Small Town Famous opens new location

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - For over a year, Jacque and Matt Cranson have been renovating the historic Wolbach building in downtown Hastings to expand Small Town Famous.

They have invested $3 million in renovations. The new location features a huge Small Town Famous sign in front of the building for people to take selfies with.

The first floor is dedicated to shopping, which is similar to the old location. The second floor features a café that will serve soup and soft serve ice cream. The third floor is where you find things for kids, along with a big piano and candy. Jacque Cranson said the community loves the new location.

"I think everyone's really excited," said Jacque Cranson. "I think everyone that walks in is definitely in awe of what we're doing here and it's something you know, you don't find it in Grand Island, you don't find it in Kearney, you don't find it in Norfolk. I've had to go further places to kind of get an inspiration for this like Kansas City or Waco, Texas and places like that. So it's just a cool experience that you can't really get anywhere else in Nebraska and people really recognize that when they walk in."

Jacque Cranson wants Small Town Famous to be a one-stop-shop for all your needs.

"Here we kind of offer different things," said Jacque Cranson. "You know from candy to a Christian book area to kids books to some clothing and now next door at our old shop, were doing the men's clothing that my husband's doing. It's like we really just are trying to hit a lot of different areas so people can kind of make it a one-stop-shop when it's time to get gifts."

Jacque Cranson said since they have moved into a bigger location, they have added 50 or 60 more U.S based companies to their store.

Currently, they're still working on getting the café complete and the candy store should be open November 14. Shoppers also shared what they loved the most about the new location.

"If I had to say a favorite floor it's probably the third one; because it's like kid friendly," said Malayni Sitzmore. "It has a lot of, there's a bunch of candy and stuff."

"They did have some really neat things that you don't necessarily see in Hastings," said Marissa Sitzmore, Malayni's mother. "There's just a huge selection of books and kids toys and games and clothes."

Marissa Sitzmore said Small Town Famous has something for everyone. There will be a grand opening this weekend, where shoppers can catch a special on sweatshirts and coffee cups.

The old location will become Small Town Famous men's appeal shop; Matt Cranson will operate that portion of the business.