Gretna is a little-known gem with plenty of history for lack of its historical architecture. Most of the areas surrounding the downtown area are where all the action happens today but I found out that Gretna launched a downtown rejuvenation/expansion plan last year. The plan is focused on achievable design interventions, as the web site says, to support the Downtown 2020 plan. For a city with a population of a little over 5,000 and growing, this town is going places quickly. With a lack of housing available for sale in Omaha West, Gretna is where new homeowners are looking to now. Today we’re going to dive into some of its charm and highlight some of my favorite small town Gretna businesses.

The Beanery

This neat little family-owned coffee spot is a treasure. Located in what looks like a previous residential home, it has charm written all over it. Started by a husband and wife in 2003, you can tell that there’s some real heart there. Delicious small meals, artisan hot coffee, cold drinks and smoothies satisfy even the snobbiest of coffee snobs. They also offer catering to liven up your party and they have a coffee truck that travels. This location is one of three and they’re doing it right. https://www.thebeanerycoffee.com

MacDaro’s Pub and Pizzeria

Say yes to a slice! I’ve eaten at this restaurant several times and also ordered out from here. I have a staff member from New York who says that this pizza competes with the Brooklyn pizzerias she’s familiar with. The interior design is kind of cute as well. It’s not your typical pizza joint décor. They have a glass wine storage room and a full stone covered bar. On their pretty extensive menu are soups, salads, sandwiches including burgers and starters. Not to mention…PIZZA! My favorite is the Carnivore with Pomodoro sauce and lots of meat. Delish. And their prices are very reasonable. Highly recommend stopping here for a taste. https://www.facebook.com/macdaros

Nebraska Crossing

Shop, shop, shop til you drop. Nebraska Crossing outlet mall has something for everyone. In addition to some great designer stores, there are a couple of places to eat that aren’t too bad either. Go on a nice weather day though because it’s all outdoors and onsite parking is always at a premium. Located at 21209 Nebraska Crossing Drive, it’s less than 20 minutes from Omaha. Just a quick car ride away and there are approximately 80 retails stores to pick from including Ralph Lauren, Coach and Nike. Take a trip out to this cool shopping haven and enjoy spending some of that hard earned cash. https://nexcrossing.com/

Holy Family Shrine

This Catholic shrine sits on 23 acres in Gretna along I-80 and Phlug Road in a scenic location set up on the hills overlooking the Platte Valley. Construction on this shrine finished in 2002 after a long conception that began in 1993 when four people were led to come together to build a place for travelers to find spirituality. I personally thought that this beautiful structure was older than it is and was surprised to find out it’s relatively new. It’s absolutely stunning even from a distance. It’s mostly made of glass with curved trusses and 49-foot ceilings. It sits on top of limestone from St. Mary’s, Kansas. The story of how this structure came to be is an inspiring and awesome one. There are many accessories in the shrine that reinforce the mission such as the 16 foot by 8-foot etched glass figure of the Holy Family which hovers over the chapel. It is only 1,800 square feet and is next to their visitor center and gift shop. I recommend a visit here regardless of your faith just to see the beautiful architecture and experience the serenity. https://holyfamilyshrine.com