Benson, Nebraska

I’m a native to Omaha. I grew up “out west” in what is now practically Midtown. When I was a teenager, West O seemed about as interesting as dry toast. Miles of strip malls and a lot of drive thru’s. Then somewhere in my 20′s it seemed West became best. All of the focus went into developing the far outreaches of Omaha. New shopping, big homes, lots to do and see. And as Omaha expanded, it seemed many areas lost their identity and the new developments didn’t appear to have one. Omaha moved west and if you didn’t move west too, you were left behind. Most of my friends and relatives live far enough away that driving for a visit is like going to a another city. I hardly recognize parts of town that were once mostly fields. It is foreign territory to me. Lately it has begun to feel more like it is “us” versus “them” too. Living east of 72nd street is considered “the hood” by many living in the Big O. I just had a conversation with a young cousin of mine who expressed those sentiments and it made me laugh to hear those words “in the hood”. As if Benson was this mysterious area that had a dangerous potential about it. It made me laugh because that is not the Benson I know at all, but it made me think of what message we are sending as a community to the rest of the city.

I love living in Benson. We bought our home and even opened a business here because we liked the diversity, the history, the bohemian quality that the neighborhood offered with its indie music scene, kitschy diners, artist community, and beautiful old homes on tree lined streets. Sure, there are some run down spaces, but overall, Benson has a close and comfortable feel to it. It has character. It has an identity that the McMansions of some western suburbs lack. So in an effort to share with the rest of Omaha the neighborhood they may not know, the neighborhood I call home, I’m blogging about Benson. And I need your help.

I feel the real measure of success to a community is its local economy. Benson is unique because it has kept it’s identity due to the hard work of its many independant business owners. Unlike other parts of town, here there aren’t big corporate dollars being invested into the economy; no big new office towers being erected or shopping centers built to draw traffic here. Our strength is in our support of one another. So in honor of the people who have kept their doors open for decades, and to the new entrepenures who set up shop here, I’d like to begin a blog called the Business of Benson. This blog won’t be my ramblings but rather an opportunity for the stores and shops, mechanics and salons, restaurants and bars open for business right here to tell you in their own words why Benson is a great place to live, work, and play.

For my part, we’ve been here since 2005 and I regret to say there are businesses I pass by every day but have never patronized. I hope to use this forum as a way to spread the word about our local economy so that with you, I might discover that one of my neighbors offers a product or service I need and wouldn’t have known about otherwise. So I call on all of Benson to spread the word! If you are a business and want to tell your neighbors about you and what you do, drop me a line via email at bensonbiz@yahoo.com. I’ll be waiting to hear from you!

Beverly Rodriguez
Owner/Operator
Papa Chris’ Chicago Originals
7024 Maple Street