Shop Local, Shop Smart: The McCallsburg Businesses Flying Under the Radar
Everybody knows about the obvious stops in town — the gas station, the grain elevator, the handful of familiar faces you see every Friday night at the local ball field. But McCallsburg has a quieter side, a collection of small businesses that keep on doing their thing without a lot of fanfare or flash. These are the places your neighbor swears by but somehow never quite makes it into regular conversation.
We spent some time tracking down five of these under-the-radar operations to find out who's behind them, what keeps them going, and why more folks in McCallsburg should be walking through their doors.
1. Rosie's Roots Bakery — Where Every Loaf Has a Story
If you've ever caught a whiff of something amazing drifting down Elm Street on a Tuesday morning and wondered where it was coming from, there's a good chance it was Rosie Halverson's kitchen.
Rosie started baking out of her home about six years ago, mostly just for church potlucks and the occasional bake sale. Word spread fast, though, and what started as a hobby turned into a real, honest-to-goodness business. She now operates a small storefront out of her converted garage, open Thursday through Saturday.
"People kept showing up at my door with cash," Rosie laughed. "At some point you just have to lean into it."
What makes Rosie's stand out isn't just the quality of the sourdough or the flakiness of her cinnamon rolls — it's the deeply personal touch. Every item on the menu has a backstory. Her rye bread is based on a recipe her grandmother brought over from Norway. The lemon bars are her late husband Dale's favorite, made in his memory every single week without fail.
Stop by on a Saturday morning if you can. The line forms early, and for good reason.
2. Stitch & Son Alterations — Keeping McCallsburg's Wardrobes in Shape
Most people drive forty-five minutes to the nearest city when they need a hem taken up or a zipper replaced. Frank Deluca and his son Marco would like a word with you about that.
Stitch & Son has been operating out of a small space on the south end of town for going on eleven years. Frank learned tailoring from his uncle in Chicago before eventually settling in McCallsburg after marrying a local girl. Marco joined the business full-time a few years back after a brief detour through community college.
"We do everything," Marco told us. "Suits, dresses, work uniforms, upholstery — if it's fabric and it's broken, we'll figure it out."
The duo has developed a loyal following among local farmers who need durable workwear repaired rather than replaced, as well as families prepping for weddings and graduations. Their turnaround time is fast, their prices are fair, and they genuinely seem to enjoy what they do. That combination is rarer than you'd think.
3. The Tool Shed Rentals — Because You Don't Need to Own Everything
Here's a business model that just makes sense: why buy a tile saw you'll use once when you can rent one for a weekend?
Gary Pittman opened The Tool Shed Rentals after retiring from construction work, realizing that most homeowners in small towns like McCallsburg were either buying tools they'd barely use or going without and letting projects sit unfinished for years.
"There's a pressure washer sitting in half the garages in this county that gets used twice a year," Gary said with a grin. "I figured, let me just be the guy who owns one really good one."
The inventory has grown steadily since Gary opened up shop. You can now rent everything from scaffolding to carpet cleaners to concrete mixers. He also offers a free fifteen-minute tutorial with every rental, which has saved more than a few first-timers from making expensive mistakes.
If you've got a home improvement project on the horizon, Gary's worth a call before you head to the big box store.
4. Prairie Wind Candles & Goods — Small Batch, Big Heart
Linda Ostrowski describes herself as someone who "just needed a creative outlet" after her kids grew up and moved away. What she ended up creating is one of the most charming little shops in the county.
Prairie Wind Candles & Goods operates online and through a small pop-up presence at local markets and events. Linda hand-pours all of her soy candles in small batches, using scent combinations inspired by Iowa seasons — think fresh cut hay, wood smoke, and apple orchard.
"People from the city go crazy for them," Linda said. "They say it smells like what they imagine the Midwest is supposed to smell like. I think that's kind of sweet."
Beyond candles, Linda also sells locally sourced honey, handmade soaps, and an assortment of gifts that make her shop a go-to for anyone looking for something more personal than a gift card. You can find her setup at the McCallsburg community events throughout the year, or order directly through her website.
5. Cornerstone Bookkeeping — The Quiet Engine Behind Local Business
Not every hidden gem is a place you walk into and smell something delicious. Sometimes the most valuable businesses in a community are the ones quietly keeping everything else running.
That's the role Beth Calloway has carved out for herself with Cornerstone Bookkeeping, a one-woman operation she launched after leaving a corporate accounting job in Des Moines to come back home and be closer to family.
"I missed McCallsburg," Beth said simply. "And when I got back, I realized there were a lot of small business owners around here doing their own books and making a mess of it. Not their fault — it's just not what they were trained to do."
Beth now handles bookkeeping, tax prep, and basic financial consulting for a roster of local businesses and farms. She's known for being straightforward, affordable, and — perhaps most importantly — actually available when you need her.
"I'm not some faceless firm," she said. "You can call me. I'll pick up."
Why It Matters
Small towns thrive when their residents invest in each other. Every dollar spent at one of these local businesses has a way of circling back around — into local wages, local taxes, local sponsorships, and local goodwill. McCallsburg has more going for it than most people realize, and a big part of that is the quiet determination of the people running these small operations day in and day out.
Next time you're about to click "buy" on a big retail site or make the drive to the nearest city, it might be worth asking yourself: is there someone right here in McCallsburg who can help me out?
Chances are, the answer is yes.