Shopping in the Star City

Are you looking for a specialty store that carries licorice from Holland, designer clothing from Paris, olive oil from Italy, or homemade wine from Raymond? Lincoln has it all. The city has maintained a healthy marketplace for retail shopping. Lincoln is a city with more than 250,000 residents, and has so many shopping options that you can virtually buy anything you want right here. The first retailer in Lincoln was a general store. The proprietor sold absolutely everything from wagon wheels to cooking utensils, shoes to foodstuff. Today, Lincoln has most of the well-known department stores and one-stop convenience stores located in its multiple malls and strip malls.

There are areas like downtown and the Haymarket, known for the some of the best shopping options in the city. However, what makes Lincoln special are all the mom-and-pop shops and specialty stores that are all over the city.

Either way, if you are looking for international or local brands, Lincoln has the variety that encourages a shopping experience that can be as unique as your personal taste.

Meridian Park

On the northwest corner of 69th and O Streets is a strip mall that offers a large selection of diverse stores. You will find Murray’s Men of Stature offering the latest menswear fashions for the big guys in your life. Darold’s Jewelers carries an exquisite selection of jewelry and gemstones from all over the world. Darold himself is an award-winning master jeweler who can create custom items for that special person in your life.

Akin’s Natural Foods offers vitamins, books, and sandwiches to go as well as any type of health food you might be looking for. At the other end of the mall, stop into La Quartier for fresh and authentic Frenchstyle baked goods. Their specialty breads are hard to beat.

Also in Meridian Park, Elegant Optics has an amazing selection of frames as well contacts for the whole family.

Gateway Mall

A little further west at 66th and O Streets, Gateway Mall, Lincoln’s largest covered mall, showcases more than 100 stores. Dillard’s, JCPenney, Sears and Younkers are a must for any shopping trip, and the Gateway’s specialty shops fulfill all your needs and desires.

Other stores include Eddie Bauer, The Limited, New York and Company, the Dress Barn and American Eagle – great stores for any age and style. Hot Topic offers the younger crowd a trendy option for clothes.
Children’s clothing stores include Gymboree and The Children’s Place. www.ShoppingGatewayMall.com/shop/gateway.nsf/index

SouthPointe Pavilions

Located at 27th and Pine Lake Road, SouthPointe is an open-air mall. Community events such as the annual arts show each September and live music on weekend nights during the summer make SouthPointe an exciting destination, even if you’re not in the market for a new pair of shoes or some sporting equipment.

The addition to the mall of Trader Joe’s, has been a great hit in the city. They open at 9 a.m. seven days a week, offering fresh organic produce and beautiful flowers. They are known to sample some of their unusual food and drinks during the day.

If you are in the market for sporting equipment, walk through the largest sports store in town, Scheel’s. They provide a full array of exercise, sporting and leisure equipment, right down to the clothing and footwear.

Von Maur is a popular local department store with upscale brands offered at Midwestern prices. Other clothing stores at SouthPointe include Talbot’s, The Gap, Banana Republic, The Buckle and Old Navy.

Sartor Hamann is one of Lincoln’s most popular jewelry stores. Brooches, bracelets, rings, necklaces, even crystal figurines fill the windows and display tables. Sartor Hamann is well known for their selection of diamond rings and designer watches. Their downtown store at 11th and O Streets is called the “engagement store” and appeals to the student population as it is walking distance from the university, while their SouthPointe store offers an unlimited variety of jewelry.

Yankee Candle Company, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Pier One, and Hallmark Creations are but a few of the specialty stores you find at SouthPointe. For your reading pleasure, Barnes and Noble offers a wide variety of books and magazines, as well as DVDs and CDs. If you need to take a shopping break, their café is always open with fresh coffee and delicious snacks. www.southpointeshopping.com/

Eastpark Plaza

Movie theaters are one of the main draws at Eastpark. Enjoy a show before, after or in-between shopping. Among the stores at Eastpark, Tuesday Morning is a great place to shop for unique items for your home. The selection is always changing, so stop in often to find decorative items, bedding, kitchenware and gifts. HobbyTown has a long standing tradition in Lincoln as the place to go for do it yourself ship in a bottle kits, plane and car models, and every other type of hobby or game your heart desires.

Downtown

Throughout Lincoln’s downtown district, there are many exciting boutiques and specialty shops to explore – plus plenty of opportunities to “buy local.” You’ll find plenty of parking in the numerous city-owned garages scattered around the area. Recently the downtown garages are offering the first hour for free, making a two-hour stop in the garage the same price as parking at a meter.

The Post and Nickel, 14th and P, is a favorite for Lincoln’s young professionals and college students for quality clothing and shoes. They carry business garments, evening wear, casual clothes and fantastic shoes all in one location. This store is known for carrying a huge variety of designer brands.

