Holiday Cheer in Omaha – November 2021

The season of giving is upon us, so for the second part of our Holiday Series, we are going to share what local businesses had to say about gift-giving ideas and spreading holiday cheer. This story reminds us that gifts don’t always have to be physical items. Some of the greatest presents are those that don’t come in wrapping and bows, but rather let us share an experience. We spoke to some businesses about offerings they have that would make wonderful gifts for kids, friends, and family!

For the Auto Driver

When teenagers get their first car, they may devote a portion of their paycheck each month into going through the car wash to keep their prized possession shiny and spotless. Even as we continue to grow and age, a gleaming and sparkly vehicle remains something we enjoy investing in. Treat the special auto driver in your life to something everyone loves – a clean car! – by gifting them a certificate or membership to Club Car Wash (clubcarwash.com).

“We are excited to introduce our Wash Books for the holiday season!” shared Trevor Seely, regional manager. “Our Wash Book holiday special allows customers to purchase four washes and get two washes free – or purchase two washes and get one wash free. Wash Books are available for our VIP, Elite, and MVP washes. These make a great gift for anyone on your shopping list this holiday season.”

Club Car Wash is new to the Omaha market and will be opening multiple locations during 2022. During their grand openings, they are proud to support the local Omaha community with their $1 wash fundraisers and to offer grand opening specials, where customers can purchase a three-month Unlimited Club Membership for only $10 a month. Locations opened or coming soon to the metro area include: 4802 S 72nd St., Omaha (Open for business!); 6607 N 72nd St., Omaha; 3120 N 108th St., Omaha; 19393 Gold St., Omaha; 2201 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA; and Capehart Rd., Bellevue.

With multiple locations in the area, your gift of a certificate or membership can help your teen, other family member, or friend keep their wheels looking sharp wherever they are at.

“As the winter weather approaches, it is important to keep your vehicle clean and clear of road salt and snow that can lead to rust and corrosion,” Trevor recommended. “At Club Car Wash, our heated tunnels, hot water prep spray, and 15+ blowers to dry your car can help you keep your vehicle in good shape. Rain or snow, Club Car Wash locations are always open above zero degrees to keep your car snow and salt free this winter!”

Club Car Wash is pleased to produce the gold standard of what everyone deserves from a car wash. They pride themselves not only with the quality of their washes, but with the additional amenities and friendly staff as well! They strive to be deeply rooted in the community by making fundraising for the local area a key pillar to their business values. When you purchase from Club Car Wash, you are also giving back to the community.
“Holiday gifts are always a hassle. Let us make things easier for you with our Wash Books and gift certificates!”

For the Athlete

If you are looking for new shoes, gear, or other running-related items, stop by Fleet Feet (fleetfeet.com) to pick up your child’s next gift. They offer a variety of different types of shoes, ranging from neutral running, stability running, and trail running to walking, recovery sandals, and cross country. They also have a large selection of apparel, so if your child has outgrown all of their running clothes, you can restock the closet from Fleet Feet’s racks.
“The best gift we can give is feeling confident that you are in a comfortable and supportive shoe by coming in and getting fit with Fleet Feet,” shared Owner Lori Borer. “We have a unique fit process. We take all of our customers through a free 3D Fit ID scan of their feet. We can show them their size, ball of foot width, instep height, arch height, and volume of their foot. This scan is also emailed to the customer. We are the only locally owned store that provides this service.”

Fleet Feet will have holiday specials on Black Friday (November 26) and Small Business Saturday (November 27), so keep your eyes out for great deals from them on all their shoes, socks, and apparel. In the meantime, they are offering gift certificates and other fun gift packages to purchase for your friends and family.
“You can purchase a gift card for your family and friends to give them the gift of making their feet feel great so they can stay active during the holiday season!”

For the Student

If you have a child that struggles with math or gets frustrated by their homework, give them the gift of a membership with Mathnasium of Omaha West (https://www.mathnasium.com/omahawestmathnasium.com/omahawest). Mathnasium is a math-only learning center that helps kids in grades 1-12 understand the subject by teaching the way that makes sense to them.

“When math makes sense, kids leap forward – whether they started out far behind or already ahead in math,” said Noah Watkins, center director. “Our specially trained math instructors will teach your child how to understand math in an individual setting. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps kids thrive and learn!”

Mathnasium is open until 7 p.m. every day after school (6 p.m. on Fridays) and is even available Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. Many parents comment on how their children look forward to visiting Mathnasium after the school day, making it a great after-school activity that both entertains and educates.

In a survey of parents whose kids had a starting grade below an A and regularly attended Mathnasium for six months or longer, 93% reported their children having an improved attitude toward math, 94% reported an improvement in their children’s math skills and understanding, and 90% reported an improvement in their child’s math grades.

“Give us a call to schedule a risk-free assessment,” said Noah. “This will let us create a learning plan and give you and the student a sense of who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. Enrollment at Mathnasium makes a great gift for the special students in your life because it helps them improve their understanding, their attitude, and their grades, which leads to less frustration and a happier student.”

For the Artist

Give your children and grandkids the gift of music and art this holiday season by signing them up for a class at McGuigan Arts Academy (mcguiganartsacademy.com). Classes at the academy are taught by full-time professionals, and led by Artistic & Education Director Kimberly Faith Hickman.

Students ages 5-18 can take private acting lessons with Kimberly and explore personal techniques to creating compelling, complex characters. The lessons are $25 for a single class, or $100 per month for weekly 60-minute lessons.

“Curriculum topics include cold readings, monologue preparation, script analysis, memorization techniques, and developing the emotional and physical life of a character,” said Kimberly. “The scripts studied in the class will be inspired by the student’s literary, theatre, film, and television interests.”

Private music lessons are also available for $50 per class, or $200 per month for a weekly 30 minute lesson. Music lessons are offered with a focus in either guitar, piano, voice, violin, or bass. Contact them today to give your child the gift of learning what music is all about!

Have you started your holiday gift shopping yet? These local businesses can help you stay ahead of the game with their fun and unique gift options while spreading holiday cheer across the community!