The lady sitting with her husband in a booth over there along the wall said, “look at this, a place to hang your coat”, referring to the coat tree mounted to the end of each booth. I timed my visit to Bella’s Broad Street Diner so Bob could take a break and pose for me when not so busy. Collene, Bob’s wife ran to the kitchen as soon as I pointed my camera in her direction, “I don’t want my picture taken”. Bob and Collene are it, mom and pop all the way. Down home and as great as it gets right here on Broad Street in Historic Downtown Fremont, Nebraska.
It’s called, Uniquely Yours, Stability Support. Homeless Prevention & Moving out of Homelessness. Now meet Robin, CEO of this amazing organization. CEO is an understatement here. My two hours with Robin seemed only minutes long with non stop excitement as she explained the mission and accomplishments of UYSS. “Collaboration” is key in reaching out to the community for solutions of the underlying causes of homelessness. “Service Link Program” include doctors, dentists, vision, auto mechanics, city cab, shoe stores, heating & cooling, utility and many more. Basic Life Skills, Interview, Computer Lab, Reading Glasses, Hygiene Items and Community Resource Navigation. Employability Program, Money Management, Parenting, RentWise, Self-Esteem, Stress-Management, At-Risk Youth Workshops. WOW,,, let’s stop here and take a breath,,,,, I think you get it. Right in Downtown Fremont, between 1st and 2nd street on main, we have another wonderful property and people making this community great.
Hanging out over there on broad street I came across this little shop just south of Love Larson Opera House, the Cigarette and Snack Outlet. Pretty much inside as the sign on the awning proclaims, cigarettes and snacks. The sign doesn’t say anything about what one customer told me when I asked them to describe the store. “Convenient, awesome and the service is fantastic”. Then there’s Quintanna who couldn’t be more pretty and just plain nice like all of the Downtown Fremont merchants.
The Great Depression inspired George and Tom Dinsdale and friends to do something to help people. They ran their bank much like they ran their farms earning the trust of their community. In the 1950s, George’s sons Roy and Jack opened banks across Nebraska, then on to Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. Banking has changed a lot over the years, but you’ll find our people today are still cut from the same cloth as the founding Dinsdales. Good people, running good banks, in good towns. In Downtown Fremont Nebraska there is such a bank with this great heritage, Pinnacle Bank at the corner of 6th and Broad Street. Here we see some of the nice people ready to serve your banking needs. Kelsey, Phil, Amber, Scott, Toni, Mary and Amanda. Historic Downtown Fremont, of course.
“You took my senior pictures back in the 80’s” were the first words out of her mouth when I introduced myself to Jamie the owner of Doe’s Place. So I gave her a big hug and made another great friend. Pictured we see Max, Jamie and Olivia two of the bartenders here. So where did the name “Doe’s” come from? Dorthy Woodgate, Jamie’s grandmother opened a bar over on “D” street back in the mid 60’s then moved here to main street in the mid 70’s and sometime later her daughter Jamie took over as owner and manager and bartender, and just a great friend to so many wonderful patrons over so many years. Right there on main street across from the Fremont Tribune building in Historic Downtown Fremont, of course.
“The mom and pop corner grocery store is gone for good”? Hold the phone, no they are not. In Downtown Fremont, Nebraska there are at least (3), three that I know of. Here is one at the corner of 4th and D Street. The Guerrero Supermarket owned and operated by a wonder family. Alfredo, Lesley, Roci and Daisey are working day and night to support their family and supply us with wonderful foods. A bakery. A meat counter and lots of specialty items that can give any food fancier the tools to create. Yup, where else? In Historic Downtown Fremont
