brighamman
On a cold yet sunny day we took a 1 hour trip from Keokuk to the Dutchman's. It was well worth the trip. Bought a few toys for the grand kids, some gluten free flours for me, and crochet cotton for my wife. It is truly a general store. In the middle of February it was busy with local folk as well as a few visitors like us. Can hardly wait for the trip, on Iowa Rt 2, later in the year when the corn is high.
HenryMudd
Really nice. I mean who would have thought you would have a parking problem in Cantril, IA? On a weekday? Yup. We had to park all the way around the corner, had to be at least 200 feet from the door. All joking aside, this is a General store run by the Mennonites and they really put the General in General store. Need a new wagon? How about a pair of rubber boots? They have all kinds. And jams, jellies, homemade foods of all kinds. I loved it. A very interesting place to visit.They had the place decked out for the fall season with about a million pumpkins, gourds, and corn ears. It was very cool to just see it.We really enjoyed our trip to the store and would recommend it to friends.
JewelsDL
One of our favorite things to do when traveling is to find local small town stores and hardwares to visit. All kinds of treasures can be found at these places! This is an Amish country general store with a little bit of everything. If I had more space to bring stuff home, I'd have made a much larger dent in my checkbook. If you are a fabric connoisseur, this would be a must stop when in this part of Iowa.
MJandDC
Made my first trip to the Dutchman's Store in Cantril, IA over the weekend. Some family members had told me about it and tried to explain how unique it is, but you truly just have to see it for yourself.The store has a little bit of everything - housewares, produce, furniture, baked goods, a wide array of fabric and sewing notions, bulk spices, calendars, gluten free flours, shoes... You name it and they probably have it! They don't offer a lot of name brand items, but there are also a lot of empty shelves as they go through plenty of stock.I would really like to go back when I have some more time as there were definitely sections of the store I missed entirely. We made the mistake of going on a Saturday morning, which was a high-traffic time to be there...
Sausalitoroman415
A good ole fashioned Mennonite General Store. Worth a visit and browse everything from A to B. Busy on Saturdays
58laurar
Dutchman's store offers a wide variety of food and goods. Bring a cooler or something to store refrigerated items. Some food is really a great value (cereal, bulk foods, some refrigerated items).
steampower
Located in downtown Cantril, the store is a block wide and almost as deep. This store carries most anything a “plain” person could need as well as many treats for tourists. You can find an extremely wide variety of bulk foods and a good selection of fabric. A nice selection of meats and a good supply of seasonal produce at retail or in quantity is also available. A nice selection of plants line the front porch equipped with benches if you need a break.
JackS466
I Love this place, it has old world charm of Amish/Mennonite but in a modern store with electricity, credit card readers, etc. This place is worth my hour and a half drive to go to it. They deal primarily in bulk foods, but if you are looking for great deals on food items this is the place. They even have a website www.dutchmansstore.com that shows their current specials. Also this place is great for people that can't find items in their local stores, like hurricane lamps, etc.
815kristinh
I like visiting the Dutchman's Store for its simplicity and unique culture. Their crafts and supplies are useful!
SimonW285
This thriving business (Dutchman's Store) is quite a SE Iowa phenomenon. From bulk foods & spices, cloth & sewing supples, to modern coolers and deli -- it is a site to experience. I recommend your first visit to be a weekday, for on Saturdays the store is very crowded with customers.
rdavidc
We visit the Dutchman's store about once a month. We've been going there for about 12 years. It's hard to fine better prices for spices and grains. There's also a good selection in their craft and fabric section. Although I believe as they expand that the store has lost some of its quaintness, it's still worth the drive.
BnBsAreGreat
This general store is run by the Mennonites for the Amish in the area. They have a wonderful selection of fabrics for quilts, that's what I like. The Amish farms will bring in there garden produce and hand crafts to sell here. There is a deli counter for a lunch sandwich and home made candy and baked goods. It is amazing what they carry!
AngusVicker
Cantril is a delightful little Iowa town much like thousands of others but with one big exception: It is the home of Dutchman's Store, a Mennonite-operated, old-fashioned general store established in 1985. Located in downtown Cantril, Dutchman's is the town's number-one draw. People flock to it year round by car and even by tour bus. That's how we got there during our most recent visit. We took a one-day tour of Van Buren County in southeast Iowa, one of our favorite places to visit, on a Burlington Trailways bus.It's much like stepping into the past when you visit Van Buren County. It has no stoplights and no fast food restaurants, and that's by design. But that's a review for another time.This review is about Dutchman’s, a general store in the truest sense of the word. A local tour guide told us that it started small years ago and has gradually expanded, now taking up the better part of a city block. Several weeks before our arrival, a new addition featuring modern restrooms, a deli, cheeses and more had just opened. This latest expansion was out the back of the building because that was about the only place left to expand. The other three sides are pretty much blocked now by streets.A long wooden front porch is what one sees first at Dutchman’s. It is lined with merchandise for sale, and that often includes a variety of home-baked goods prepared and sold by Mennonite ladies who certainly know their way around the kitchen.The store itself is packed with items you might need and quite a few you probably don’t. Dutchman’s sells food, much of it packaged bulk; fresh produce; clothing; hats; shoes; fabric; spices; baking supplies; books; clocks; kitchenware; gift items; toys; collectibles; candy and snacks. I'm reminded of a commercial for another business that says, “If they don't have it, you don't need it.” That likely applies to Dutchman’s, too. If you are ever near Cantril, I recommend you stop and tour Dutchman’s. It is worth the time.
JanisueR
Mailed spices home, loved the store. Kind employees. Spent 2 hours having fun shopping Try their breads and pastries