Published August 20, 2025 | Updated June 1, 2026

Some of you OE long-timers may recall my Center Street series in which we explored the small buildings that make up the business district between the Hanscom Park and Field Club neighborhoods.

One of those buildings was occupied by Sheelytown Market, which has since moved from 3522 Center Street to 1716 S. 10th Street. Now it sits between Little Italy and Little Bohemia. The name is inspired by the former Sheelytown neighborhood that formed after the Sheely Brothers started a packing plant. A significant portion of the Irish-turned-Polish neighborhood was leveled when Interstate 480 was built through the area south of Martha Street.

The new home of Sheelytown Market was built in 1886 and had its start as a bakery operated by Hans Shouboe. After that, it briefly operated as Leo Bartos’ meat market, where he specialized in homemade Bohemian sausage.

Starting around 1940, it would serve as a neighborhood beauty salon for the rest of the century. First as the second location for Constantino’s, and then Milady’s Beauty Shop by 1942. Josephine (Jo) Guidici ran the shop until she passed away in 1978. That didn’t stop its run as a beauty destination, as I found records of it operating as Jeanne’s Hair Shoppe in the 1990s.

The new century brought new tenants, including Blue Flamingo Thrift Store, operated by Dietz Methodist Church. They opened the store in 2003 after being overwhelmed with donations that included clothing, household goods, books, toys, holiday decor, ornaments, jewelry, linens, and more. More than just a thrift store, it also hosted family reading activities in its community garden. After Blue Flamingo closed in 2013, the building operated as a yoga studio called Soul Elevations.

For those who are unfamiliar, Sheelytown Market is a plant store that bills itself as a place for plants and people. Started by Amelia Rosser during the pandemic, the store also sells locally made goods, offers services such as re-potting, and hosts events such as Friday Night Markets and Open Mic Nights. The space is also available for rental.

Despite its original and current location being outside of the area that was known as Sheelytown, its namesake market continues to pay tribute to the once-ethnic enclave in Omaha.

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• Omaha World-Herald archives