Shoppers enjoy visiting eclectic bookstore and gift shop in downtown Fremont

FREMONT, Neb. (KOLN) - Two adjoining downtown businesses — the Purple Dragon Paper Company and the Wise Olde Owl gift shop — have grown into a local destination for residents and visitors alike, according to owner Thom Ender.

The Purple Dragon Paper Company carries books, Italian paper, stationery, games and music. Next door, the Wise Olde Owl gift shop stocks gifts for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and holidays, along with the Jellycat plush line.

The Wise Olde Owl came first, opening in 2014 on 3rd Avenue. After outgrowing that location, the business moved to 4th Street, where it operated for five years before relocating again to 5th Street.

When an adjoining space became available in April 2024, Ender said sales data from the gift shop pointed toward a bookstore expansion. “We knew that books were doing well enough in the gift shop that we believed we could successfully open a bookstore in the adjoining location,” Ender said. So, the Purple Dragon Paper Company was born.

One consistent draw at the Wise Olde Owl has been Halloween merchandise, which Ender said the store has stocked every month since opening.

“Halloween is one of the things that got us started in our store,” he said.

Ender said the stores have become a regular stop for people visiting friends or family in Fremont.

“When people come visit a relative or a friend in Fremont, we’re a stop they have to stop into,” he said.

He said the personal connections formed with repeat customers set the experience apart from larger retailers.

“We know who they are. We’re able to talk about what books they’re reading or how was the wedding or did you have fun at the baby shower,” Ender said. “There’s a connection there, and it’s personable.”

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