Grand Island, NE (Omaha, Kearney: low income, rent to own, houses)

[sunmart]

Bag and Save and Albertons closed because of two Super Walmarts were coming to town. The downtown is really dead too.

[mattpoulsen]

I can't comment on Bag n Save, but Albertsons closed several years ago. At the same time the entire chain was suffering. They also closed down a store in Lincoln and many others across the midwest. The Albertson's that closed did so long before the Super Walmart came to G.I.

[sunmart]

My husbands company had bought out Albertsons at the time.This has been at least two years ago.
It really sucks when Walmarts come to town because then my husband had to lay people off and then cut some from full time to part time. It's hard to start over with your pay being even close to the same . We have moved seven times because of Walmart and each and every time he must lay off people.It's sad because they have worked there for so many years. They still have bills and families to support.
We have lived in Omaha for two years now. I still know so many people in G.I. and most complain of the lack of good paying jobs and no job opportunties to move up because they work at the jobs for life.I go to G.I. at least once a month.

[mattpoulsen]

Don't get me wrong. I'm no fan at all of Wal-mart. I use them, but I don't like to.

I go to G.I. about once every 2 weeks. Many of the people I know thinks its improving. I suppose different sectors have different perceptions. I think G.I.'s strength is the closeness of Kearney and Hastings. The tri-cities would be much more formidable if they'd cooperate a bit more.

[Candleshoe]

sunmart said:

The downtown is really dead too.

Oh sunmart! I beg to differ! The old Masonic Temple has been sold to a developer who is turning the lower 5 floors into apartments with a leaning towards "artists lofts" in mind. One of the top two floors will be developed into a dinner theater.



The Lied Main Street program is off and running.
Further development downtown includes:

Maudies Stained Glass has finished the new exterior. What was formerly old nondescript brick painted white, now looks like this:



The former Picadilly Dinner Theatre building has been purchased and is undergoing remodeling right now into loft apartments upstairs along with new retail downstairs. The owner will be putting in a home entertainment store. As of this morning, here's the progress:



There's a new music shop, "Live Wires" now open at 3rd and Locust.
A new African themed restaurant has just opened in the old Harrisons Restaurant location on 3rd.

The old Mikklesen building now sports four loft apartments with more in the construction phase. Exterior work is in progress, as shown below...





The old Goodwill store building, at one time the fancy Schwesers Dress Shop, is currently "The Tattered Book". A new owner is remodeling the upstairs two floors into loft apartments and recently held an open house to show the progress. Exterior facade work will follow. What you see below... you shouldn't see much longer.



So, NO. I'm not buying that downtown Grand Island is really dead. It's just being reborn

[billiefan2000]

accodring to radio-locator.com

you can hear these radio stations in Grand Island Nebraska

KLNB 88.3 FM
KHNE 89.1 FM
K209CX (WPCS) 89.7 FM
K214CQ (KEAR) 90.7 FM
K220FS (WYFG) 91.9 FM
KGIA (LPFM) 92.9 FM

KLIQ 94.5 FM
KROA 95.7 FM
KRGI 96.5 FM
KRGY 97.3 FM
KKPR 98.9 FM

KZEN 100.3 FM
KROR 101.5 FM
KRNY 102.3 FM
KKJK 103.1 FM
KQKY 105.9 FM
KSYZ 107.7 FM

KMMJ 750 AM
KRVN 880 AM
KOIL 1020 AM
KHAS 1230 AM
KRGI 1430 AM
KXPN 1460 AM


tv stations you can get in Grand Island (unless otherwise noted,they are Grand Island Nebraska stations

NBC 5 from Hastings Nebraska
ABC 8 from Lincoln Nebraska
CBS 11
ABC 13 from Kearney Nebraska
Fox 17
PBS 29 from Hastings Nebraska


if you have Charter Communications Cable in Grand Island Nebraska you get those channels and many more such as

CW on Channel 16
My Network TV on Channel 17
NET 2 on Channel 22

[quake3god]

I am 20 and I lived in GI for the first 17 years of my life. I go back there about once a month because my parents and family live there. I'd have to disagree that the town is going under. I've seen quite a bit of progress, especially in the last 3 years. While illegal immigration does continue to be a problem, several new businesses have popped up around town. I've even heard rumors of a South Pointe-style outdoor shopping center going to be built just south of town (for those of you familiar with the Lincoln mall). With new businesses such as Jimmy John's, Kohl's, Cold Stone, TJ Maxx, Pac Sun, etc. the town is starting to feel like a smaller version of Lincoln to me. In my opinion, Grand Island could be a great city if it had a 4-year college/university to bring in a more diverse crowd (politically and religiously). I'm not of legal age yet but I have heard from many that the nightlife in GI is extremely lacking as well. All in all, I enjoy Lincoln much more and probably will never move back to GI, but GI is definitely on its way up.

[Ruralgalnebraska]

Our family lived in Grand Island for a short period. Nine months to be exact. There is alot of shopping there etc, but I would not want to move back to Grand Island.
However, as a christian, you must also consider what God is wanting you to do. He's the reason we moved there in the first place. Our time there was short, but life changing!!!
Guess it doesn't matter where you go as long as you feel your to be there! Make your decision based on where you have peace to move to. You will find doors opening left and right.
God bless you!!!

[Ruralgalnebraska]

I forgot to say...I know a woman who moved to our little rural town from California and she claims she's here to stay! She loves the lack of crime and also loves the friendly people. Also loves the laid backness of this rural city.
I've been to California a couple times. I like to visit there but would not like to live there! Just the cost of housing and how small yards are!!! We've got a huge yard and our house was quite cheap!!!
Come for a visit and see for yourself.

[Ruralgalnebraska]

Very impressive pictures by the way candleshoe!!! Awesome!!!