While watching the local evening news the other night, they were doing a feature on the Old Ralston Granary. I was doing something else but my ears perked up. Ralston is an old community in the area, and has now basically been absorbed by Omaha. The Granary has always been a Ralston Icon but has pretty much sat empty for the last 30 years. I don’t know why this building has always called me, but it has. Every time I was in the area I would drive by just to see if anything was going on, and it always made me so sad. I remember there being an antique shop in part of the building back in the 80’s and I just so wanted someone to move in and make this space theirs. I just had to check it out.
Out of the Box has moved in!!! Out of the Box is a retail business. Part design studio with furniture from Antique to Mid-Century, part Salvage, part lighting studio with hundreds of fixtures all reclaimed, and they also feature some artists.
You enter the building thru a set of very grand heavily carved (lovingly restored) 12′ doors from Colorado.
What is this? Your eyes are immediately presented with so much eye candy that you don’t know where to look first. As your steps are muffled by the gorgeous restored wood floors, they carry you into an area that has been sub-divided into rooms with furnishings from all over. The basics, sofa and chairs that are anything but basic to more exotic furniture that we don’t normally see here in Omaha. And then there is the lighting! Gorgeous old chandeliers, sconces, and lamps.
The collection is huge and all available for the right price.
Owner Jody Strauch was such a treat. She is full of interesting information and so willing to share her experience in renovating this old granary. She told me they started their business in Colorado where there is wonderful home furnishings available. Lovingly collected and eventually discarded.
They started to salvage what wasn’t needed by their clients and they had amassed a huge collection.
Whole kitchens, bathroom vanities with the granite countertops, mirrors, the lighting, the rugs, the furniture.
Loved this painted Kitchen complete with cook top and vent hood!
Can you believe this tiled cook stove. It was just so pretty! Copper vent hood not to mention the copper pots.
Then there was the doors. OMG the doors. A walk down Door Ally just took my breath away. Not only are they beautiful but some are 12′ tall and it just makes you dream about the homes they came out of.
In asking Jody what brought them to Omaha she told me a bit about their journey. They lived in Colorado for years salvaging what they could from the projects they were working on but decided to move home to Lincoln NE to be closer to family. They opened a shop in Lincoln, a small 47 miles away and a city I frequent often (how did I not know this). Lincoln was very good to them and a lot of their clientele was from Omaha. So they started to consider Omaha. They needed more space so started touring different properties. When they walked into the Granary with their black dirt encrusted floors, the high ceilings with their wonderful beams, and the filth they knew it was the right space for their dream. 18 months of due diligence and restoration, they now have 15000 s/f open to the public with 3 galleries on 2 floors and another 5000 s/f to open soon.
Door and Surround heavily carved from Santa Fe NM
In walking down “Door Alley” I ran into beautiful old tile. Stacks and stacks of tile rescue. Next time I need tile for a smaller project you can bet I will be paying a visit to Out of the Box first.
Out of the Box is an experience. I haven’t been so excited about a shop in Omaha in 35 years!!! A place to go when you are looking for that special something to make your own home a unique experience for your family and friends. I know that I will be spending time sifting thru the finery that is Out of the Box. Hats off and thank you Jody for bringing your vision to Omaha. Oh, technically it’s Ralston!
Thanks for stopping
Shelley
