It has been a tough start to 2017 for many retailers with Gordmans is closing several stores around the metro. Another northwest Omaha neighborhood is feeling the loss of business after they lost two retailers in the last six months.
90th and Military used to be home to Shopko and a Gordmans, but they closed and left big vacant buildings.
“It is a little disappointing I figured this area would grow better and more,” said Steven Lacey who lives near the area.
The area is almost a ghost town with another vacant department store sitting on the east side of 90th.
Times are changing and we are not sure how much of an impact the internet is going to have on our shopping,” said city council woman Aimee Melton.
Melton said she knows online shopping is probably hurting big box stores and developers need to change how they build.
“I think that is what we need to see, is more mixed development, so if one closes we still have other bays that are open and fill that one,” she said.
Melton also plans to introduce the Pace ordinance that will give builders incentive.
“That is a tool for developers who plan to use more energy efficient building products, it would be higher than what is required by code and they are able to get additional financing for that and it would not cost the taxpayers anything.”
She said that ordinance should be introduced in the next few weeks.
