Antique Hunting in Nebraska

There are many great places in Nebraska to do a bit of antiquing if you so desire and it all depends on what you desire. If you are interested in super upscale antiques, there’s always Southeby’s and Christie’s but if you’re looking for something more budget friendly than Nebraska is the place to be. Here we have everything from large antique malls to boutiques shops that specialize in restored pieces to retore it yourself antiques or, as I like to call them, well loved. Depending on what type of hunt you enjoy, you can hit some of our more metropolitan area and shop chic or you can go country and hit the small, small town locals. And for the pickers, we certainly have our rural antique dealers who use their properties as giant yard sale style antique dealerships.

Brass Armadillo Antique Mall

I love this place. It is the ultimate vintage shopping experience. You can find all the most wonderful treasures you like down the many isles of the warehouse style antique mall. There are smalls and some not so smalls both old as well as new. They host seminars, workshops, training events and social gatherings in a warehouse style space. In addition to Nebraska, they have two locations in Arizona plus Colorado, Iowa, and Missouri. They host over 3,500 dealers who sell all kinds of collectibles. Their web site has a blog with useful information about antiquing and how to care for antiques plus information on what’s hot in the collectibles world. They even have a points program called Antique Army. Drop by and find out for yourself what a gem this place is. Find more information at https://www.brassarmadillo.com/

Junk Stock

Spring is in the air and so is Junk Stock. It’s a wildly popular antique event featuring fabulous vintage, antique and junk vendors along with makers, food trucks and bands. It happens twice a year and the first one is April 30the through May 2nd and May 7th – 9th located on the western edge of Omaha right off of 228th & W Dodge (1150 River Road Drive, Waterloo, NE 68069). Junkstock is known for being one of the best vintage festivals in the country, but most people don’t know that it started as a small idea of a local dreamer and small business owner. Sara Alexander, the Founder and Mother of Junkstock, is very humble about her success. In 2011 she started some small junk sales in a rented chicken coop at an old dairy farm in Western Omaha. That was so successful that in 2012 she opened a small store in downtown Papillion called The Junque Factory where she sold her unique repurposed items. In the spring of 2012, Junkstock was hatched up and it was born later that June. Junkstock started with 29 vendors and quickly turned into a pilgrimage for junk, vintage, and handmade lovers from across the country. Junkstock remains a locally owned small business, but now features over 200 vintage, antique, and junk vendors that are joined by makers for the magical festival three times a year. In the spring of 2012, Junkstock was hatched up and it was born later that June. www.junkstock.com

The Grain Bin

Clustered on a hilltop in the scenic canyons south of North Platte, Grain Bin Antique Town consists of twenty historic grain bins and a massive barn that are connected by a boardwalk to form a huge and eclectic collection of antiques and primitives. Many of the individual bins contain unique collections from specific area collectors and dealers. You’ll find everything from old signage and advertisements to farm implements and even cow skulls to go along with all the other eclectic flotsam and jetsam you’d expect from well-sourced dealers in rural America. www.grainbinantiquetown.com

Small Town Businesses – Gretna, Nebraska

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

Small Town Businesses – Elkhorn, Nebraska

Part III of our small-town business series is a feature on Elkhorn Nebraska. With a small but up and coming downtown area, Elkhorn has a bit of everything from galleries to eateries to salons and more. It’s a great walking area of approximately three blocks and it’s surrounded by charming homes. Some have been preserved as they originally were, and some have been upgraded to newer styles. I absolutely love this part of town because of all the original architecture. It’s a combination of old west meets something new. Check it out when you’re in the area. I think you’ll find it’s a neat way to spend a couple of hours. Or more if you make it an evening and stop for lunch or dinner.

Bella Vita Ristorante

Now open for dine in as well as carry out, this delicious gem is a must. The Italian food served here is second to none. My favorite is the fresh Seafood Linguine. It has sauteed shrimp, scallops, clams, crushed red pepper, garlic and white wine tossed with linguine noodles and topped with parmesan cheese. So good, but not to worry if you are not a fan of seafood because they have many wonderful beef, veal, and pasta dishes plus great salads. And let’s not forget their wine selection. Particularly good. They have a cute little wine closet off the main dining area, and they hold private wine tastings and wine dinners. It’s not a large restaurant but that’s what makes it so nice. The quint comfortable feeling you get when you are there. If you want a little bit more space, there’s the patio in summertime. It’s elegant and pretty and it’s a lovely place to eat. They typically get pretty busy on the weekend so I recommend calling them beforehand. https://www.bellavitanebraska.com

