Shopping in the Star City

Can you believe the first retailer in Lincoln was a general store? They sold everything from wagon wheels to cooking utensils, shoes to foodstuffs. That is not the case today. Lincoln has an abundance of the famous department stores, boutiques, and one-stop convenience stores in its multiple malls, strip malls, and stand alone locations—all waiting for you. Whether you are looking for a designer cashmere sweater, hand-made jewelry, or the latest smart phone, Lincoln has a store that will make your dreams come true.

Downtown Lincoln, the Haymarket, and the Railyard are known for the some of Lincoln’s best boutique shopping. And a couple of times a year they have Shop the Blocks where all the shops stay open late with special sales, food and festivities. These, along with new shopping areas springing up across the city, provide a enormous variety of retail options. Lincoln is also famed for its mom-and-pop shops, specialty and artisanal offering unique gifts, ethnic and specialty items. So if you’re looking for international or local brands, Lincoln promises your shopping experience will be as unique as your personal taste.

Downtown

There are plenty of opportunities to “buy local” and there’s parking in the many city-owned garages scattered across the area. Now the first hour is 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. Stop in for men’s, women’s and kid’s shoes you won’t find anywhere else in Lincoln. Their second store is located in 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.

Also downtown is Embellish, at 144 N. 13th Street showcasing a unique collection of women’s clothing and accessories.

Haymarket

There are many unique shops in the Haymarket —it’s well worth a Saturday of shopping, exploring (and dining at one of the many excellent 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, 803 Q Street. This store features products and art made within the state. Fill up on Nebraska-made jams, barbecue sauce, chocolates and more. Be sure to ask for a sample of Nebraska-made wine and vinegar. Recently From Nebraska added a wine bar and wine tasting featuring James Arthur Vineyard’s amazing wines.

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, 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 are paid fair price for their creations, this store has such a variety of products that making a choice is difficult.

Antiques 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.

Two wonderful stores in the Haymarket are Forever Faithful (women’s clothing) and the Best of Big Red (Husker merchandise) both at 321 N. 8th Street. It is really worth your time to check these two stores out, especially if you are looking for that perfect gift.

Meridian Park

At 69th and O Streets is a strip mall that offers a large and unusual selection of stores. Elegant Optics offes beautiful designer eyewear, great selection of family frames at reasonable prices and excellent eye specialists.

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 has vitamins, books, sandwiches-to-go, and really 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 French-style baked goods. Their specialty breads are hard to beat, specially their Blue Cheese bread.

Eastpark Plaza

Movie theaters are one of the main draws at Eastpark. Enjoy a show before, after or in-between shopping. This plaza is right next door to Meridian Plaza

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.  

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.

Trader Joe’s selling some of the best food items, is a great hit in the city. They open at 8 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.

Sartor Hamann is one of Lincoln’s most popular and trusted 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, while their SouthPointe store offers an unlimited variety of jewelry and watches.

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. The first Barnes and Noble store is still doing extremely well at 52nd and O Street.

Gateway Mall

A little further east at 66th and O Streets, Gateway Mall, Lincoln’s largest covered mall, showcases more than 100 stores. Dillards, JC Penney, 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, and American Eagle—great stores for any age and style. Hot Topic offers the younger crowd a trendy option for clothes. For children’s clothing there’s The Children’s Place. Across from Gateway Mall, Whole Foods recently opened up their first store in Lincoln.

College View

Along 48th Street between Calvert and Pioneers, the College View neighborhood hosts a number of great stores. These include the Dance Shoppe that carries many brands of dancewear, clothing and shoes, and Pattino Shoe Boutique with the very latest in beautiful shoes and the Goldenrod Bakery for wonderful baked good and macarons.

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.