More photos from the fantastic and growing ever more popular area of the Blackstone District. Mr. Cassette and I walked into Archetype for coffee last Sunday and couldn’t believe the line of people waiting to get into Nite Owl for BRUNCH. It felt like a college neighborhood. They say Omaha is a brunch town and the chain of people down Farnam Street was proof it is well favored. A lot of people on foot, walking up to Farnam from all directions, which is good to see. Check out Best Little Shops in Omaha: Almost Music-Solid Jackson Bookstore for more Blackstone District history.
1948. Beaton Drugstore and Salon Coiffure.
1956. Admiral Drugstore, the Artiste Beauty Salon and Max I. Walkers Cleaners. (Photo courtesy of the Bostwick–Frohardt photograph collection at the Durham Museum Photo Archive.)
2016. Black Squirrel Tattoo, Surly Chap Barbers and Noli’s Pizzaria.
1952. 4005 Farnam Street. Salon Coiffure.
1952. 4016 Farnam was the West Farnam Roller Rink.
2016. 4005 is Surly Chap Barbers. 4016 Farnam is now Clarkson Regional Health-UNMC.
Am I the only who enjoys that 4005 has a long history of beauty and barber shops? I don’t ever remember hearing about the West Farnam Roller Rink but here it is, right before our eyes. The UNMC building, with its new facade, is the same one that housed the rink, built in 1930. I believe that a skating rink is exactly what Midtown needs right now. I have to get a tour of that building and it will happen soon—right up there with touring the offices that once accommodated the Sky Lanes Bowling Alley at the Center Mall. I understand from friends that the lanes are still intact. I will follow the trail of the West Farnam Roller Rink and see where this leads. Have a good weekend and take a stroll around town, if you can.
The West Farnam Roller Rink. Creator: Wentworth, William (1892-1982). Publisher: The Durham Museum. Date: 1938-09-12.
As always, I would love to hear your stories or comments. Click on the headline to enable comments. Thank you, Omaha friends.
Love these old storefront signs! The roller rink sign in the best! Where did Beaton Drugs move to? I remember their animated neon sign “Follow the Beaton path” with the stick figure people lighting up in succession. Somewhere on Center? When I was shooting film back in the 80s, I’d often have Photographics develop my B&W and Ectachrome slides. They were in the Squirrel Tattoo location, then moved a couple doors to the east. I think they finally closed in the late 90s.
I only remember the Beaton Drug downtown—I think in the Paxton. I’ve been meaning to write about fun in the Paxton in the 80’s. That walking stick figure man was so cool! And yes, I remember a string of photography studios in that corner address at 40th and Farnam but not the processing place. My father who was a photographer was a big fan of some places over on 75th St.
There were 4 Beaton Drugs at one time before selling to Albertsons. That sign was moved to Beaton’s in the Barker building then Beaton’s moved into the Paxton and sign went with it. One of Beaton’s also relocated to the building that now houses Mula’s.
Thank you for the history lesson. I’ve got a distant shot of the Barker Bldg Beaton’s going up tonight on the blog. I appreciate the info.
I went to Chris’ Beauty Salon in the “salon location” in the 80s!!! Even “worked” there on my birthday one year–my request!
YES!! I remember the Chris’ sign. Cool.
Photographics, which was located in the same exact building as black squirrel, closed in 2008. Last I knew, Photographics still operates out of Hot Shops. Talked to the owner about investing in the neighborhood all those years ago.
Good to know. Thanks for the info. Thanks
4016 was a National Indemnity office for a long time before Clarkson. I’ll have to ask when they moved from there to the Mutual Bank building. I think it was maybe 10 years ago.
Interesting. Yes, I plan on doing a follow up story to this as I happened upon it quite unexpectedly. Thank you
I have a case for roller skates that has that same West Farnam Roller Rink sticker on both sides. I bought it at at estate sale maybe 20 years ago. I bought it for the stickers, mainly.
Oh how cool. What a score!
When I was in high school (1961-1965) at Central High, I worked at the Admiral Theater on the corner of 40th and Farnam as an usherette . We were always at the drug store across the street before work, and at the bowling alley up the street after work. Wonderful memories of the whole of 40th and Farnam.
That must have been such a great time in your life! Thanks for sharing this. I like to imagine it.
any photo’s of the 40 Bowl??
You wouldn’t have any older photos of the other side of 40th and Farnam, where Sullivan’s is now, would you?
Hi Margaret, yes I do! Those were in the article Best Little Shops in Omaha: Almost Music. Here’s the link. https://myomahaobsession.com/2016/03/30/best-little-shops-in-omaha-almost-music-solid-jackson-bookstore/
Take care,
Miss Cassette
Hi I have an old West Farnam Roller Palace Sticker that I just listed on eBay. Feel free to send me an offer it your interested. Thanks, KEV
My Dad was a regular at every roller rink in town. He salvaged a bunch of key rings commemorating the closure of the West Farnam rink. I remember the dates of the business as being 1941-1961.