A 1998 Creighton alumna, Jennifer Fowler, has a ‘perfect Benson day,’ that requires only $5 and she doesn’t even need a friend. She likes to walk around and take in local artwork, watch the hand-crafting of guitars, browse the used bookstore and sip a glass of wine at the independently-owned businesses.

But her favorite part is talking to the owners behind the counter who have become her friends.

With quirky, niche shops and friendly, personalized service, people are noticing Benson, an area of town traditionally overlooked by many Omahans.

The Benson area runs from 48th to 72nd street and Western Avenue north to Ames Avenue.

Once a separate city, it was annexed by a growing Omaha in the 1890s. The ‘strip’ is the main shopping area down Maple Street from 57th to 63rd Street.

Fowler, co-owner of Premier Therapy, is moving another branch of her physical therapy clinic into an empty store front on Benson’s strip down Maple Street.

“Benson is the most under-known pearl of Omaha. The owners have pride in their businesses,” Fowler said.

Further down Maple Street, Mark Lund is on schedule and opens Mia’s Bongo Room on Nov. 25. The restaurant will focus on healthy, fresh cuisine, with half of the dishes being vegetarian.

Lund decided to open in Benson because “it’s a very pretty area, with lots of old brick buildings and beautiful architecture. It’s a lot more personalized level than the Old Market because you’re dealing with an area where all the people are localized around here.”

Omaha has adopted a master plan for the development of Benson’s downtown. New benches, streetlights, sidewalks and making Maple more pedestrian-friendly are top priorities, said Councilman Jim Suttle, who represents the Benson area.

In addition, Suttle wants to “help investors bring in money, open stores, buy and rehabilitate buildings, hopefully buy and tear down buildings,” along Binney Street, which is immediately south of Maple.

Suttle sees new four to five-story buildings used for housing, restaurants and retail space But he doesn’t believe growth will affect the personalized service.

“I think it will grow the small-town flavor. We need younger families in their ’30s, ’40s and ’50s developing their own experiences around Benson.”

Already established businesses like Espana and The Waiting Room anchor the area.

“There’s a very strong little downtown, very picturesque area here. There’s a lot of fun and growing businesses coming into the area,” Lund said.

“I just love Benson,” Fowler said.

Benson’s strip is home to a variety of interesting shops and businesses and students can take advantage of the strip with a quick car ride.