Omaha Exploration

Born in 1895 Ben Eisenberg immigrated from Russia at the age of just 19. First settling in New York City, he married Elsie Silverman in 1919. By 1921 the couple made their home in Omaha where he learned how to peddle fruit from his father-in-law. After acquiring a horse and wagon, the shrewd businessman quickly established a neighborhood route selling his fruit and vegetables as well as a commercial route selling to restaurants and grocery stores. Starting at a young age, both of his sons, Hymie and George, worked for the company selling onions and potatoes on the sidewalks of the market. All three of the Eisenberg’s could be heard shouting “Get your watermelon – red, ripe and sweet watermelon”.

Ben was described as an extremely aggressive and an exceptionally good negotiator, skills that put him in a position to lease four stalls at the highly coveted northeast corner of 11th and Jackson Streets in the City Market. Ben would later bring on a partner, Harry Roitstein, and open a warehouse at 416 S 10th St. Following the end of World War II, George returned to Omaha while Hymie moved to Los Angeles. After the death of his business partner in 1948, Ben and George continued operating Eisenberg Fruit Company. As the business grew, they acquired the adjoining buildings to the north and the south.

By the 1960s George had taken over the business and, in the process, modernized and expanded it. By 1972 his brother returned from California and the two teamed up. The Eisenberg Company bought entire crops of onions and potatoes from growers in California and Texas. They, in turn, sold them to national food companies for use in their food products. They also formed an affiliate, Eisenberg International, to serve as the exporting arm of the company. By this time brothers were known as the “potato and onion kings”. 

Business exploded as the company expanded from selling potatoes to not only Omaha-based Kitty Clover but to 95% of all potato chip companies in the U.S. Despite that success, George saw a better opportunity with onions and switched his focus. After selling the crops to onion ring manufacturers, they would cut the large rings for use in their product and discard the smaller inner rings. He convinced the companies to send those parts back to him where he proceeded to sell them again – this time to companies such as Campbell’s and Swanson’s who chopped or dehydrated the onions for use in its food products. 

By the time Ben Eisenberg passed away in 1981, the old City Market had completed its transformation into the entertainment district we recognize today – the Old Market. The brothers continued to operate their business until retiring in 1983. After that they became landlords in an area that had seen its property values skyrocket. Hymie passed away in 1991 and George kept busy renovating the buildings which went on to become the longtime homes to bars J. D. Tucker’s and Stadium Club. 

George also enjoyed spending his evenings sitting on the patio outside J. D. Tuckers allowing him to share the history of not only his business but the Old Market with passersby. This is how Michele and I met him in 2009. Upon learning that her immigrant ancestors from Sicily also operated a fruit stand, he shared with us that he learned to count to 20 in Italian from the children of immigrants whose parents couldn’t speak English. He even recited it for us with excellent pronunciation! 

During his life George served as the vice president of the Omaha Wholesale Fruit Dealers Association, the predecessor to the Old Market Business Association of which he was also a member as well as the Downtown Improvement District. He was also responsible for acquiring the lamp posts that are installed throughout the Old Market and along the 10th Street bridge. In 2007 he was awarded with the Economic Development Award by Downtown Omaha Inc. Even though George passed away in 2012, the Eisenberg family continues to own the buildings.

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