Witty shirts, Iowa pride offered at downtown clothing store RAYGUN: The Greatest Store in the Uni-verse. A boutique found inside a savings and loan building; this bold remark emblazoned on its dis-play window reflects the store’s quirky charm and snarky shirts. At first, the store appears to be an artist’s ha-ven with alternative music playing, dried paint all over the floors and canvases adorning the walls. Then there’s the steady stream of people com-ing in to browse the shelves upon shelves of witty t-shirts. It all started in 2004 by Des Moines college grad student Mike Draper with a screen press and a simple idea to start a t-shirt company with a lo-cal angle and his own ideas. Since then, RAYGUN has provided success-ful clothing and laughs for many Iowans. A new store was opened here in Iowa City last year, instantly standing out from everyday shops offering Hawkeye gear. “We try to pertain to the local attitude,” store manager Brett DePue said. “Iowa City is very artsy. We want to keep the

shirts fun and entertaining while still promoting the area.” RAYGUN also sets itself apart by centering its focus on exhibiting local art. “We have recep- tions where people can come into the store and take a look. We also print their de-signs on our shirts on demand,” DePue said. From people famil-iar with the Des Moines store to complete newcomers, the store is here to stay. “It’s a very cool and unique place,” Iowa City resident Lily Oetting said. “I can show my Iowa pride but still be set apart from every-one wearing a Hawkeye shirt and have my own style.”