Footloose and Fancy, 12th and P, is a locally owned footwear boutique. Proprietors Matt and Jane Stricker continually add new shoe lines and complimentary merchandise to their inventory. Stop in for men’s, women’s and kid’s shoes you won’t find anywhere else in Lincoln. Their second store is located at the shopping mall at 70th and Pioneers.

For a different kind of footwear, the Lincoln Running Company at 1213 Q Street has the best selection of specialty running shoes. You’ll find distance runners picking up new pairs here just before the Lincoln Marathon every May.

If your taste runs more to the individualistic, eclectic look, try The Black Market at 1033 O Street on the first floor of the Gold’s Building. New, vintage and gently used designer items all mingle together with accessories and jewelry that are sure to inspire.

Another option for unique clothing is Stella, 101 N 14th Street. Up-to-the-minute fashions, jewelry made by local artisans and terrific accessories are set amidst intriguing antiques. And they’re all available at affordable prices.

A newer option is Embellish, at 144 N. 13th Street has a collection of women’s clothing and accessories that are unique.

Husker fans will find everything their heart desires in Nebraska Bookstore, 13th and Q, and Husker Headquarters, at 1120 P Street. You’ll find the shelves stocked with T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, pennants, automobile magnets and those nifty hats shaped like corncobs – and that’s just the beginning.

Haymarket

There are many unique shops in the Haymarket – it’s well worth a Saturday or weekday off of shopping, exploring (and dining at one of the restaurants).

Whether you’re visiting Lincoln or looking for a homegrown gift to send to somebody who lives in another state, you must stop at From Nebraska. Located at 803 Q Street, this store features products and art made within the state. Fill up on Nebraska-made jams, barbeque sauce, chocolates and more, and be sure to ask for a sample of Nebraska-made wine and vinegar.

Next door, you’ll find the bricks-and-mortar location of world renowned Licorice International with hundreds of tasty varieties of licorice from all over the world. Forget everything you thought you knew about licorice because just one free sample will make a believer out of you.

Ten Thousand Villages, in the Haymarket, at 140 N. 8th Street, has some of the most exotic foreign gifts you can find in the city. Championing fair trade products, and goods made by artists from across the globe who get a fair price for their creations, this store has such a variety of products that making a choice is difficult.

Antique fans simply must plan a visit to the Burlington Antique Mall at 201 N 7th Street. You’ll find antiques of all kinds and all eras tucked into every corner.

Fringe and Tassle, a wonderful costume shop located at 735 O Street, is another great stop. Even if you’re not in the market for a costume, you could find a one-of-a-kind vintage clutch purse, or satin gloves to wear for your next special night out.

Stop in at Haymarkets’s newest store and tempt your taste buds at Oliverdé, 201 N 7th Street, home to over 25 premium extra virgin olive oils, finely aged balsamic vinegars and gourmet oils. Customers can sample all the different varieties and find the perfect flavor combination.

Another outdoor mall, Pioneer Place is located at 70th and Pioneers. PDI Paul Daniels Interiors offers complete design services in this convenient mall.

Just across 70th, Habitat, located at 4107 Pioneer Woods Drive, is the go-to store for cooks of all skill levels. High-end kitchen gadget and cookware are offered alongside linens for your table, stemware for your lemonade, and creative cookbooks.

And at 48th and Old Cheney, City Clock is Nebraska’s largest clock gallery. Stop at Contemporary Woods, at 23rd and Highway 2 for classic and modern wood furniture. They will order furniture to fit your specific needs. Reasonably priced, and great quality, this store is worth a stop.

If traditional furniture is more to your liking, then Amish Country Showcase at 5500 Old Cheney Road is well worth the trip. From entertainment centers to dining room tables to bedsteads, they have classic pieces that are crafted with exquisite detail.

Clock Tower Shopping Center

Clock Tower Shopping Center is located at 70th & A Streets, in East Lincoln. Serving the community since 1972, the Clock Tower offers a friendly, “village-style” shopping experience. Many Clock Tower shops have been in place for years, but recently many new shops and restaurants have been added.

Stores include, hair salons (Trinidad’s and Fernando’s) and restaurants (Egg and I) including the popular Rocket Fizz and many small specialty stores like Rita’s Boutiques and The Porch. There is plenty of parking and variety at this Center.

College View

Along 48th Street between Calvert and Pioneers, the College View neighborhood hosts a number of great
stores. These include the Dance Shoppe (3841 S. 48th) that carry many brands of dancewear and shoes, and Pattino Shoe Boutique (3943 S. 48th) that carry the latest in shoes.

For unique fashions for moms & kids up to size 14, be sure to visit Sunny’s Boutique (4728 Prescott) that features designer clothing lines. Remember to stop in at The Mill and enjoy a cup of wonderful coffee while you sit on their outside deck. And that’s not the half of it. There are many different kinds of shopping opportunities in Lincoln, and new stores open every year.

Spend a day exploring everything that Lincoln retailers have to offer.