Needing a couple of books for a newborn(ish) baby, my partner and I dropped by The Next Chapter. While I’ve been there before, it’s not typically my first stop. Having said that, I am trying to be better and less reliant on Amazon. Going forward, I will try to shop local as much as I eat and drink local.

That led me back to 25th and Farnam Street, where I’ve previously explored two of the bookstore’s neighbors: Very Important Pizza and Zen Coffee. Opening prior to the pandemic in 2019, The Next Chapter is a continuation (or the next chapter) of a bookstore that actually opened as Prairie Books & Gifts. The bookstore was opened in Hastings by husband-and-wife team Bernie and Jane Tushaus. When the bookstore closed in 2019, their daughter, Shelly Mutum, opened her store in Omaha. While both of her parents have since passed away, this independent, woman-owned bookstore continues their legacy.

The Next Chapter sits on the western end of the building next door to Zen. With a small patio out front, I noticed bookcases full of books along the perimeter walls and shelves of gifts, greeting cards, playing cards, wine glasses, and other items inside. Near the entrance is an old-school L.C. Smith & Bros. typewriter. Tucked into the corner are a few seats and a fireplace. They sit beside the large south facing windows that allow plenty of daylight to flood into the space. Like many repurposed old buildings, the space is wide open with exposed ceilings and a wooden floor. The counter anchored to the western wall greets you as you walk in and serves as the bar should you desire an adult beverage.

As far as books go, its selection is spread across multiple different genres and makes an effort to appeal to everyone. Along with new releases, it has a bookcase dedicated to local authors and books. In addition to its physical storefront, it has an online store, curbside, delivery, as well as hosting pop-ups. The Next Chapter leans into its atmosphere and community programming, as it hosts a variety of book clubs including Book & Wine, Young Adult, Romance, Novels, Jane Austen, Fantasy, and LGBTQ+.

The dog-friendly patio, club chairs, and a small couch make it a nice spot to sit back and relax if you want to stick around a while. To help you unwind, it has beer, wine, and canned drinks. I suspect you can even bring coffee from next door. While I didn’t spend as much time there as I would have liked on a busy Saturday afternoon, I found it to be an enjoyable experience and a place where I found exactly what I was looking for. It was an experience that took me back to the days of perusing the shelves at Barnes & Noble and Borders.

While streetcar line construction isn’t quite as active in this area at the moment, you’ll still find barricades and portions of the road closed. Keep in mind that Farnam remains one-way headed west, but once you arrive, you’ll find a parking lot and street parking with meters. The biggest obstacle after you leave is the closure of the Farnam Bridge, which should be opening in a matter of weeks. Until then, once you leave, you’ll need to turn either north or south.

Located at 2508 Farnam Street, The Next Chapter like its two neighbors, is located in the former Farnam Hill district, which has rebranded as The Quarters. The building itself was the longtime home to Smoke Pit Barbecue.

If you’re like me and you want to try harder to shop local, I encourage you to check out The Next Chapter. Its hours are 10 am to 5:30 pm Tues-Sat and 11 am to 4 pm on Sun. Check out its website for changes or to learn more: https://www.nextchapterbooksandgifts.com/

Along the Streetcar Line spotlights businesses navigating construction along the streetcar route. Since July 2026, I’ve been dropping by some of these places to show some support. I hope these visits inspire you to do the same.

The article you just read was written by Omaha Exploration. If you enjoy what I do, consider signing up for email notifications on my website, where you’ll also find sources for this article and ways to support the project. Get out there and explore it for yourself!

Read OE on Grow Omaha: Local History by Omaha Exploration | Grow Omaha

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