Summer is a Wonderful Time to Shop Independent Retailers in Phelps County

308 Boutique

308 Boutique was founded by Erin Sandy, who was originally from Amherst, Nebraska. After leaving for San Diego to attend college, Sandy returned home and opened her first store. Today, Sandy runs three stores (Elkhorn, Holdrege, and Kearney), has an e-commerce presence, and drives a mobile pop-up van around town for special events.  

308 Boutique offers unique fashion options to Phelps County residents. Customers love the fashion collections and continue to support this business. Sandy received a GO! DREAM grant in 2023 to replace the windows and doors, refresh the awning, and apply a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of its Holdrege location. This supports PCDC’s downtown beautification efforts while making Sandy’s store more welcoming to potential customers.  

Abramson Appliance

In 2021, Abramson Appliance celebrated its 100th year in business with the same family. When the store opened in 1921, less than one percent of homes had refrigerators. Appliances have evolved, but the Abramsons have remained a staple in Phelps County.

In 2023, Mark Abramson celebrated his 70th birthday and sold the business to Brett and Samantha Buettner as he prepares to retire. The Buettners have owned Alpha Heating & Air for 16 years and wanted to add appliance sales to their heating and cooling business. PCDC assisted with the transition, and the community is thrilled that  Abramson Appliance will remain a locally owned business.

“That’s what I wanted,” says Mark Abramson. “I wanted to keep things going and keep it as local as we could.”

Bridal Isle

Newly-engaged fiancés come from far and wide to visit Bridal Isle in Loomis for their wedding dress needs. This store also carries tuxedos, gowns for bridal parties, dresses for flower girls, and accessories. Bridal Isle carries more than 850 wedding gowns in store and 100 plus-size gowns.

Bridal Isle has been a staple of Loomis for more than 40 years. It is the premier wedding retailer in the area and has helped countless brides and grooms celebrate their unions in style. Bridal Isle was named the 2017 Business of the Year by PCDC.  

Gifts & Things

Known as “The Gift Shop for Everyone!” Gifts & Things operates locally but has a strong online presence. The owners, David and DeEtte Bailey, moved to Holdrege in 1995 and purchased Shaffer Cleaners. They then bought the gift shop located inside the cleaners. The gift shop business was so successful that they needed to expand in 2014, and they moved into their current location at 505 West Avenue.    

The Baileys have had a presence as independent retailers in Phelps County for 30 years and continue to shape downtown with their unique store. 

Lost Way Brewery

Since opening in November 2017, Lost Way Brewery has given back to the community and created a hub for the residents of Holdrege to gather. During its first weekend, the owners donated 100% of the tips to the Holdrege Animal Shelter/Rescue, and the brewery has collected donations for the Phelps County Food Pantry and other charitable organizations throughout the years.

Lost Way Brewery was named Businesses of the Year in 2018 and inducted into the Phelps County Business Hall of Fame. This brewery is also notable because of its owners. Not only is Lost Way Brewery a family operation, but it was opened by people who moved from out of state to Phelps County. Two couples, the Kraus and Hines families, fell in love with the region and wanted to open a business here. In the past eight years, Lost Way Brewery has thrived. 

My Fair Lady’s Fashions & Frills

My Fair Lady’s Fashions & Frills recently celebrated 25 years in business in Holdrege. This independent retailer, owned by Margaret Kring, specializes in trendy and unique fashions so the women of Phelps County can express themselves through their clothes. Their sizes range from petite to plus size, so everyone can find what they are looking for – or didn’t know they needed!

My Fair Lady’s Fashions & Frills has become so popular that it attracts customers from out of town. One customer regularly visits from Omaha just to see what Kring has in store.