loved the world of small-business retail, Shelby joined the Heart of Iowa team full-time in October 2018. In her free time, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.
“My favorite thing about Heart of Iowa is that we have the privilege of connecting with so many different vendors from across the state, in order to carry a diverse variety of uniquely ‘Iowa’ products. That variety allows us to come up with a truly one-of-a-kind gift for any occasion.”