A publication of the
WESTSIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SPRING 2017
alumni.wcsfoundation66.org
Westside Connections to the Old Market
People began to refer to the area as Old Town, but Judy and friends didn’t want that ...
Clockwise from left to right: Judy Youngman Wigton (‘57) in 1957 and today, Wilson & Washburn, owned by Jeff Luby (‘91) and his wife Faith, Mark Donovan (‘76) and Katie O’Connor (‘90) & Kirk Anderson (’83).
For nearly 50 years Omaha’s residents have known and loved Omaha’s Old Market District. The old-fashioned brick streets lined with unique shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, bookstores, theaters and living spaces have made it Omaha’s primary entertainment destination, a place to see and be seen. Few know the Old Market story better than Judy Youngman Wigton (’57). Judy grew up in the Loveland area, and after graduating college returned to Omaha in 1962. She wanted to open a shop selling finer merchandise, much like the shops and boutiques she encountered in her travels across the US and overseas. She soon met Cedric Hartman, an acclaimed lighting and furniture designer who shared her appreciation for high quality material. Together they opened an art gallery and design store called The Afternoon selling crystal, china, silver, furniture and home décor items located in the mid-town area. While on a buying trip to Chicago, they visited Old Towne, an area of quality shops in unique, older repurposed buildings. That inspiration eventually led
them to discover Omaha’s fruit and vegetable market district around 10th and Howard Streets. Most of the independent wholesalers had left the area due to the expansion of large chain stores, and many of the buildings were vacant. Judy said that, “People were afraid to go to the area. Almost always some drunks were lying on the sidewalks. But the cast iron storefronts were still there and the high-ceilinged spaces inside, lighted by the tall windows, were very beautiful – and to us they looked promising.” A “For Rent” sign prompted Judy to call Mercer Management, who owned several Old Market buildings. Judy recalls, “On a very cold day in December 1964 we met Sam Mercer. He showed us the property. We indicated it wouldn’t work if we were the only ones down there. We wanted there to be a number of shops. He seemed very doubtful about our idea for a community of shops and restaurants.”
During the next three years, Judy and Cedric continued to sell their vision for the area to Sam Mercer. Through these meetings all three became good friends and eventually Sam began to share their retail vision. Judy then raised awareness of the project by hosting luncheons at the Omaha Club. Sam presented the idea to politicians, the Chamber of Commerce, journalists, potential investors, local movers and shakers, and virtually anyone who would listen. “Finally at a dinner party, I found the first tenant, The British Import Shop.” As more tenants followed, they decided they needed a signature restaurant to anchor the area. “Perhaps it really began to come together when the French Cafe was born in 1969.” She recalls, “There was a special opening night dinner to which we invited the mayor, city councilmen, the county commissioners and all kinds of people we felt would become customers and spread the word. It was a huge success.” Continued on page 2