The Mark

Now this one is not in downtown Elkhorn but I couldn’t skip it because it’s a great family entertainment place and we have so many wonderful young families in town. The Mark has something for everyone including those of us who like to bowl, play volleyball, arcade games and laser tag. And while the kids are playing, the adults stop in at the sports bar and grill for some delicious eats and drinks. I’ve heard their pizza is great. They also have a kid’s menu. If you like, you can host your party at The Mark as well. They have some great party specials, and they don’t just do kid’s parties. You can also host your adult party here including company parties and fundraisers. Call ahead to find out about availability. https://markomaha.com/

Fala’s Treasures & Coffee House

A downtown Elkhorn treasure in its namesake, Fala’s is one I recommend stopping into for a cup of coffee and a little shopping. FALA stands for Fun and Loving Atmosphere which is precisely what this place is. They have lots of unique gifts and treasures to choose from such as jewelry, wine glasses, holiday trinkets, clothing, bath items and toys plus much more. And don’t skip the one of their cold beverages called Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. OMGosh! This one is a treat/dessert that will spoil your appetite. I think of this shop as a boho mixture of all things wonderful. They also have a menu of delicious foods and they offer catering. Try them out for something different and very cool. https://www.falas.net/

Little Scandinavia

This lovely little shop offers gift items from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. They sell ornaments, socks, books, mugs, toys, handmade art pieces and tons and tons of little trinkets. When you walk in your senses are treated to a colorful sight. Take your time or you’ll miss something awesome and do make it a part of your downtown Elkhorn tour because there’s so much for everyone. If you’re in from out of town this stop is a must so that you can pick up a little something for your friends back home. Oh…don’t forget the Gnomes…they have those as well. https://www.littlescandinavia.com/

For more real estate and design information or to see all the blogs from the Priority Group and Sallie Elliott, go to www.omahaprioritygroup.com

Small Town Business Series – Valley, Nebraska

Welcome everyone to the Small-Town Business Series featuring my favorite Nebraska small businesses. While most midwestern states tend to have rural areas, Nebraska is a little different primarily because we’re a predominantly agricultural state with a long history of homesteading, but we are also pretty cutting edge with a lot of fun hipster new neighborhoods. Since I’ve been in real estate and design for so long, these areas of my town are particularly interesting to me. Plus, I’ve gained a ton of knowledge on them, traveling the roads as much as I do. I’m going to talk a little bit about some of the neat little towns that you find closer to the metro Omaha area. Or as we like to say, just a stone’s throw away.

The Attic

The Attic in Valley, Nebraska is now open at its new location at 105 N. Spruce Street. They’re a cooperative of local designers that include Furniture Re-Imagined, Art, Antiques, Gifts, Jewelry, Home Décor & More. You just never know what you might find in The Attic. They hold classes on the paint products they sell and how to apply them using the latest and most beautiful processes. And they host neat events like Wine Night where you can get artsy while partaking in a glass of wine. You can find more information about The Attic at https://www.atticinvalley.com/

Simply Delicious Restaurant

Located at 215 North Spruce Street in Valley, Nebraska this place is an adorable nouveau looking spot with some simply delicious food. Part of this amazing little place is a The Gallery by Wendy Deane which is attached. It features a local artist that creates beautiful, colorful, modern artwork. Want to plan a ladies get together? You must try their high tea or their Sunday brunch. They’re now open to the public and they offer take out and curb side pickup. Check out their delicious menu and find out more about them at http://www.simplydeliciousrestaurant.com/

Brew Coffee House & Tasting Room

This little spot is not only a quaint place to meet up but it’s cozy and looks to be newer. Locally owned and community-focused, BREW has a passion to serve their neighbors, family, and friends. Their coffee is hand-crafted. Their wine and beer are local. And their breakfast or lunch items hit the spot. If you're looking for something to do, they’re always having events inside the shop or outside on the patio. From their summer concert series Sips & Sounds to their Sip & Shop vendor events, there's something for everyone. They also open the shop for community and personal events. If you're looking for a venue for your next event, this is a cute space. Check them out at https://brewcoffeevalley.com/ They have a great web site.

That’s it for wonderful places to check out in Valley. Find out more about Priority Group and see more of our blogs at https://omahaprioritygroup.com/