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Staying Alive in “Olde Towne” Bellevue By M. J. DeLost Surviving in Olde Towne Bellevue in 2007 is much more difficult than it was thirty years ago. Businesses in Olde Towne have come and gone over the years and, some have overcome the westward expansion of Bellevue. The notion that everything old becomes new or popular again works when we are talking about vintage clothing, cars, furniture, or even homes but, businesses, especially small businesses that are family run and operated have to get through the down times and lean years without the help of corporate funds. Other factors affect business, such as gas prices, parking, safe, fresh and clean environment and so on. However, empty shops scattered through out a business area is not good for business. Empty shops usually start to deteriorate and the area starts to look like a ghetto. Olde Towne Bellevue is hardly a ghetto, but it could happen very easily if standards are not enforced Olde Towne is historic; let’s not make it history. Talking with some of the merchants who manage to survive the changes, they all seem to have thoughts of how to bring Olde Towne back to life. JoAnn Kelly of Mama Kelly’s First Class Second Hand Store set up shop in Olde Towne after her husband Denny was having his hair cut at Willaby’s, an Olde Towne merchant. Denny and JoAnn celebrated 4 years in Olde Towne on May 15th. JoAnn’s motto is “Let Mama find what you are looking for.” Almost anything you could need or want, Mama has it. Her shop has daily sales; she also does wedding invitations and announcements. JoAnn’s store is filled with a hodgepodge of unique items from home furnishings, clothing, Red Hat items, Ty Bennie Babies, appliances, gifts and collectibles. Having a variety of items is one of her secrets of success. JoAnn also says “Stop making Olde Town compete with west Bellevue and make Olde Towne complete. Rebecca Lansing, owner of Rebecca’s Indian Trading Post has been in Olde Towne for 11 years and has expanded because of her low prices and a very much “inviting shop”. It may be called an Indian trading post but there is more to choose from than just jewelry, pottery and blankets. She also offers do-it-yourself kits, stationary, supplies books and Egyptian trinkets. Rebecca’s take on Olde Towne is to bring more unique shops to give the consumer choices that would keep them shopping in Olde Towne. Frank Kumor, owner of Erwin’s Jewelry, an existing shop that opened in 1959. Frank bought the shop after being employed by Erwin Drebus, the original owner of 14 years. Kumor’s customers are treated with “quality workmanship that suits everyone with prices that sell.” Besides just selling jewelry, Kumor also does watch repair and engraving. Another business that moved to Olde Towne from Fort Crook Road is Vivian Hayward of “For the Birds”, a shop for bird lovers. Everything from birdbaths to feeders, Vivian has it. She also sells gifts, cards and twenty-one different birdseed mixtures. Vivian is also hoping to see more shops opened, maybe even a bookshop. There are plenty other survivors in Olde Towne. Doug’s Tavern, Steve’s Flooring, Dairy Queen, & Dick Rupert’s State Farm Insurance, and the list goes on. (This is the reason Olde Towne is a unique place to shop and do business.) Pat Jones, retired Air Force who shops in Olde Towne says that he thought Olde Towne should go in the direction of the old market in Omaha. Restore that historical look to Olde Towne and put condominiums and lofts in some of the historical buildings. In May, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce moved out of Olde Towne, that is one less place to go to in Olde Towne and less consumers brought into the area. The mission should be to bring Mission Avenue back to life, but now the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce has created yet, another empty space. |
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In the “Good Old Summertime” By J. D. Sloane Remember back in the “Good Old Days” when we couldn’t wait until summer to do all those things that the cold weather kept us from doing. Summer is here and those things that the teenagers were all waiting to do is, at least in the Omaha, Bellevue and Council Bluffs area, can’t really happen in the summer of 2007. Times have changed, along with the landscape and laws. Activities that the “Baby Boomers” did when they were young, either can’t do, or are not permitted to do. “American Graffiti” is no more than a movie, or a memory today. Growing up in the 60’s as a teenager, “cruising” was a nightly event. Cars full of teenagers; up and down the main street was a spectacle or even a parade of hot cars, hot girls and the guys who wanted to meet them. It was something to see and something to do when you were old enough to drive, but not old enough to be in the bar scene. In 2007, “cruising” is prohibited on Dodge Street. Gas prices as high as they are, parking would probably be more advantageous. Mel’s Drive-in Diner and malt shops where teenagers would “hang out” are gone replaced by McDonald’s, Burger Kings and Sonics. These new drive-ins managers would never let the kids “hang out” in there parking lots and establishments, if they weren’t buying their combo meals. The kids today just don’t have a place to hook up with other teenagers. Remember Peony Park, the amusement park on 76th and Cass Streets. Peony Park was filled with a variety of rides, a ballroom of entertainment and a sandy beach that was really just a swimming pool. Today a Hy-Vee grocery store is located there. So, kids, grab a shopping cart and pick up some tanning lotion, sunscreen, hair lighteners, flip flops picnic supplies and a boatload of munchies and drive to the nearest coast and have yourself a ball. The closest is probably the Atlantic Ocean (1300 miles) as opposed to the California coast, which is about (1800 miles). Drive-in theaters across the nation have been disappearing over the last few decades. The “Baby Boomer” enjoyed this one thing more than any other past time. I remember sneaking friends in to drive-in theaters in the trunk of the car to avoid purchasing a movie ticket. After the theaters wised up, they just charged by the car. We had a number of drive-in theaters. Prior to 1970, Omaha had the Golden Spike, the West Dodge and the Q Twin. Bellevue had one, and Council Bluffs finally leveled their drive-in theater a few months ago to make room for Google, the internet search engine company. Parents, when your teenager asks you what you did during the summer when you were a teenager, remember these are things of the past and most of the teenagers today probably don’t remember Peony Park, drive-ins, cruising and those other things we did when we were their age. Don’t be surprised if they are sitting in front of a computer playing game after game, that we as adults find violent, boring or just plain dumb. Teenagers don’t have many options that we older folks had. For us who are old enough, at least we have the local watering hole, to have a cold beer and reminisce about the “Good Old Days of Summer”. |
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Serving the
Heartlands Metroplex Hours of
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Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
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