Creative Construction: How downtown Lincoln businesses are getting ready for Project O Street

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The city’s $35 million project is set to take off in April, leaving many downtown businesses to think outside the box to keep business flowing.

Cinnamon Dokken owns A Novel Idea Bookstore and Parrish Studios on 14th Street.

She’s choosing to focus on the positives of Project O Street rather than dwell on the challenges it may bring.

“We are doing a month-long adventure for our patrons, that we’re calling ‘The Wizard of O Street,'” said Dokken. “All kinds of activities and fun to make it worth your while to come down and see us.”

Parrish Studios created ‘The Wizard of O Street’ postcards, where customers can travel through the yellow brick road of businesses and win prizes.

Different decorations, activities, and costumes will line the studio to give everyone a taste of fun.

“This offers us an opportunity to really show who we are, in the Parrish building, in the downtown neighborhood,” Dokken said. “We’re full of creativity. We’re going all out, we’re decorating, we’re going to have fun. People are going to want to see what’s going on down there.”

Project O Street will repair roads, add new sidewalks, and provide additional services before completion in the fall of 2027.

Parrish Studios isn’t the only one getting creative — The Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department collaborated with many downtown stores to come up with the best ways to keep traffic humming.

“We’ll be posting billboards to make sure businesses are still open,” said Liz Elliott, the Director for LTU. “We’re going to be doing sidewalk stickers that lead you to businesses, and we’re also doing a few fun things that we are just starting to try out.”