Starlight
Our first stop on the Nebraska Passport this year was The Next Chapter. Located at 25th & Farnam (right next to Zen Coffee), this quaint little shop is in one of my favorite parts of Omaha.
The owner greeted us immediately upon arrival, offered assistance, and answered any questions we had. I was so excited to visit this shop because my favorite place as a child was Prairie Books & Gifts located in Imperial Mall in Hastings, NE. My grandmother would take me there every weekend. I would head straight for the Babysitters Club books (and later, Christopher Pike novels) and burrow into a reading spot while Grandma shopped. I have a massive collection of their bookmarks, as they would give me one with every purchase. I can still remember how the store smelled. As my grandmother passed away almost five years ago, this is one of my most precious memories. Now, decades later, Prairie Books & Gifts is no longer, but the family has relocated the shop to Omaha as The Next Chapter.
So, in a nutshell, my all-time favorite childhood store has relocated from my hometown to my current city and is also right next to my favorite coffee shop.
WOOHOO!!
While nothing can replace my cozy moments at Prairie Books, the new shop certainly did not disappoint. It was well-stocked, the owner was knowledgeable and conversational (I was so excited that I probably rambled on for a good 20 minutes and she didn’t even act annoyed), and I’m pretty sure I’ve found my new favorite store.
Ultimately, we purchased this cute little book that we are hoping will encourage us to read more together (and apparently, drink more).
Overall, this is a delightful little place and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did!
